Submitted by Liz M.
In 2020, Moda Fabrics held their third quilt along called Moda Blockheads. Fifty-six blocks were created by designers and one block was released every Wednesday. Some designers added alternate blocks to substitute for an appliqué block and several layouts were offered for setting the final blocks. Most block patterns were in your choice of size: 4”, 6”, 8” and 12”. The designers used fabrics they had designed and it was interesting to see the same block in different fabrics.See the 2020 MODA Blockheads
Some quilters stitched each week’s block in two different color ways. Some stitched the first 25 into one quilt with one color way and then continued the next 25 in a different color way. Fun to see the variety of options.
One designer, Robin Pickens, created a Color Study for many of the blocks. She showed how the same block looked with the color placement changed. Fascinating! Many of them did not look like the original block at all! She also did a few mock ups of how a block might look repeated in a quilt. Now I want to sew a quilt made of the same block with different color placement!Robin Pickens Color Studies
I participated in The Splendid Sampler quilt along a few years ago. I have sewn a group of the blocks in to one top that is waiting to be quilted and have a second group of blocks waiting to be finished into a top. Many of the blocks stretched my skills and I was happy I only needed to sew one of them!
Have you done a quilt along? Was it online or with a group in-person? Did you sew all the blocks in order, vary the settings, make multiple quilts? Suggestions to make a quilt along successful? Add your comments below.
Thanks everyone! The Splendid Sampler 1 Quilt Along started in January 2016 and ran until Spring 2017. There were 100 total and I made most of the blocks as they came out. A Splendid Sampler 2 started in June 2017 and ran a year. I continued to stitch the blocks into 2019.
In 2020, during COVID quarantine, I chose the heart setting to showcase blocks that represented a different occasions. These special blocks include: a birthday, birth of a grand daughter, weddings for my son and my daughter, my small quilt group, remodeling our home, a retirement trip, Canada’s 150th birthday and others.
Love your setting! I collected all the blocks as they came out (and the color studies) but have yet to start this.
Curious about what inspired your setting. I love it.
This turned out amazing. I love the idea of setting the blocks within the heart