Let’s Celebrate!

Fellow Quilters,

Happy New Year!

Do you celebrate New Year’s Eve with a bang?  Or prefer to watch festivities on tv while curled up with a good book, a mug of cocoa and a furry friend?  I’ve got a fun giveaway if you post a comment (details below).  Many years ago, when Hubby and I used to cottage with my family, our New Year’s Eve consisted of a steak & lobster dinner followed by several hands of Court Whist (the predecessor to Bridge), and stepping outside at midnight to shout “Happy New Year!” to any neighbors who were also at their cottages.  These days, we get together with a few close friends to have a potluck dinner and perhaps some impromptu dancing to work off all those calories.

I live vicariously through my friends and colleagues who brave the crowds to go out on the town for New Year’s Eve.  Inspired by them, I designed my Party Glam

Party Glam by Patti’s Patchwork for the January 2024 Quilt Block Mania tour

block for this month’s Quilt Block Mania (the theme is “party”).  I imagined getting all dolled up in my stiletto heels, fancy dress and sparkles or pearls.  Nothing says “party” better than fire engine red stilettos!  You can find the pattern for my Party Glam block here.  And here’s a wall quilt/table runner made with 2 blocks and a narrow  border – fun!

Use 2 blocks for a small table runner or wall quilt

There are 15 other designers participating this month and you can find the links to their blocks here:

Party Crown Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
Party Bear by Colette Belt Designs
Folded Napkins by Patchwork Breeze
Confetti Horn by Crafty Staci
Celebrate Letters by Tamarinis
Ballons & Streamers by Appliques Quilts and More
Happy New Year by Inquiring Quilter
Fiesta Block by Ships & Violins
Sparkler by Inflorescence
Gift Boxes by QuiltFabrication
Party Glam by Patti’s Patchwork
Cheers by Robin Kinley Designs
Free Disco Ball Block @ Slightly Biased Quilts
Cake by tourmaline Thyme Quilts
Fireworks by Cristy Fincher
Pinata by Flowerdog+Co
Dressed for the Occasion by Epida Studio

So, 2024 is promising to be a year worth celebrating.  I just had a quilt published in the latest issue of Fons & Porter’s Quick + Easy Quilts.

My Split the Layers throw quilt uses 10″ squares for “disappearing” blocks

My Split the Layers quilt is made with disappearing blocks – easy blocks that you cut apart and reshuffle the pieces to create new blocks.  I used Banyan Batiks’ Changing Seasons 10” squares for this pretty Spring throw-size quilt.  You can find the pattern in the March-April issue, on newsstands now or online here.

Later this year I’ll be joining the Watergirl Quilt Co team on 2 super-fun quilting cruises to Alaska

My classes for the Watergirl Quilt Co Alaskan cruises

in September.  Shop owner Michelle knows how to host a knock-your-socks-off party, so you can bet that these 2 cruises are going to be a blast!  If cruising to Alaska is on your bucket list, reach out to Michelle or her planner Scott to reserve your spot now.  Class selections will go out to registrants shortly and you don’t want to miss getting your first choice of workshops.

I’m already working on a sample for my sashiko class and will be testing the pattern for my new Skill-building Sampler shortly.

Once I return home from Alaska, I’ll be in full wedding mode for my son’s wedding to his darling fiancée.  Truth be told, she has been part of our family for a while now, but the official celebration is in November.

But first I’m going to celebrate the release of 10 new patterns, including 4 with the new Stonehenge Gradations – so delicious!

They will all be available at Patti’s Patchwork.com by January 8 so mark your calendar!  And I hear tell that there might be a newsletter-subscriber-only special price so if you’re not a subscriber yet, go here to sign up today 😊.

So, back to that giveaway I mentioned earlier.  If you leave a comment telling me about your New Year’s Eve tradition/custom/memory by January 6^th, your name will go into the draw for 2 free patterns from Patti’s Patchwork.

Good luck, and best wishes for 2024 😊

Patti