FREE Formation Sampler Pattern

A new pattern release for today!  How exciting.  Know what's even more exciting?  This pattern is FREE for subscribers to my newsletter just for being a part of this little online sewing community.  Not signed up yet?  No problem.  You can subscribe further down in the post or in the sidebar on the right.

I hope this brings a little added fun to your day.  I know super sizing some Flying Geese makes my Monday.  I've been teasing this new sampler on Instagram for a week or so....

FORMATION: Make Your Sampler Fly
It's no secret I love samplers of all shapes and sizes.  Finding unique settings is....well... an obsession of mine.  That's probably not a secret either. ;)

Sometimes, I want to make a quick and easy quilt. Ok.. we all know quick and easy are relative.. but compared to my year-long Block of the Month programs, this quilt is Speedy Gonzales.

Let me introduce you to Formation.

Formation: A beginner 4 block sampler based on the iconic Star Block.  The center of each star teaches a different piecing basic. The quilt then takes flight by framing the stars in beautiful huge Flying Geese.

Finished Block is 13 1/2" x 27"  | Finished Quilt is 52" x 60".

Easy peasy!

CHOOSING FABRIC MADE SIMPLE.  Don't fret over fabric for this quilt.  I wanted to keep things super basic.  Very clean.  Very simple.  Very graphic.

You will need just 6 fabrics for this quilt.  4 color prints or solids (tone-on-tone or tone-and-white work best) for the Geese.  White.  And a background fabric.  I chose Robert Kaufman's Essex Yarn Dye in Taupe as my background.  That's it.  A formula for success.

You are free to add scraps to the stars like I did in the dark aqua star.

Did I mention Formation is FREE for those who subscribe to my newsletter?  Don't worry - the newsletter only comes out when I have actual news.  I won't bombard you!

Sign up for the newsletter and get your Formation Sampler Pattern delivered to your inbox.  I hope you enjoy!

FORMATION will be delivered in a separate email a few minutes after you confirm your subscription.  Check your spam folder if your pattern does not arrive.  Be sure to save your Pattern some place safe after you download.

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I'm planning to make another Formation - as my ideas for this pattern are not finished.  Imagine that. :)  I'd love to make just the piecing part without the negative space and use it as a table runner.  OR I'd also like to make several rows of the big ol' Flying Geese to make a large quilt.  Not sure what I'll tackle first.  But, oh, the possibilities....

Chocolatier Block of the Month Club #2 (Eccentric Star and Arrowhead Quilt Blocks)

We're back with Month 2 of the Chocolatier Block of the Month Club.  How appropriate that this month's flavor in my "skittles" version of the BOM is Pink.  Love is in the air after all!
Today, the Month #2 Block Pattern for Chocolatier is now available.  Check your emails and mailboxes!

We are making 2 blocks this month.  We're keeping it relatively simple to get into the groove with this BOM.  We have a jazzed up version of the Friendship Star, called Eccentric Star.  And block #2 is a fun stitch-n-flip, called Arrowhead.  That lighter pinky color had me thinking of those candies that are colored like pepto.... I couldn't find them for their photo shoot though.  These pink and red candies did the job and were delicious too.

Block #1 Eccentric Star

Block #2 Arrowhead

Fabric is Cotton Supreme Solids by RJR Fabrics for my version of the BOM.  Find my color selections listed here.

SHARE with US!  I'd love to see what you make!
There are several ways to share your participation in the BOM.  I hope you'll join in the fun of quilting along online with us.
#chocolatiersampler on Instagram

**A yearly subscription to Chocolatier BOM is available here. LAST DAY FOR THE SALE PRICE**

When you purchase a subscription, an Introduction Guide AND all the current block patterns to date will be emailed immediately upon payment.

Feel free to join in the fun with us anytime throughout the year.  For all the details on Chocolatier, go here.

Hoop Quilt #1 NY Beauty | featuring Curious Dream Fabric

Hey everybody!  I am super pumped to show you this project today.  It's a brand new concept for me and already I'm envisioning a ton of these hoops featuring different quilt blocks.

Let me introduce you to what I'm calling a Hoop Quilt.

This project began back at Quilt Market when my friend, Angela Pingel, debuted her first fabric collection with Windham Fabrics, Curious Dream.  I was able to score a fat quarter bundle at Sample Spree and knew I wanted to do something special with it.

I'm always thinking about the next BOM, and trying out different blocks is a great way to see how they could fit into a BOM.  The New York Beauty quilt block has always fascinated me - it's gorgeous curves and crown of points.  But I'd never made one.  It fell into place that I would make a NY Beauty with Curious Dream.

Well, silly me, I cannot just choose a simple NY Beauty.  Noooo, I had to go pick a complicated one with 4 rings of curves and points/intersections to line up with each curve.  Yikes!  As you can see, there is a bit of a learning curve (terrible pun, yes?) on this block, and my first quadrant turned out all sorts of wonky.

This block tested my patience and will - but in the end, it turned out looking fantastic.  I absolutely love this block.  The fabrics glow in this sunshine NY Beauty.  But..... I am so glad I only have to make one block.  This was a tough one.... if I ever include this in a BOM (and that's a big if), it would have to be a much simpler version.

At the same time that I was slowly paper piecing this block, I was also working on my hand embroidery sampler with an embroidery hoop.  Since the NewYork Beauty is a round block, I just couldn't get it out of my mind that instead of making a square mini with the block, I needed to frame it in the round.

I bought a large 18" wooden hoop for quilting.  And somehow this rainbow-y cheater print just wrapped herself around the frame.

Add in a little big stitch quilting....



And well..... here's the finish.  I don't think I could be beaming about this project any more.  I am completely thrilled!  I've tested where I could hang this hoop in lots of places around my home.  There are SO many possibilities.

Stay tuned.... I have lots of ideas for more Hoop Quilts brewing.  I cannot wait to make more....