Hey, everyone! How are you doing with Moda Blockheads 6 so far? Are you managing to stay on task with the weekly schedule, or are the blocks piling up like good intentions to organize your sewing room? Needless to say, with my mother’s unexpected passing a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been a bit distracted to say the least. Obviously, most of the projects I’m working on — Blockheads 6 included — have been spending some time on the back burner, but no biggie. I put my nose to the grindstone over the last couple of days and managed to get caught up by cranking a few week’s worth of blocks. Let’s check em’ out!
Block 1 – Regatta by Vanessa Christenson of V and Co. came out of the gate strong, setting the tone for what promises to be another fantastic round of Blockheads! Her beautiful and beginner friendly block features a fresh, modern layout with clean, simple shapes. Vanessa grew up watching Regattas (or “sail boat races” for you land lovers out there) in Southern California. The points in this block are inspired by taut sails full of wind, snapping into motion and pulling the boats to life as they raced across the water.
Have you chosen a colorway yet? Remember, even though it won’t be delivered until this December, I’ve decided to do my quilt in reds, whites, and blues in honor of my latest fabric line, American Gatherings III‘s debut! Here’s my version of Regatta looking oh so Uncle Sam…
For those of you who are also choosing to go with a red, white, and blue theme like I am, I will be using two different gray Bella Solids for my background fabrics. They include three yards of Bella Solids Steel 9900 184 (instead of the white in Moda’s original design), and four yards of Bella Solids Graphite 9900 202 (instead of the Navy in Moda’s design), which you can find on our website by clicking the buttons below. In addition, for those of you who are going with this colorway but just so happen to be short on lights, I’ve got you covered with curated Fat Quarter bundles that include 18 light fat quarters for only $72.00. As for the darks, I don’t have specific bundles made up at the moment, so you’ll need to pull those from your own stash and mix and match from what you’ve already got on hand.
Block Two – Crossroads is brought to us by longtime Blockheads designer, Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles Quilters and honestly, its name couldn’t be more perfect. Featuring simple strip-pieced squares, half-square triangles, and a center quarter-square-triangle, this block is all about intersecting paths and meeting points.
Have you ever made a block that just feels like Sunday morning? Block 3 – Sunday Best from Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs is a beginner-friendly design offering timeless charm and that perfect patchwork feel. Anne describes it beautifully: this block “reminds me of my favorite ‘Sunday best’ traditions—a pretty dress, a fresh bouquet on the table, or a lovingly pieced quilt on the back of a church pew.” The simple combination of flying geese, squares, and four-patches creates something classic, sweet, and it’s fun to make too!
Remember that game, Cat’s Cradle from when we were kids? Block 4 – Cat’s Cradle from first-time Blockheads designer, Kiley Ferons of Kiley’s Quilt Room captures that same playful spirit with half-rectangles and easy corner triangles that weave together for a fun, modern-day look. Not bad for a newbie… It looks like we’ve got ourselves a keeper!!!
If you have any questions on how to go about making this week’s block, be sure to check out Moda’s video tutorial on YouTube! Whether you’re a seasoned Blockhead or joining us for the first time, you’ll appreciate the clear instructions, handy tips, and warm encouragement they provide—all in one place! You can find the video along with all sorts of helpful information including the latest block patterns on the Moda Inspiration + Resources Blog by clicking HERE!
So there we have it – the first four blocks all caught up! Now, you know me and this heat – I actually love it since we only get so much of it around here. I’m going to try and sneak outside for some sun and fresh air to clear my head before tomorrow’s storms roll in. If you’re in the path of this crazy heatwave they’re predicting for the weekend (temps near 100 in my area!), stay safe and cool, and maybe use it as an excuse to hunker down with your sewing machine – and keep those needles moving on your Blockheads! See you soon! ~Lisa
