Fellow Quilters,
Have I got something fun to share with you today!
Delivering to e-mailboxes everywhere is the October edition of Quilt Block Mania, organized by Carolina Moore of Always Expect Moore. The theme this month is Family, and 26 designers have each created a 12” block that in some way represents or reflects what family means to them. Each designer was asked to work within a select palette of colors as well so that all the blocks would color-coordinate nicely.
So, what did I do? I decided to have some fun with this theme! My block is entitled Every Family Has One. One what, you may ask? A black sheep of course! Yes, I designed an applique block – quite unusual for me – that has 4 sheep: 3 cream ones and one black one. And I found some perfect fabrics for it. I have been working with a fabulous new Basics collection from Banyan Batiks, and there is THE perfect fabric for the cream sheep. It has curlicues on it. Then I discovered that it also comes in a charcoal color.
Banyan Classics, perfect for sheep
Sold! I now had my cream and “black” sheep. Here is my first block.
My first version, using the Banyan Classics fabrics – love it!
Aren’t those sheep darling?!? I used the teal leaves fabric from my Vino collection for the background and some Banyan Shadows for the tonal off-white, black and peach.
Now, several years ago I made a baby quilt with sheep on it, and I used a fleecy fabric for the sheep. Could I do that here as well, I wondered? I dug through my stash and found some cream dotted Minky, and a black lightweight fleece. I chose these two fabrics because they are knits and won’t fray like woven fabrics do. You see, I will secure the edges of the pieces when I quilt the block, by quilting ⅛” inside the edges of the applique pieces using a matching thread. Here’s the fleecy super-cuddly version of my block.
The fleecy version of Every Family Has One
Cute!!! You can download my block pattern here.
So, I have a great tip for you today. For this block I chose to use the quick-fuse method for my appliques because I used batik fabrics. They are much more tightly woven than traditional quilting cotton, and I will secure the edges by stitching ⅛” from the edge as I will do for the knit fleece. I like to “window” my larger applique pieces – I trim out the inside of the Wonder-Under before I fuse it to my fabric, leaving only ¼” inside the traced line. This keeps the applique pieces softer and easier to quilt. Knowing I would cut out the inside of my sheep bodies, I traced smaller shapes inside the bodies and got double the use of my Wonder-Under.
I traced my smaller pieces inside the larger pieces since I would be trimming out the center of the larger pieces
Less waste and more $$ for fabric purchases 😊.
Here are the other designers that are participating in Quilt Block Mania – Family edition. Please hop over to their sites to collect their free patterns as well.
Warming by the Fire
Paper Chain Family at Slice of Pi Quilts
Family is Love
Family Quote Pineapple Block by Blockofthemodotcom
Family Pumpkin Pickin’ Day
Family Crest at Always Expect Moore
Old Rocking Chair at Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
Love@Home at Stash Bandit
Sisterhood by Michelle Renee Hiatt
Glimpse of Home at Scrapdash
We Are Family by Heidi Pridemore
Family Trees at Pretty Piney Quilts
Family is the Heart of Home by QuiltFabrication
Gathering by Blue Bear Quilts
Sister’s Choice at Perkins Dry Goods
Orange Blossom Quilt
Wonky Nesting Hearts
Family Photo Block
Celtic Trinity Knot by Appliqués Quilts and More
Scarecrow
Family Ring at Devoted Quilter
Tartan Block at True Blue Quilts
FindSewingStuff.com
Flying Geese Family by Tacy Gray
Family Heart by Amarar Cracions
Again, you can download mine here. And I welcome you to hop over to my Pattispatchwork website to check out my other patterns and sign up for my newsletter.
Cheers,
Patti
pattispatchwork-blog.com 
Love this block! Thank you so much!
My favourite block! I love sheep. Thank you!!
Those sheep are adorable!
oh my these are just adorable. i love that one is black LOL
Absolutely wonderful pattern, and perfect for my family, as well as many others, I’m sure! Thank you.
Adorable Patti…but…do you EVER slow down and take a breath???
Love the sheep. I made a sheep quilt several years ago for my doctor whose wife was expecting and sheep crazy. It was so much fun.
Thank you for the lovely sheep block and for not having to sign up for a newsletter.
Aforabket! Thank you! Best of the month!!
Adorable! Thank you!! Best of the month!!
Obrigadaaaaa
de nada 🙂
Love your darling block, too cute! Thank you for sharing!!