Caron Carlson is an award winning quilter who says she loves her work and it shows!!  Her Valley Quilt Studio patterns look intricate but are not difficult and they have been thoroughly tested.  Many of the patterns offer more than one size and more than one layout.

Lazy Log Cabin is constructed with a block that is so easy to make and once you’ve made the blocks, there are soooo many ways to lay out the blocks.  You might not be able to stop at just one quilt.  The pattern includes instructions for two sizes: a lap quilt and a full/queen size.

This quilt, Split Decision, looks like keeping track of the colors in the block would be so confusing but it’s a really simple quilt… another one with different looks from different layouts.  Aside from layout options you’ll also get tips on color selection.  And, again, two sizes! – lap and queen. 

 Is there a fabric that you are just dying to use in a border? Here’s the quilt for that!  The large blocks inside the body of Stars Over The Prairie quilt could use the same border fabric or you could use something that complements the border. Oh! and then a second quilt that reverses those fabrics and then hang them side by side, or on two twin beds.  

Shooting Starz has the coolest trick… that inner border looks complicated and interesting, but it’s really set on point blocks! Finish the blocks and it’s done!  Such a neat trick! You’ll be proud of this quilt no matter your experience but it’s designed for a confident beginner!  What are you waiting for?!

Browse through all the quilt patterns at QuiltersWarehouse and be sure to keep checking back for more from Caron Carlson in the future.

Hurry! There’s still time to sew some Christmas projects, whether for yourself, your home, or for gifts.  The problem you might have is choosing which project to do!

Is this guy cute?!  All Tangled Up is a quick project with fusible applique and embroidery embellishments. If you like it, you can make Snowy and Santa too.  They’ll brighten up any wall and make a pretty grouping.  Make a great gift, too, if you can bring yourself to giving them up.

Need a tree skirt?  This one is bright and fun looking.  You can use up some of your Christmas scraps and ‘wrap’ each of the gifts in different ‘wrapping paper’ and ribbon.

How about a bright colorful wreath that you can use year after year.  Christmas Charms Wreath is a pieced project with an appliqued ribbon.  You can make good use of your 5″ Charms squares with this pattern.  Then make it your own by embellishing with some ornaments or whatever strikes your fancy!

And look! The kitties are back! They’re disguised as Santa, an angel, a reindeer and an elf – so cute.  You can make Christmas Kittens ornaments or a bell pull.

Look at all you get with Christmas Table Charms.  You’ll be able to make some for yourself AND to give away.  You’ll be sure to find the perfect size for every table in your house.

These just represent the “tip of the iceberg” as they say.  There’s sooooo many more Christmas quilt patterns to be found.  And take a visit back to Eva Paige and Christmas in July for some more ideas. But hurry!  Christmas will be here before we know it!

Running a little behind here, as Month 3 is already out, but we’ll catch up! 

This is Block 1 from Month 2.  There are 8 half-square triangles, four hour-glass pieces and 13 squares.  Just a little bit more challenging than the first month.

And here is Block 2 from Month 2.  Another EASY block.  The instructions said to cut each piece but I strip-pieced the four square blocks and the rectangle blocks.  It worked just fine and saved some cutting and sewed up a little faster.

Block of the Month quilts really are fun. If you’ve never tried one now might be the time!  When you have several works in progress and feel like you aren’t getting anywhere you can do one of the blocks and you feel like you finished something because all you are supposed to do is one block!  It doesn’t get your other projects finished but it’ll give you a break and the incentive to get going again on a WIP.

One of the BOM’s that is available is Thyme to Water.  It ships on the 21st of each month and is a six month project.  Start now and it’ll be ready for next summer.  This quilt is mostly pieced with some applique and will finish at 69″ X 69″.

Feeling ambitious?  Garden Friends Block of the Month is another 6 month project.

Start it along with Thyme to Water and you’ll have two quilts finished come next summer.  You’ll have a head start on your decorating… these two quilts would look great hanging together… or artfully thrown over a chair or a couch.

There are lots more Block of the Month patterns from which to choose.  There is sure to be one (or more!) that will suit your fancy.

New patterns at Quilters Warehouse include a couple of quick projects.  One of those quick projects is Lucky Charm by Lehmann Quilting.  It’s two times three! Two colors fabrics, two sizes and two layouts.  These quick to construct table runners make use of strip piecing.  Make one for your home for the holidays and them make up another as a gift.

Another quick pattern is Jelly Roll Runners & More I.  This pattern has instructions for four quick designs that you can make in a single day, all from one jelly roll.

You’ll feel like you’ve gotten so much accomplished when you finish these.  Then you might want to tackle a larger project.

