TGIFF - 2022 Block of the Month

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF).  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finishes from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

I finished a UFO from 2022!!!

In 2022, my friend Dena and I created a Block of the Month for our quilt guild.  The quilt consisted of 12 blocks, all finishing at 12 inches each.  The instructions called for cutting the sashing at 2.5 inches, but everyone had the flexibility to increase or decrease the size of the sashing, or eliminate the sashing.

I chosed Kona White, Black, Steel, and Chartreuse for my blocks.  A little pop of colour in the binding because I didn't want to cut a full WOF for a few inches -- I lost at binding chicken.  And also lost at thread chicken while attaching the binding. 

My top was finished shortly after we started the Block of the Month, but sadly, it did not get quilted until recently.  In an effort to clear up some UFOs, I decided to do an all-over stipple using green thread for a quick finish.  I thought the thread would appear brighter than it did.  But I'm still happy with the result.

I found the perfect backing!

Part of me wants to keep this quilt, but I am making efforts to release quilts into the world so they get some love being used by someone.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please also visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥ 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Pattern:  Common quilt blocks - layout designed by Dena and Anja

Size:  45 x 59.5 inches

Started:  January 2022

Completed:  June 14, 2025
Techniques:  machine piecing
Quilting:  free-motion quilting

Fabric:  Kona White, Black, Steel, and Chartreuse

Binding:  Kona Steel

Thread:  The Grace Company Finesse #3022 Eucalyptus Green
Batting:  Warm and Natural

TGIFF - MMQG 2024 Block of Month

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF).  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finishes from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

For three years, Dena and I hosted a block of the month for our guild -- Maritime Modern Quilt Guild.  The 2024 version was based on the Communique Quilt by Mouse in my Pocket.

I shared my finished quilt top here.  It was professionally quilted -- a prize I won last year from Musings of Menopausal Melon for her annual QAL.

I used Kona Natural for the background.  I love the pantograph used.

I wanted the stars to shine, so opted for a light-coloured thread that didn't contrast.

I had been hoarding this wonderful wide backing.  Now I wish I had purchased more of it.

I will be keeping this quilt for myself. ♥

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please also visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Pattern:  Communique Quilt by Mouse in My Pocket

Size:  56 x 72 inches

Started: January/February 2024

Completed: January 2025
Techniques: machine piecing, HSTs
Quilting: professionally quilted
Fabric: various Kona colours and Natural for the background - various star prints

Binding: Kona Flame

Thread: unknown
Batting: Warm and Natural

Maritime Modern Quilt Guild 2024 Block of Month

For three years, Dena and I have hosted a block of the month for our guild -- Maritime Modern Quilt Guild.

This year's version was based on the Communique Quilt by Mouse in my Pocket.  We used the throw size, breaking it up into 9 sections.

I had an idea to use the same block throughout the quilt.  I used a star fabric in the centre of each block and a variety of Kona solids for the star points. 

I decided to use Kona Natural for the background, the long 2-inch strips, and the 2-inch units.  I was crazy enough to make 4-inch sawtooth stars, but not crazy enough to make 2-inch ones. 😬

A few months in, I was regretting making the 4-inch stars, but I kept going because I had a vision.

It was worth it in the end!

This quilt top will be sent to be professionally quilted as I won a longarming prize from Sandra @ Musings of Menopausal Melon for her annual QAL earlier this year.  Now that the Canada Post strike is over, I'll be able to ship it.

2024 Monthly Colour Challenge - February Block

Are you sewing along with Jen @ Patterns by Jen for her annual Monthly Colour Challenge?  If you didn't sign up to receive the blocks by e-mail, you can download February's block here.

February's colour is orange.  My favourite colour!!  ♥  I used Kona Tangerine and Torch.

The first step is sewing a strip set.  I always press my seams open when sewing strip sets as I find I get better subcuts when the fabrics are nice and flat.  Premium Quilting and Crafting Spray is a new-to-me product that I love as it removes wrinkles; flattens seams; reduces stretch for point matching; and improves accuracy for cutting and sewing.

I like to chain piece units so they stay in the right order.

Four corner triangles to complete the block.

The finished 12-inch block.

You can view my other monthly blocks:

• January block

2024 Monthly Colour Challenge - January Block

Jen @ Patterns by Jen is hosting her annual Monthly Colour Challenge.  If you would like to sew along, you can download January's block here.  Don't forget to sign up to receive the monthly blocks by e-mail so you don't miss any blocks.

