"Whaaat? Another project, you say? And a Block of the Month? Seriously, Nicole, I thought you swore off these things for 2025?" No, no, no. The project I have in mind is technically a Block of the Month hosted by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life. But I don't have a year to get it done. It needs to be finished, quilted, and bound by the end of May, and Sherri's BOM goes through December. I don't have time for that. But she has given me a brilliant idea for a quilt I hope to crack out in a few weeks. Thank you Sherri!
OK, here's the deal. Sherri does a wonderful BOM every year. The patterns are free during the year the BOM takes place, and then you have to buy them if you didn't download the free patterns when you had the chance. This year, each month has a six-inch block that is surrounded by a log cabin setting. Each block finishes at 18"! That's big. Anyway, by the time you complete 12 blocks you have a really big quilt. You know going into the BOM, you will end up with 12 log cabin blocks with a different cute 6" block in the center.
So here is how I am going rogue with this project. I will not be making Sherri's center 6" block for each month. Instead, for each month, I am going to do my own themed center block that has to do with whatever season/holiday/motif is associated with that month. A heart block for February, a shamrock block for March, an acorn block for September etc etc. The six-inch center heart block above was a Lissa Alexander free pattern "Zest" in the Moda Blockheads 3 sew-along. The shamrock came from a pattern I ordered off of Etsy.
I don't have time to wait for Sherri to come out with her monthly center block. I will forge ahead and find my own 6-inch seasonal blocks for the center of my 12 monthly themed log cabin blocks. My goal is to complete these easy blocks, send them off to my quilter, and get the quilt back in time to give to Eva as an eighth-grade graduation present by the end of May. How fun is that? Her whole life, we have done seasonal crafts, seasonal cooking projects, and seasonal decorating. Now, she can have a commemorative quilt that will celebrate all those months of the year when we spent time together creating amazing things.
The fabric I am using is Sherri and Chelsi's Laguna Sunrise and Raspberry Summer. I bought a layer cake and a jelly roll in each of those collections. Both lines are cheerful, fun, colorful, and perfect for a young teen's quilt. There are shades of red, blue, green, peach, aqua, citron and more. Each block will pull from one color and be in keeping with a theme associated with the month in question. The background fabric I chose is just amazing, and I recommend that you snap some up before it is sold out. It is a white tone-on-tone (with subtle tiny ditsy flowers) from the Laguna Sunrise collection. This is a great background and would be amazing in so many quilts that need a solid-reading fabric as a background.
Can you tell I am excited about this new project? I get to work with fun colorful fabric and give the quilt to someone I love when it's finished. Win, win, all around!
sounds like fun for you and a cherished gift for Eva!
Posted by: Doris | February 28, 2025 at 04:48 AM
You are so clever! I'm sure Eva will love the quilt; it's such a great idea.
Posted by: mary | February 28, 2025 at 04:52 AM
You go girl! Nothing like a project packed with love to get your juices flowing. Have fun!
Posted by: Carole | February 28, 2025 at 05:12 AM
Sounds like fun and the “deadline” will surely push you to finish it— you do have time! What a wonderful gift.
Posted by: Carol | February 28, 2025 at 05:29 AM
What a fun quilt! How is she graduating 8th grade already? Wasn't she just 4? Time is going too fast! I can't believe my oldest granddaughter is 6 now! I need them to stop growing for a year or two so I can enjoy them longer!
Posted by: Carolyn | February 28, 2025 at 05:47 AM
Sounds like a plan! I hope she doesn’t find out. It will be beautiful 😻
Posted by: Pamela Dempsey | February 28, 2025 at 05:54 AM
What a wonderful idea - absolutely love it! Can't wait to see it progress. Eva will be thrilled 😁
Posted by: Kelli | February 28, 2025 at 06:06 AM
What a great idea for a quilt, it’s going to be just perfect! Have fun!
Posted by: Sandra | February 28, 2025 at 07:11 AM
I suspected this might have something to do with Eva! I remember when she was born, so HOW did she get to 8th Grade already??? Those colors are so cheerful & perfect for your girl!
Posted by: Jan | February 28, 2025 at 07:54 AM
Really great idea for a quilt. I am so glad you thought of it while there is still time. Love cute fabrics. Will be very interested to see the center blocks you pick. I can see myself doing this same quilt.
I can also see making one of Sherri McConnell/A Quilting Life quilts, but I would be inclined to do it at the end of the year, when the whole quilt was revealed, so I could do it all in one go.i don’t think I could stop and start. Although I did used to do round robins in my quilting guild where we traded quilts every month.
Posted by: Vickie | February 28, 2025 at 09:49 AM
omg! adorable!
Posted by: Ina | February 28, 2025 at 09:52 AM
Oh My! That will be so adorable and a precious keepsake for Eva no doubt. I truly cannot believe she is already graduating from 8th grade.
How are you going to keep it a secret?
Posted by: Sally | February 28, 2025 at 01:14 PM
Great idea! It will be fun to watch it being constructed. S&C have some beautiful fabrics too.
Posted by: sue s | March 01, 2025 at 06:00 AM
Hi Nicole,
Awhile back you referenced a you tube that showed
a binding technique of stitching in the ditch from the
front.
can you help me find that video, as I didnt save it.
thanks Rose
Posted by: Rose | March 01, 2025 at 12:56 PM
What a great idea for a quilt. I wanted to do that block of the month but have too many other projects to finish. Can't wait to see your blocks!
Posted by: Chris | March 02, 2025 at 03:54 PM
What a wonderful idea, Nicole. I know Eva will cherish it. Does Eva show any interest in sewing or quilting? I introduced by grandsons to sewing - they enjoy making pillowcases - but mostly they’re interested in pushing all the buttons on my machine to look at the different stitches. Probably no sewists in that group.
Posted by: Margaret | March 03, 2025 at 04:32 AM
Love your blocks and that ditsy background is so perfect! It’s a bolt of fabric I didn’t know I needed 🤣 can’t wait to see this quilt done!
Posted by: Anita | March 03, 2025 at 11:50 PM