Spool Blocks from Sneak Peekers

A few sneak peekers got busy early and made these Spool Blocks.

Ginny made these six blocks:




Kristin made these two:



Here are nine from Kate:




Seven from Terri:




And nine more from Trudi



(Click any of the images for larger pictures). We're off to a great start with 33 blocks to start the month.

Holiday Spool Blocks for November

According to Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Blocks, our November block was first published in 1906 in Clara Stone's Practical Needlework: Quilt Patterns as Fred's Spool. Ruby McKim referred to it as the Spool block in her 101 Patchwork Patterns which were published in 1920s-30s and reprinted by Dover in 1962 and, I think most quilters have long forgotten about Fred.

Kate made this pretty Spool block.

The traditional pattern was made from four trapezoid shapes with mitered corners, but an easier version uses squares and half square triangle units and a pattern can be found here: Grace's Spools

Pattern Notes

Note that the Grace's Spools pattern is for a very small quilt, made from 16 six-inch blocks. The cutting needed for a single block is:

Spool Fabric:

• Cut two 2-7/8" squares
• Cut three 2-1/2" squares

Background:

• Cut two 2-7/8" squares
• Cut two 2-1/2" squares

Trudi sent me these notes after making her blocks:

This was easy, I cut a 2 7/8 strip of each spool fabric from the short length of a FQ and that was all it took fabric wise, cut the 2 lg sqs and then trimmed for the 3 2 ½ sqs. I stacked the pieces and chain pieced them. Quick as anything! I used just shy of ¼ yd of red for all nine blocks.

Fabric Guidelines

Fabric choices this month will be HOLIDAY. Let's make Christmas-y blocks in November for a nice holiday gift for our winner(s). Please use any HOLIDAY fabric for the SPOOL fabric and RED fabrics (solids or tone-on-tone prints) for the BACKGROUND. You may use the same RED background for all your blocks, but all the SPOOL fabrics should be unique.

A little Inspiration

Thanks to the efforts of sneak peekers Ginny, Kate, Kristin, Terri and Trudi, here's an idea of how a selection of this month's blocks could play together.

Thanks, ladies, for providing the eye candy ;-)

October's Numbers

Recapping October's numbers:

• Debbie - 4
• Dianah - 3 *** WINNER #2 ***
• Ginny - 3 (donated chances)
• Julie - 6
• Kate - 9
• Kristin - 9
• Laura - 9
• Lisa - 9 + 2 extras
• Louise - 1
• Mary Jane - 7 (donated chances)
• Pat - 6
• Shelley - 9
• Sophie - 3 (donated chances)
• Terri - 1
• Trudi - 9 *** NEWBIE *** *** WINNER #1 ***

Total Blocks for the month = 90

Blocks in the mail

Hi all,

Finally got the Sept winner blocks in the mail today!  Please let me know that they make it to their destinations.

Sorry for the lateness,
Jill

Congratulations to October Winners!

Congratulations to October Winners! Trudie and Dianah - Make somethin' prettty!

OCTOBER WINNERS

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

TRUDIE WITH 48 BLOCKS

DIANAH WITH 42 BLOCKS

CONGRATULATIONS AND MAKE SOMETHING PRETTY!!

Here are my 6

Hi Sophie

I fixed my rogue star and could only get one more block made so 6 has to be my lucky number this month.

Pat K.

3 For ME!

It is 11:40pm on the west coast. I was trying for 4 blocks but I really want to go to bed. These 3 blocks will be it for me this month.

Tomorrow's Deadline and Drawing

Just a reminder . . . NOON (US east coast time) is the deadline for entering blocks for October.

I will be sending the list of names to Mary Jane, who will be using a random number picker to choose our TWO WINNERS this month. (Thanks, Mary Jane for being the woman of the hour).

This will definitely be happening ON TIME tomorrow as I have tickets for a 2:00 PM performance at the new AT&T Performing Arts Center–I'm really looking forward to checking it out . . . even if it does seem a little odd to attend a performance of A Midsummer's Night's Dream at the end of October.

