|
This week's Sewcialites 3 block, Dreamy, is designed by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life. It's a lovely tulip block featuring straight piecing and half-square triangles that allow the color and fabric choices to take center stage. When I looked at where this block would sit in the sampler, it felt like it needed a little breathing room. A lighter palette let the flower stand out while keeping the overall quilt balanced.  For my block, I used Thatched fabrics in Caramel, Buttermilk, Early Dawn, Primrose, and Sugar Rose. The neutrals became the stem and leaves, while the soft pinks brought the flower petals to life. This lighter palette fits nicely into the overall layout of my sampler while giving this delicate bloom a soft, airy feel.  I enjoy working with Thatched, and this block is a great example of how a near-solid fabric can add interest without overwhelming a design. From a distance, Thatched reads much like a solid, making it easy to define the shapes of the petals and leaves. Up close, however, the subtle scribble texture adds movement and depth. Texture doesn't always have to come from busy prints—sometimes a quieter fabric can give a block just the right amount of character.  As the sampler continues to grow, it's fun to see how each designer's block contributes its own personality to the quilt. Be sure to stop back next week for another Sewcialites 3 block as we get one step closer to seeing the finished sampler come together.
Happy Sewing! - Robin
0 Comments
This week's Sewcialites 3 block is Gazebo, designed by Doug Leko of Antler Quilt Design. I'm not sure Doug envisioned this block dressed entirely in shades of pink, but I have to say—it is absolutely delicious! This palette gives the design a fresh, unexpected look while allowing the striking geometry of the block to take center stage.  The Gazebo block is perfect for playing with color. With just a few different shades of pink, it takes on an entirely different personality—from bold and dramatic to soft and understated. Whether you choose a soft palette, high contrast, or a rainbow of prints, the design offers endless possibilities for creative expression.  The Thatched fabrics used this week are Early Dawn, Sugar Rose, Fuchsia, and Primrose. By working within a single color family, the focus shifts from color to value, allowing the varying shades to define the design. From the soft, delicate Early Dawn presented as the background fabric to the bold Fuchsia at the center of the block, each fabric plays an important role. Sugar Rose provides a medium value that gently frames the center, while Primrose creates a soft outer border, bringing the entire composition together. This block is a wonderful example of how subtle shifts in value can create depth, and visual interest without relying on contrasting colors.  One of the fun parts of making a sampler quilt is watching the larger composition unfold. Each completed block contributes its own character, while the collection gradually comes together as a unified design. There are still a few weeks ahead, and I'm looking forward to seeing the final composition take shape.
Happy Sewing! -Robin Week 19 of Sewcialites 3 is here, and this week we're sewing Pinwheel Dash, designed by Bev McCullough of Flamingo Toes. As the name suggests, Pinwheel Dash is a delightful combination of two classic quilt blocks—a pinwheel and a churn dash. It's always fun to see familiar elements reimagined into something fresh, and Bev's design does just that.  For my version, I used Thatched in Fuchsia, Burgundy, Masala Spice, and Caramel. The construction is a bit more involved than it first appears, requiring careful piecing and accurate seam allowances. Bev's design is a wonderful example of how color placement can completely change the character of a quilt block.  The pops of Fuchsia naturally draw your eye to the pinwheel, making it the focal point of the block. I chose to use more Burgundy than the pattern suggests, rather than introducing additional colors, and it completely changed the overall look. The larger areas of Burgundy give the block a more unified appearance while allowing the pinwheel to shine without overwhelming the design. By simply moving color around you can transform a quilt block without changing a single seam. A different color choice or value placement can give the very same block an entirely different personality.  It's fun when a block surprises me, and Pinwheel Dash did just that. It's a wonderful example of how experimenting with color placement can create an unexpected and beautiful result.
Happy sewing! - Robin Week 18 of Sewcialites 3 has arrived, and this week Stacy Iest Hsu is bringing us the Cross Current Block! Let's just strap in right from the start because Stacy is definitely bringing the challenge this week. This is one of the most advanced blocks in the sew-along, featuring a stitch-and-flip construction that requires accuracy, patience, and plenty of attention to detail.  The payoff, however, is absolutely worth it. The dynamic movement created by the intersecting stripes gives the block wonderful energy and makes it a standout addition to the sampler. As with many experienced-level blocks, taking your time with cutting, stitching, and trimming will help everything come together smoothly. This isn't a block to rush through, but seeing those diagonal stripes come to life is incredibly satisfying.  For my version, I used the following Thatched colors (top to bottom): Buttermilk, Caramel, Burgundy, Fuchsia, Sugar Rose, and Pink Grapefruit. The placement of the colors plays a big role in this block's visual impact, creating a sense of complexity and movement that makes it stand out in the overall quilt layout. Thoughtful color placement helps highlight the intersecting diagonal stripes and gives Cross Current its striking, dynamic appearance.  With only a few weeks left in Sewcialites 3, it's exciting to see the sampler continuing to grow. Each designer has brought their own unique style to the quilt, and Stacy's Cross Current block is no exception.