Simple Blended is a queen size quilt of a fairly simple design that is fat quarter friendly.

If you want to try a new technique, Happy Villages will teach you all about fabric collage.  You can let your creativeness loose as you make a village that expresses what you want it to be.  You won’t need to worry about 1/4 inch seams or matching points. Just lay out your village, like it and sew or don’t like it and lay it out another way and then sew. 

And what collection of patterns would be complete without a few Christmas projects?  Three Stockings is so cute. . . a little piecing, a little applique, a little whimsy.  It’s a wallhanging that would make a great gift.

 Yuletide Ribbon Wreath is another wallhanging.  This one has lots of applique and lots of open spaces to showcase your quilting.  Using plaid for the ribbon really adds movement and dimension to the quilt.

As always there is something for everyone among the quilt patterns at Quilters Warehouse.  Enjoy the browsing and then enjoy the quilting.  If you can’t decide what you want or don’t have time to finish shopping, just add your selections to “Favorites” and they’ll be waiting for you when you come back.

Ok, here’s the first installment of the On Point Block of the Month Showcase project.   The first month has two blocks.   Block 1 is called Hearth and Home.  There are 8 half square triangles and 17 squares.  As you can imagine, this block went together lickety-split . . . quick and easy.  What a nice beginning. 

A few tips . . .

- As you follow the instructions and cut the pieces it’s helpful to cut a  small piece of each fabric and make a chart so you can keep track of which fabric matches which number in the instructions. 

- I found my fabric stacked in order, which made it easier to figure which was which (nice job, Sandy!) but don’t assume that it will always be that way . . . it’s easy enough to get them mixed up in the packing – or in the unpacking! 

- It’s helpful also to look at the color image as you check the fabric, as the darks in the gray scale drawing are not neccessarily the darks in the actual block. 

Block 2 is called Broken Dishes. It has 8 small half square triangles and 4 larger half square triangles and 8 squares.  It went together nearly as quick and easy as the first block.

The instructions say to cut the fabric for the half square triangles (HST) into squares and then in half diagonally and then sew the resulting triangles together.  I found that there was enough fabric to cut the squares a bit larger and draw a line diagonally from corner to corner, sew just under 1/4″ away from this line on either side, and then cut down the line.  This made two HST from each pair of squares and there were no bias edges to deal with while sewing.  Just be sure to make your seams a bit less than 1/4″ ’cause there’s not much wiggle room! and then trim the HST to the correct finished size (3″ or 3 1/2″ depending on which ones they are).

Each of these blocks finished at 12 1/2″ as will the rest of the blocks with the exception of the center block. 

If you are interested in starting the On Point Block of the Month don’t worry that you are too late.  You’ll receive the same set of blocks each month that everyone else gets and then you’ll start over until you have all of the months.  You can refer back to the posts for the earlier months when you get them.  Don’t forget to sent pics of your finished blocks so we can all “oooh” and “aaaah” over them.  Send them to kbrown@quiltersshowcase.com .  Oh, and be sure to have fun, and soak up the joy of completing such pretty blocks that will be part of a beautiful large quilt.

There are several Block of the Month choices at Quilters Warehouse.  They are a fun way to complete a large quilt.  The expense is spread out and so is the work.  This is how it works…Each month you will receive a package that includes a pattern for a portion of the quilt, plus all the fabric you need to complete that portion.  This continues each month until your quilt is nearly finished.  The last package you receive will be to complete the quilt top.  This usually means the borders.  You will then have your top finished and will need to provide the batting and backing.  The fabric that is included in your kit will be selected to match the fabrics as noted or pictured in the pattern but it will sometimes be necessary to make substitutions with similiar fabrics.

On Point is the newest Block of the Month at QuiltersWarehouse. It’s available with a pieced center:

or with an applique center:

This totally scrappy quilt is a nine month project. The first seven months will be patterns and fabric (scrappy, of course) for the pieced blocks that surround the center. There are fourteen of them so, 2 blocks per month. The eight month will be fabric and the pattern for the center, your choice of applique or pieced. The final month will be all the rest… the fabric and pattern for the sashing, pieced border, border and binding.

If you’re ready to jump on the Block of the Month bandwagon do it now and we’ll keep up here on QuiltersShowcase. We’ll “showcase” construction of this quilt, step by step, with pictures of blocks each month as they are completed. Want to participate? Email photos of your completed blocks to kbrown@quiltersshowcase.com and see them posted here. It’ll be a fun way to keep on task with your project and see how others are doing.   Month one, begin!  Watch for a post In the next few days that is all about Month one.