Vintage Jenny | Colorado Quilt

Have you ever heard of a Colorado block? Many quilters know this quilt classic by another name, the Dutch Windmill. Using layer cakes, this traditional half-square triangle quilt block comes together in a flash creating a unique and vintage design that has been loved for many years. How many years to be exact? While Jenny couldn’t find much information on the original of the name Dutch Windmill, the Colorado quilt block can be traced back to 1941 where it was published in the Kansas City Star!

To stitch up this classic you’ll need two layers cakes, one of prints and one of solids. You’ll need to whip up a handful of half-square triangles to begin this pattern, which you’ll be able to lay out in a pinwheel design with all lines going to the center in a light, dark, light, dark pattern. Next you’ll need to make the legs of each triangle a bit longer by placing a matching block next to each end, and then build the square out on each side with the points going towards the same end. (We promise it’s SEW much easier than it sounds, check out Jenny’s tutorial above for a little more visual assistance!)

Needing some more inspiration to create this beautiful block? While the Vintage Jenny tutorial fabrics are no longer in production (just like a classic quilt they’re a product of their time) check out our suggestions below for five current lines of fabric that make this quilt come together with ease!

Between Friends by Shannon Christensen for Windham Fabrics

The Between Friends fabric collection by Shannon Christensen is about friendships that flourish, the heartwarming ones that bind us. The cheerful color palette, happy florals and sweet textures of Between Friends is sure to bring warmth and harmony to your creative world.

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Gingham Foundry by My Mind’s Eye for Riley Blake

Navy, grey, and yellow 10″ squares in lovely florals and geometric prints. These classic prints are sure to elevate your quilting and sewing projects with a tasteful palette of navy, honey gold, grey, and cream.

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A Groovy Garden by Jason Yenter for In The Beginning Fabrics

Get groovy with this 10” square pack! These floral and geometric fabrics blend fancy florals and psychedelic patterns and colors into a funky addition to your next quilt.

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Happy Chance by Laura Heine for Windham Fabrics

Take a chance with this 10” square pack! These fanciful fabrics are full of multicolor florals, paper mache collages, and dressmaking motifs.

Learn More >

Kaffe Fassett Collective Contrast by Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit Fabrics

Dive into Kaffe with this 10″ square pack! You can have all the Kaffe Fassett prints your creative heart desires with the new Kaffe Fassett Collective collection, especially if your project calls for high-contrast colors.

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Vintage Jenny | Hourglass Block

The Hourglass quilt block is one of the more simple traditional blocks and comes together with ease using 10″ squares of precut quilting fabric. All you need to do is chop up your layer cake corner to corner, recreate a square using two different fabrics and stitch them back together – and just like that you’ve put together a gorgeous and traditional quilt block!

This block in it’s own is an absolute favorite amongst quilters, but why stop the fun with just the basic hourglass! This block can be used in a wide variety of quilting patterns that all rely on the basic block that you’ve already put together. So select a pattern, pick a favorite layer cake and try out this classic creation for yourself!

Needing some more inspiration to create this beautiful block? While the Vintage Jenny tutorial fabrics are no longer in production (just like a classic quilt they’re a product of their time) check out our suggestions below for five current lines of fabric that make this quilt come together with ease!

Between Friends by Shannon Christensen for Windham Fabrics

The Between Friends fabric collection by Shannon Christensen is about friendships that flourish, the heartwarming ones that bind us. The cheerful color palette, happy florals and sweet textures of Between Friends is sure to bring warmth and harmony to your creative world.

Learn More >

Gingham Foundry by My Mind’s Eye for Riley Blake

Navy, grey, and yellow 10″ squares in lovely florals and geometric prints. These classic prints are sure to elevate your quilting and sewing projects with a tasteful palette of navy, honey gold, grey, and cream.

Learn More >

A Groovy Garden by Jason Yenter for In the Beginning Fabrics

Get groovy with this 10” square pack! These floral and geometric fabrics blend fancy florals and psychedelic patterns and colors into a funky addition to your next quilt.

Learn More >

Happy Chance by Laura Heine for Windham Fabrics

Take a chance with this 10” square pack! These fanciful fabrics are full of multicolor florals, paper mache collages, and dressmaking motifs.

