Some quick solutions to make your quilt top bigger when you need that.  Sometimes you need to make your quilt a size that fits a bed, sometimes the pattern is not the size you wanted to make.  Whatever the reason, here are some fast and easy ways to make things work best for your needs.

Our members have submitted some beautiful blocks this month.  We will be having our drawing at our 2:00 (pacific time) meeting today, and one of the participants will win all the blocks submitted.  Below is a slide show of them.
​PS - The winner of this month's drawing was Diane (Seattle).

PS: A couple of our members made enough of this block to create a beautiful quilt top. Thought everyone would like to see how beautiful this block will be in a quilt.

Here is another great idea for using up your fabric scraps.  It looks like fun without many (if any) rules.  Watch the video and give it a try, I am going to try it too.
​--Ann

A little bit of Fun on April 1st.

This video is very helpful if you like using small scraps to make a beautiful quilt.  I think it is perfect to match them with solid fabrics to make half-square-triangles.  There are so many beautiful quilt layouts using them.
​--Ann

We held our first Zoom Quilt-Along and all worked on the same quilt Puzzle Box by Missouri Star Quilt Co.  It was a fun day, and we were ready to sew.  Members are still sending in photos, and I will add them here as I get them. Fun fabric colors and prints, and lots of visiting while we worked.  We will be having another Quilt-Along in a couple of months, so I better get working finding another free pattern!
​--Ann

Our Block Lotto for February was the Friendship Star Block.  This block has a long history and was popular  to gift to friends leaving to "go west" in America's early days. Traditionally, the quilter would also embroider their name in the center of the block as a memory quilt for the traveler.

I do my binding exactly this way every time.  It is so easy to get things twisted and I never have a problem if I follow this technique.  Only extra tip I can add is that I also fold the edge of the quilt and pin/clip it so that all the bulk of the quilt is out of my way. Then I don't have any pull on the binding when I am test pinning it before stiching the ends together.
--Ann
PS - A big thanks to Member Janice J for sharing this video with us!

I have been thinking of doing something similar to this to tame my overflowing scraps.  The results were pretty fun in this video, and there are lots of options to play with.  Check it out!
​--Ann

Needing this may not come up often, but this is a great tip to get perfect results if you want to do a 1/4 inch border on a quilt.  Give it a try!
PS- This technique also works to piece in a skinny strip in your patchwork too!

Each month, our members can join in a program we call Block Lotto.  A free pattern for a quilt block is provided, and they can make a block to mail in. We do a drawing in one of our Zoom meetings, and the winner gets all of the quilt blocks submitted.
Below is a slide show of the January Blocks submitted by our members:

I have admired the Friendship Quilt block for a long time.  Recently I stumbled across the history of this quilt block, and it is worth sharing.  This block was popular back in stage-coach and wagon days.  Families were making the long trip west, hoping for a better life. 

It was custom for women to make friendship star blocks for their departing quilter friend. Each friend might embroider their name on the center block, and all the blocks could be stitched together for a memory quilt.  What a wonderful custom and gift. 

Hope you enjoy the story, and consider making a Friendship Star quilt yourself.  Keep in mind they look great in a wall hanging and tablerunner too.  It is also another great use for scraps (hint-hint)

--Ann

I happen to love making quilts with Half Square Triangles (HST).  This video and handout shows 20 different layouts,  Here is the download showing all the layouts:

Sometimes you are dealing with a bias edge, and other times your two blocks are slightly different in length.  Here is an easy solution to consider.

Every month we offer a Block Lotto "game."  We provide a free block pattern, and members can mail in a block to be entered in a drawing. Only 1 chance per member and Winner takes all!  The drawing for these blocks will be held at our Zoom meeting on Monday, January 13th at 2:00 pacific time.
This block also makes a very cute quilt if you like making more blocks.
PS - The winner of the Drawing was Pegg S (Arizona), who surprised everyone by gifting the blocks to Pam S (Sonoma, CA).  You just never know how these things work out!

This will be our 4th annual Mystery Quilt!  The pattern is free, and we will have new monthly clues from January to June 2025.  Our pace is leasurely to allow everyone time for other projects.  If you aren't familiar with this program, you will be making a quilt without knowing what it looks like!  Each month clues are released to help you pick fabrics, cut the fabric, and sew the quilt.  PS - Lots of instructions and help to make sure you succeed.

Members can gain access to the clues through the "Member Login" page on this website.  Once you are on that page, click the "Mystery Quilt 2025" button at the top of the page.

If you aren't a member, go to the "Join" page for the free sign up.

If you have questions, contact Ann at [email protected]

I love this little ruler, and use it often.  Check it out on this video:
​--Ann

These cute squares or blocks come up in patterns, and this video is a nice way to see how to make them the easiest way.