January's colour is green, and I used Kona Balsam and Cypress.  The square-in-square unit is pieced a bit larger so it can be trimmed down to the right size.

And then some flying geese units made four at a time, also pieced a little larger to allow for trimming.

And the completed 12-inch block.

The featured blogger for January is:

Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

2023 Monthly Colour Challenge - February, March, and April Blocks

I forgot to share my February, March, and April blocks for the Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen.

February - Kona Ice Frappe and Pool

Wonky flying geese blocks.

March - Kona Canada Red and Rich Red

I decided to make regular flying geese instead of wonky ones.

April - Kona Spring and Grass Green

If you want to sew along, make sure to sign up to receive the monthly blocks by e-mail.

Block of the Week Quilt Along - Part 1

Dena and I have created another Block of the Month quilt along for our quilt guild, but it's actually a Block of the Week.  There are 100 blocks over 11 months -- 8-inch blocks and 4 x 8 inch blocks. Dena is the creative side designing all the blocks, and I'm tech support, formatting the instructions and creating the blocks in EQ8.

Here are my first 10 blocks.  I'm using bright colours from my scrap pile.

We started the BOW on January 1.  I sewed several blocks, but then I fell behind because I was focused on getting the files ready for the weekly release.

Dena loves tiny piecing, especially HSTs.

And of course, she loves paper piecing, but the flying geese were easy to make.

The paper pieced pineapple almost put me over the edge.  I limited it to two colours so I wouldn't mess it up.

I've been sewing all weekend trying to catch up -- we're on block 42.  I'm working on two pieced blocks.  I also have two paper pieced blocks to make.  And I need to make an alternate 8-inch block and an alternate 4 x 8 inch block because I don't want to make two of the blocks, one of which is paper pieced with tiny, tiny piecing.  No thank you.

2023 Monthly Colour Challenge - May Block

Having you been sewing along with Jen @ Patterns by Jen for her annual Monthly Color Challenge? 

I used Kona Robin Egg and Deep Blue for the May block.

I use a Hera marker to mark lines and use a Bloc Loc ruler to trim HSTs.

Hourglass block.

You can use the HST Bloc Loc ruler to trim hourglass blocks.

All those units turn into a 12.5 inch block.

Don't forgot to sign up to receive the blocks by e-mail.

2023 Monthly Colour Challenge - January Block

Jen @ Patterns by Jen is hosting her annual Monthly Color Challenge.  If you would like to sew along, you can download the block here.

I've decided to use Kona solids again for my monthly blocks.  I used Kona Pink and Honeysuckle for the January block.  Jen created a video to show you how to make the flying geese blocks.

An outside photo to show that we don't have any snow.  We always have some snow in November and December.  I'm not a fan of cold or snow, so although I am enjoying this strange weather, I am concerned as to how the rest of winter will unfold... 😟

Rylee is January's featured blogger.  You can see her block on her blog @Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting or on Instagram @sunflowerquilting

2022 Monthly Colour Challenge - December Block

This is the last block for the 2022 Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen. 

I used Kona Sand and Scone for the December block.  I made a cutting error, so mine is slightly different than the pattern.

Now to join the 2022 blocks with my 2021 blocks to make a large quilts.  Stay tuned.

December Bloggers

Lissa - Lovingly Lissa

Kathy - Penny for My Thoughts

Raylee - Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting

Andi - True Blue Quilts

2022 Monthly Colour Challenge - November Block

There only two blocks left for the 2022 Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen. 

I used Kona Earth and Coffee for the November block.

I missed a change to cutting instructions and didn't realize until I was piecing the block.  I attempted to rescue the block without cutting more fabric.  As a result my corner triangles are different.  Rather than the three colours running horizontally, mine are vertical.

2022 Monthly Colour Challenge - October Block

Did you sew along this year for the 2022 Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen?  As we come close to the end, I need to start thinking about a layout for my blocks.  

I used Kona Aruba and Sage.

As I often share, I use my Hera marker to mark lines instead of a using pen or a pencil.  It saves time and energy as you can mark two layers at a time.

I use my Bloc Loc ruler to trim HSTs.

Unless a pattern specifically indicates to press to one side for nesting purposes, I always press seams open when making strip sets.

I find the strip sets lies much flatter, which makes sub cutting more precise.

Another 12.5-inch block to add to the collection.

October Bloggers

Gail - Quilting Gail

Raylee - Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting

Andi - True Blue Quilts