February block photos

7 blocks from Pat H (swquilter)

8 blocks from Laurie N.

6 blocks from Cathy (cathysews) - don't you love the range of reds she used?



A pretty pink block from Joy (jump4joy)



8 blocks from Sue (foofinster)




8 blocks from Di (SewDi)

Here are six blocks from Randi (randigirl29) and 8 blocks from Pat K (phx515)

Debbie (azrunner) has made six blocks, which you can see in her webshots album.

8 blocks from Michelle (momof11) and six from Sylvia (injim53)



8 blocks from Donna (pinky.hugs)



4 blocks from Judy (possumtownquilter) and 8 blocks from Cindi (zoopme)


6 blocks from Annette (annettejeavons) and 8 blocks from Sandy (centergranny)

Deb has made one block so far, but hopes to make more; Marilyn has made a number, but unfortunately, the ones with the lips fabric, even though they are cute, don't qualify.


8 blocks from Bonita (machinequilting)- though the two at the bottom right don't actually qualify, even though they are really pretty. And 6 blocks from Hilda (blueswallow), who has cleverly used the minimum number of fabrics in the maximum number of combinations.



Six blocks from Barbara (zizzybob)



9 blocks from Sophie, 4 blocks from Terri - Terri has since made two more blocks - check out all six here in her webshots album!

7 blocks made by Kate

February Block Lotto - Scrappy Hearts

Many thanks to all who participated in the January lotto, and we look forward to seeing lots more of you take part in upcoming months! If you are new to the lotto, or if you didn't take part in January, please take a moment to review the 2008 block lotto guidelines - if you have played in previous years, you will notice some changes in the basic guidelines, though the general idea remains the same.

In February, we will be making 6" (finished) scrappy pieced hearts in red or pink, using two fabrics of similar value. As you can see from the above photos, you may use any value of red or pink and the fabrics do not have to be totally red or pink, but must read red or pink strongly. Ensure that the two fabrics you choose for a single heart are similar in value, whether that be strong red, bright pink, pale pink, or whatever. Your background fabric should be cream - solid, tonal, white on cream, cream on cream are all fine as long as the fabric is cream and is a neutral background.

In February, you may make a maximum of 8 block. No two blocks should have an identical combination of reds/pinks, though you may use a single red/pink in up to two blocks, as long as the pairings are different (and match in value). You may use (but of course don't have to) the same neutral cream in all your blocks.

Instructions for making the blocks can be found on about.com; many thanks to Janet for providing us with these.

Here are nine blocks that Sophie made, including one (the top left) where she has used both sides of a metallic batik fabric to good effect (and yes, only 8 of them count for the draw!)

Don't forget, to be enterred into the draw, you will need to post a photo of your blocks in the forum or a link to a photo of your blocks online, or email me a photo of your blocks - see the guidelines for more details on how to play.

If you post a photo (etc) before the 22nd of February, you will be eligible for a sneak peek at March's block lotto block. Winner(s) of the heart blocks will be drawn on Friday, 29th February.

2008 Block Lotto

Uh oh . . . today I received some lotto blocks in the mail: a pair of blue and white double 4-patch blocks.

Somewhere the communication has gone terribly wrong.

The rules have changed in 2008 for the block lotto–blocks should no longer be mailed to me . . . and a new group blog has been created. Check out the links in the sidebar and a photo of four of my January 2008 blocks.

January's block photos

Laura (lauraTS) made 4 blocks - two of them only have 5 stripes, but aren't they prettty? And the second photo here is Laura's blocks once she added another stripe.

Laura (ljrandolph) made 8 blocks; Bonita made 4


4 blocks from Bridget (quiltingmommatothreebeautifulgirls) and 4 from Judy (possumtownquilter)


8 blocks from Cindi (zoopme)







8 blocks from Juli (bananers)





8 blocks from Sophie, 2 blocks from Rhonda (rowens2921)


8 blocks from Laurie (nlaurie)


8 blocks from Sue (foofinster); 8 blocks from Hilda (blueswallow)


4 dark and 4 light blocks from Lisa (lisaparedes)





Here are 8 blocks from Charlene (charchar1970)

8 blocks from Pinky (pinky.hugs) in her webshots album - lights here and darks here.