The Cross Current block was both a little challenging and very enjoyable to sew. Happy Sewing! - Robin It's Friday, which means it's time for another Sewcialites 3 block reveal! This week we're making Block 17, Flutter, designed by Sandy Gervais of Pieces From My Heart. At first glance, Flutter might look like a nine-patch block, but take a closer look and you'll discover a clever twist. Not that we don't love a good nine-patch, it's a classic for a reason, but this block has a little fairy dust sprinkled on it. The construction is all straight piecing, making it approachable and enjoyable to sew, yet the design feels anything but ordinary. Oversized corner squares and pieced outer middle units create movement and interest, transforming a familiar layout into something fresh and playful.  What I especially appreciate about Flutter is how Sandy Gervais took a traditional block structure and gave it a different personality. It's a great reminder that sometimes the most creative designs come from reimagining the basics.  The Thatched fabrics I used this week are Early Dawn, Primrose, Sugar Rose, Pink Grapefruit, Smoked Paprika, Masala Spice, Caramel, and Buttermilk. I chose the darker Smoked Paprika for the center square and combined the remaining colors throughout the block to create a balanced, lighter overall look. The contrast helps draw your eye to the center while allowing the surrounding colors to flutter around it.  Flutter is a wonderful example of how thoughtful construction doesn't have to be complicated to be effective. A few clever design choices are all it takes to turn an everyday block into something memorable. See you again next week, friends.
Happy Sewing! - Robin It's Friday and that means it's time for another Sewcialites 3 reveal! This week we're making Block 16, Florabelle, designed by Heather Briggs of My Sew Quilty Life. Florabelle is as pretty as it is intricate. Rated at an intermediate skill level, this block is constructed almost entirely with stitch-and-flip units. While stitch-and-flip is a straightforward technique, working at a finished size of just 3" means there are a lot of very small pieces to manage.  This is one of those blocks where accuracy really matters. Trimming, pressing, and maintaining a consistent seam allowance all help keep the units the correct size as they come together. With so many stitch-and-flip corners packed into such a small space, even a slight variation can add up by the time the block is assembled.  For color, I used Burgundy, Fuchsia, Pink Grapefruit, Sugar Rose, Primrose, Early Dawn, and Caramel. That's the majority of my color palette represented in a single block! Because Florabelle contains so many small pieces, it provided a great opportunity to incorporate a wide range of fabrics without any one color overwhelming the design. The combination of warm pinks, rich burgundy, and soft neutrals really helped bring the design to life. Despite its small size, Florabelle makes a big impact with both color and detail.  One of the things I'm enjoying most about Sewcialites 3 is how each block presents a different challenge. Some weeks focus on color placement, while others test accuracy and construction. Florabelle definitely falls into the latter category, making it a satisfying finish once all those tiny pieces come together.
Happy Sewing - Robin It’s Friday block release day for Sewcialites 3 and this week’s Block 15 is the beautiful Split Star Block designed by Lissa Alexander of ModaLissa. This design is delivering the look of two blocks in one, as the background becomes a design element itself in addition to the main sawtooth star motif. The layered illusion is the diagonal half-square triangle divide that creates a two-tone background, allowing your eye to move between foreground and background depending on fabric placement. One moment the star shines forward, and the next the background creates a striking secondary pattern.  Color placement becomes especially important in creating contrast and depth within this block. Strong value differences between medium, and dark fabrics, chosen here, help separate the look of “overlapping” shapes and emphasize the layered effect. When the background has good contrasts with the star, the sawtooth star feels bold and dimensional. But when similar tones are placed beside each other, the secondary patterns begin to emerge more subtly, creating a softer and more intricate visual texture. It’s a block that completely changes personality depending on how colors are arranged.  The colors I used this week, from top to bottom, are Sugar Rose, Cranberry, Burgundy, Smoked Paprika, and Pink Grapefruit. Together, this combination paired with the Split Star Block feels like the epitome of warmth and depth. The darker Smoked Paprika, Cranberry, and Burgundy tones pull the design forward, while the softer Sugar Rose and Pink Grapefruit create an almost glowing background that lifts the block. It’s tempting to make an entire quilt using this palette — perhaps with the background split diagonally throughout the whole design to frame the star blocks!? So many ideas, so little time!  Every week of sewing along has been inspiring and fun, and I always love seeing how different fabric and color choices completely transform each block. This one especially feels like it could go in so many directions depending on the fabrics you choose. It is becoming a fast favorite, like so many of the others!