I would love to continue again next year with what ever is decided upon I would love to see more Autumn coloures browns,tans rust ect used Sorry not been able to do any blocks for October but we have had workmen in doing building work so every where as been such a mess I will be going into hospital in November but will try and do some blocks Sylvia

More Blocks

Jana: Your lovely blocks arrived this morning. Thank you.

Also received blocks...

from Jana. Terrific! Thanks,
Ginny

Are You Ready to Brainstorm Block Lotto 2010?

Some sent email this morning asking if there would be a Block Lotto next year . . . because when we migrated from the forum to blog land I committed to continue through the end of the year and she thought I might have meant ONLY until the end of the year.

Well, I am here to stay as long as I have block ideas and quilters are here to continue to play with me.

This year has been all about traditional blocks. I'm thinking we might go in a less traditional, more technique-driven–some might say liberated–direction in 2010. What do you think? Is there a technique you'd like to try or colorway you think this group could love? Please leave a comment . . . I'm putting together our list for 2010 now.

Received blocks from...

Jana! Very pretty!

Laura

October Blocks

Here are my October blocks

Sampler top

Here's a photo of the quilt top I put together from the blocks I won a couple of months back. I couldn't think of anything brilliant to do with the blocks, so I went with the traditional sashing method. I think it came out very well and I can't wait to see it quilted!
Thanks for the great blocks,
Ginny

Late mailed

I am such a dunce! I thought the blocks were mailed and I happily went traipsing about the country side. But when I returned, two weeks later, there they were, sitting my desk at work.
They ARE in the mail now.
And I humbly apologize.

Late mailing of Asian Stars

Ginny, Mary Jane & Laura,

I apologize for not mailing my asian star blocks yet.  I just came home today from a 2 week unexpected stay in the hospital.  I will try my best to get your blocks in the mail in the next couple of days. 

Thanks for understanding,
Jill

My nine gallaxy stars

Here are my nine for the month. Sorry the bottom blocks are chopped off...I should have put them on the floor to photograph rather than the table...I couldn't see the screen on the camera lol!

I'm leaving for Florida to visit my mom for 2 weeks so I don't know if I'll get these posted before the 16th....If I'm not behind, I may get them packaged up and ready to go and bring them along and send from there....I don't know yet....

Shelley

Have You Mailed Your SEPTEMBER Lotto Blocks?

I know that sometimes LIFE happens to all of us and, like I just noted–at least for me–October has been flying by at lightning speed . . .

Over the weekend, I checked in with our September Winners and they are all waiting for blocks from at least two people. If life has happened to you, we understand–honest. Just please get in touch so that the winners know that their blocks are on the way . . . or will be real soon.

Thanks.

October is Flying Past . . .

Are you ready for Halloween? Have you made your October lotto blocks yet? If you have, you should have received sneak peek email from me this morning, with information about the November lotto block.

If you should have received a sneak peek and don't have email, be sure to let me know ASAP. This is also a good time to check the list in the right sidebar to make sure that your name is there and the number of blocks I have for you is correct.

Our total-so-far this month is 67 blocks. We will have one winner, unless we reach 83 blocks, or 16 more in the next week. If this month has flown past you, too, there is still a week to enter for a chance to win a set of Milky Way blocks in this classic color combination.

Lone Milky Way Block

Here's the one block I managed to finish this month. I have been sick with a cold and severe bronchitis since the beginning of this month and haven't had the energy to do much of anything.

Great block choice Sophie. I wish I felt good enough to make more. Hope you're feeling better.

Terri

Received blocks from...

Shelley! Thanks so much, very pretty.

Laura (LJRandolph)

Nine Milky Way Blocks

Here are my nine milky way blocks.  I love this pattern! I'm crossing my fingers, maybe I'll win.  Even if I don't, I think I'm going to make my son one for Christmas.

Kristin

More blocks

Marie:
Your beautiful blocks arrived yesterday. I so like the pink.

October Blocks

Where has this month gone?!?!? Here are 7 blocks for October - not sure I can finish anymore, but I do like the block and resulting pattern. Also attached is the log cabin topper finished from August Blocks.

Sophie, since I have won two months in a row, please donate all my chances this month to whom ever you feel needs the extra chances. I still have to work up the oriental topper, not to mention work my day job.