8 blocks from Pamela (fabric_fiend) and 8 blocks from Michelle (momof11)


4 blocks from Terri (terri5510) can be seen here in her webshots album


2 blocks from Nell (vanNella) and 8 blocks from Pat H (swquilter)


4 blocks from Sandy (centergranny) and 4 blocks from Kate (katelnorth)

January Block Lotto - String Square Pairs

Welcome to the new block lotto! Please be sure you read the new guidelines for the 2008 block lotto - even if you have played along before, you will need to check out the guidelines, as the lotto will be a little different this year.

In January, we'll be starting the new year gently by making 6" finished (6 1/2" unfinished) string square blocks, in light and dark pairs. String squares are a great way to scrap-bust, and are so easy to make, they suit all quilters from beginners on up.

Here are the basic requirements for this month's blocks:

*This month, one entry into the lotto will consist of one pair of blocks - one block in light colours and one in dark colours.

*Minimum number of pairs you may make is 1, maximum number of pairs is 4 (a total of 8 blocks max.)

*Blocks should be 6" finished (6.5" unfinished). As blocks are built on a foundation, you may wish to make your foundation slightly larger and trim to size at the end

*Blocks should be built on a foundation fabric of 100 per cent cotton.You may use plain muslin, or any 100 per cent cotton fabric you want to use up (except flannel), provided that the pattern on the fabric does not show through any of the strips sewn on top

*Strips (strings) can be any fabric (except Christmas fabrics) and any width, up to a maximum of 2.5" unfinished. Each block should use a minimum of 6 different fabrics. No two blocks should be identical, though a single fabric may be used in up to 3 blocks. [If you are interested in string square blocks with Christmas fabrics, you might like to check out Lou's swap on about.com.]


Instructions for making a string square block:


1. Begin with a square of foundation fabric. Your unfinished block size is 6.5", so you can cut 6.5" squares, or if you wish, cut them slightly larger and trim to size at the end. You may use plain muslin or anyother fabric you wish to get rid of, provided that the pattern does not show through any of the fabrics sewn on top. Here I have chosen a light-coloured patterned fabric for my foundation squares. [To ensure the pattern doesn't show through on my light block, I have actually used the reverse side as the upward facing side for the light block.]






2. Take a strip of fabric and lay it face up on the foundation square, covering the diagonal of the fabric [above left]. Now lay another strip of fabric, face down, aligned with the right edge of the first strip [above right]. Sew these strips together along the right edge. Press open [see photo at right]. Continue in this fashion, adding strips out to the edge of the foundation square on both sides of the centre strip of fabric, pressing open as you go. The strips do not have to be all the same length, just be sure that they are long enough to cover the foundation fabric at top and bottom, once they are pressed outward.

3. Once you have added enough strips to cover all the foundation fabric, your block will look something like this [below left]. Turn the block over and trim carefully to 6.5" - ta da! Here's your trimmed string square block [below right]. As you can see, this block used 8 different strips of fabric; the widest (central) one was approximately 2.5" unfinished.



4. Inspired by a quilt discussed on Melody Johnsons' blog, this month we are doing string squares in pairs - one light block and one dark. Your fabrics may be any colour or pattern, but please use all lights in one block and all darks in the other. At below left, one pair of blocks; below right shows two pairs of blocks arranged in one of many possible settings.

5. Remember, this year we are not mailing our blocks anywhere until a winner is drawn - to be enterred into the lotto draw, you will need to have a digital photo of your blocks available - for more details, please take a moment to read the new lotto guidelines, which are posted at the start of this blog.

If you found that making string squares for the lotto just made you want to do lots more strings (and be warned, it can certainly be very addictive!) , Lou is currently hosting a string square swap on about.com, and has plans to host more through the year, with string variations.