Happy Sewing! -Robin Sewcialites 3 Week 14 is here, and this week’s block is the lovely Criss-Cross Star Block designed by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet Co. One of my favorite details about the Criss-Cross Star block is the floating point construction, which helps those star points come out perfectly every time — and we all love perfect points! This block has a unique classic star design very in tune with Lori Holt’s charming signature style, and it comes together in a way that feels both fun and satisfying to sew.  From a quilt construction standpoint, this method is such a smart design choice. Instead of forcing bulky seams right at the tip of the star, the floating point technique lets the points “breathe” slightly within the seam allowance, which reduces bulk and gives you much cleaner, sharper results when the block is pressed and set into the quilt. It also makes alignment a bit more forgiving during piecing, while still delivering that crisp, polished star shape we all aim for. It’s one of those thoughtful construction details that really shows why this block works so beautifully in a sampler setting.  The colors I used this week are Buttermilk, Caramel, Smoked Paprika, Pink Grapefruit, and Primrose, which gives this block such a warm and cozy feel. This palette would make a beautiful fall-inspired combination too — just add a touch of green!  The Criss- Cross Star points are made with Buttermilk and Primrose, which keeps them light and airy so they really pop against the Pink Grapefruit, this makes the whole star feel soft and glowing.
The corners in Smoked Paprika add a deeper, spiced contrast that frames the block and gives it a grounded, slightly dramatic edge, while the Caramel center pulls everything together with a warm, honeyed focal point. Week by week, Sewcialites 3 continues to bring together gorgeous blocks, creative techniques, and so much quilting inspiration. Happy Sewing Robin This week’s Sewcialites 3, block 13 is Back Porch Block, designed by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co.. It’s a beautifully detailed block with a lot of small pieces, making it a rewarding sew that sits comfortably in the intermediate skill range.  There’s a lot of structure in this design, and the piecing really comes together in a way that feels both traditional and fresh at the same time. Because of the number of smaller pieces, it’s one of those blocks that benefits from a little extra attention and patience. Spray starch is especially helpful if you're working on the 3" blocks, along with taking the time to press carefully and square up each step — but the finished result is absolutely worth it.  The color palette for this week is Burgundy, Cranberry, Fuchsia, Sugar Rose, Primrose, and Early Dawn. Each of these tones brings a soft progression of value and warmth, creating a cohesive, gently shifting gradient across the block layout from the center outward. My color selections are guided by the overall layout of the quilt. Since this block sits in the burgundy section of the design, I’ve used Burgundy as the background fabric. This helps anchor the block within its designated section while allowing the remaining colors to shine in the piecing.  It’s always interesting to see how each block contributes to the larger quilt design, especially when color placement plays such a key role in the overall structure. The Back Porch Block is a great example of how thoughtful color placement can completely change the look and feel of a complex block.
Happy Sewing. Robin Welcome to Week 12 of Sewcialites 3! It’s hard to believe we are already this far along in the sew along, and each week continues to bring a wonderful mix of quilt history and fresh new color play. This week’s block is Block 12 — the timeless Shoo Fly block by Sharon Holland.  The Shoo Fly block is one of those classic quilt blocks that feels deeply rooted in the original handcraft of quilting. Timeless, versatile, and full of history, it’s a design that has carried through generations of makers. You could almost call it a soul block! There’s something comforting about revisiting these traditional blocks and seeing how they continue to inspire quilters today.  For my version this week, I worked with Fuchsia, Pink Grapefruit, Burgundy, and Caramel. As surprising as this may sound, it creates such a bright and lively block. The rich warmth of Caramel and Burgundy balances beautifully with the punchy Pink Grapefruit and Fuchsia, giving the Shoo Fly block a fresh, energetic personality while still honoring its traditional roots.  One of my favorite parts of the Sewcialites sew along is seeing how color can completely change the feel of a familiar block. A historic design like Shoo Fly can take on a whole new personality depending on the palette and placement choices, and that creative discovery is always inspiring.
Happy Sewing! -Robin |
About ROBINDesigner of colorful florals and Thatched basics for Moda Fabrics . Modern to transitional quilt designer, cross stitch designer, sewist, crafter. I am proud to be a designer for Moda Fabrics!
Shop Robin's Designs
 I am an affiliate for Fat Quarter Shop and may earn a small commission through my links. Thank you for your support!
Check the March 6, 2017 Episode!
Categories
All
Archives
November 2025
© Robin Pickens Inc. All rights reserved. No images may be reproduced without permission.
|
RSS Feed
