Bat Quilt Blocks

Usually the only time of the year I think about bats is around Halloween.

But, as I was looking at a website that had special holidays, I discovered that today is Bat Appreciation Day.

I’m not sure that I fully appreciate bats – although they are somewhat intriguing to me.

When quilting daughter, Stephanie, was in Houston, she learned that Austin has the largest bat population in North America.

Possibly that’s where Bat Appreciation Day came from.

Regardless, today, you’ll see how to sew The Bat quilt block – there’s a video and step-by-step instructions to download:

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/1364-the-bat-quiltblock.php

The Bat Quilt Block

 

Pineapples and Easter

Pineapples have been a symbol of friendship for centuries, so it’s no wonder that quilters would create quilt blocks that represent the pineapple.

For those who celebrate Easter, have a wonderful Easter Sunday – with family, friends, watching children enjoying an Easter Egg Hunt.

And even if you don’t celebrate Easter, here’s a video showing how to sew the Pineapple Plant quilt block, and a free pattern – my gift of friendship to you:

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1362-pineapple-plant-quiltblock.php

Pineapple Plant quilt block

 

May Basket Quilt Block

Oh, I know it isn’t May yet!

Actually we still have a few days left in March.

But I thought it would be fun to show you how to sew the May Basket quilt block together.

After all, it is a little challenging, since it has a bunch of diamonds – like many other basket quilt blocks.

Once you get the hang of sewing this together, it’s fun – but it will still take some time.

I’ve put together a video that shows the step-by-step instructions:

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1323-may-basket-quiltblock.php

May Basket quilt block

 

Pattern Quilts and How to Quilt Weekly News

Oh, I’m so glad we aren’t making pattern quilts any more!

These are blocks and quilts that were made using fabric and sent to friends and family members so they could create a similar quilt.

Yes, it was way before magazine and newspaper quilt block patterns, and fabric was about the best way to share your
patterns.

You’ll read more about them in this week’s news and get your free quilt block patterns.

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/newsletter/patternquilts.php

 

Puppies and Fish

Happy National Puppy Day!

Who would have guessed?

Since I’m kind of new to puppies, and actually now I’m living with “all grown up” doggies, I’m not sure whether puppies enjoy watching fish as much as my kitties did.

I do know that the puppies I live with now enjoy carrying around little stuffed raccoon toys.

Maybe they would enjoy fish toys, too.

Regardless, today I’ve got the All Those Fish quilt block in video.

This should be a relatively easy quilt block to sew – but you’ll want to watch for all of the triangles, so they don’t get stretched out of shape.

This is the kind of block that would make a great quilt for a child, a cabin retreat, or a sofa quilt for someone who loves fish.

Just change the color scheme for the one you love:

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1361-all-those-fish-quiltblock.php

All Those Fish quilt block

 

Aliens and Ghosts

Happy Alien Abduction Day!

Well, not that I’m hoping that you get abducted by an alien, but it something interesting to ponder.

Last year, Jim and I visited Roswell, known for an alien spaceship landing.

It was truly fun and interesting to read about the events of the town during that time.

Believing in aliens may be like believing in ghosts, so I thought I’d bring you the Ghostwalk quilt block today.

It’s got some curved pieces, and it’s a great block to practice on – whether you believe or not:

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/1339-ghostwalk-quiltblock.php

Ghostwalk Quilt Block

 

Understanding Quilt Blocks Webinar Replay

Just a quick note to let you know that the replay of last night’s webinar – Understanding Quilt Blocks is live:

http://www.thequiltingcoach.com/public/1232.cfm

The public access will be posted online for about a week, after that the replay will be for members only.

So, grab a glass of your favorite beverage, and enjoy!

 

A Mad Hatter Tea Party

It seemed like ages ago when Jim and I
made the trek to Anaheim to go to the
Disney D23 Expo.

It was our first. As a matter of fact,
it was the first for Disney, too.

And, as you might expect from a Disney
event, it was jam-packed with stuff to do.

The year was 2010 and the Johnny Depp
version of Alice in Wonderland was about
to be released, and they were doing some
amazing promotions.

One of them included a special tea party
banquet table set up.

And, right there at the Tea Party was a
guy dressed like the Depp version of the
Mad Hatter – all in bright green and orange.

Back home, I was inspired to create a Tea
for Four quilt block using that color
scheme.

A busy guy, later that year, Johnny Depp
was in another Pirates of the Caribbean
movie.

And they had an amazing promotion for that
movie as well.

Take heart in the fact that Johnny hasn’t
won an Oscar and create your own quilts
using one of these tea party-themed quilt
blocks.

You’ll see videos showing you how to sew
the blocks together when you visit:

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1357-tea-for-4.php

Mad Hatter Tea Party

 

Bird Quilt Blocks

Some special days are celebrated by most everyone while others are celebrated by special groups interested in a particular topic.

Whatever the celebration, you will probably be able to find a quilt block to make the day even more fun.

For the next few days, bird counters will go into backyards and count birds.

The purpose is two-fold:

- to get more folks interested in birds

- to keep track of where bird populations are

This is officially the Great Backyard Bird Count, and if you enjoy bird-themed blocks, you’ll find some here:

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1303-birdsintheair.php

Birds in the Air quilt block

 

Chinese New Year – quilt block

Yes, today is the first day of the Chinese New Year celebration!

The Chinese New Year is based on their lunar/solar calendar and some complicated mathematical calculations which somewhat remind me of how they figure out when Easter is each year.

Chinese New Year is a huge celebration that lasts two weeks and ends with the Lantern Festival.

This is the year of the Snake, and much as I tried, I couldn’t figure out how to create the templates for the Snake Trail quilt block.

It has sectioned curves. Maybe I’ll work more on it, but no promises.

Instead, I’m showing the Chinese Lanterns quilt block.

This is another block where value makes a difference:

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1356-chinese-lanterns-quiltblock.php