Learn More >

Kaffe Fassett Collective Contrast by Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit Fabrics

Dive into Kaffe with this 10″ square pack! You can have all the Kaffe Fassett prints your creative heart desires with the new Kaffe Fassett Collective collection, especially if your project calls for high-contrast colors.

Learn More >

Vintage Jenny | Easy Nine Patch

Talk about a classic! Not only is the Nine Patch a quintessential quilter’s block, but this is one of the very first tutorials that Jenny Doan ever filmed! This incredibly simple but versatile block comes together in a stitch using 2.5″ strips of precut quilting fabric (Jelly Rolls) and some basic strip piecing. Using alternating color ways from your available strips, you’ll create a “strip set” using three strips of fabric. All that’s required after that is to cut the long strip sets into 2.5″ strips and stitch the fabrics back together to form nine simple squares in a block – your very first nine patch!

Needing some more inspiration to create this beautiful block? While the Vintage Jenny tutorial fabrics are no longer in production (just like a classic quilt they’re a product of their time) check out our suggestions below for five current lines of fabric that make this quilt come together with ease!

Ava Kate by Carina Gardner for Riley Blake

Ava Kate by Carina Gardner for Riley Blake

You’ll adore the precious roses, delicate complementing florals, and color scheme of black, red, pink, and light blue in this charming collection.

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Freedom 2 Batiks by Kathy Engle for Island Batik

Freedom 2 Batiks by Kathy Engle for Island Batik

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue with this collection! These patriotic batik fabrics feature star spangled fabrics and patriotic patterns.

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Now check out how great this block can look when you combine multiple nine patches to create a full quilt top!

Loose Leaf by Wishwell for Robert Kaufman

Loose Leaf by Wishwell for Robert Kaufman

Loose Leaf will give any project a real wow factor featuring amazing and colorful florals, groovy abstract backgrounds, and even scalloped stripes!

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Prairie Dreams by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda Fabrics

Prairie Dreams by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda Fabrics

Go west through the plains with this rustic collection featuring warm, weathered earth tones highlighted with verdant florals.

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Artisan Batiks Magical Winter by Lunn Studios for Robert Kaufman

Artisan Batiks Magical Winter by Lunn Studios for Robert Kaufman

These gorgeous batik fabrics are printed with snowy trees, snowflakes, berry sprigs, and more with hints of glimmering metallic.

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Vintage Jenny | Disappearing Nine Patch

Quilters love a classic and there are few blocks more classic than a Disappearing Nine Patch! In this incredibly simple Vintage Jenny tutorial, Jenny Doan demonstrates how to stitch up this easy block using Charm Packs. First you’ll use your 5″ squares of precut quilting fabric to create a giant nine patch (which is just as simple as sewing nine squares together) and after that, you’ll use your ruler and rotary cutter to quarter your middle square. Flip those squares around and just like that, you’ve created a Disappearing Nine Patch!

Needing some more inspiration to create this beautiful block? While the Vintage Jenny tutorial fabrics are no longer in production (just like a classic quilt they’re a product of their time) check out our suggestions below for five current lines of fabric that make this quilt come together with ease!

Dewdrop Metallic Charm Pack by Whistler Studio for Windham Fabric. Get yours from Missouri Star Quilt Co today!

Dewdrop Metallic Charm Pack by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics

Play in the rain with this charm pack! These water-inspired fabrics feature flowing stripes and raindrops in a whole spectrum of colors dotted with metallic spots.

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Dream 5" Stackers by Kristy Lea for Riley Blake. Get yours from Missouri Star Quilt Co today!

Dream 5″ Stackers by Kristy Lea for Riley Blake

This collection features multicolored 5″ squares of rainbows, tonal dots, hearts, and more. Dream is a sweet and simple collection of fun circles made of hearts, rainbows, and tonal dots!

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Hidden Cottage 5" Stackers by Minki Kim for Riley Blake. Get yours from Missouri Star Quilt Co today!

Hidden Cottage 5″ Stackers by Minki Kim for Riley Blake

Get cooped up in the cottage with this charm pack! These floral fabrics are filled with warm, homey colors and patterns that will make any home feel like a cottage in the woods.

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Willow by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics. Get yours from Missouri Star Quilt Co today!

Willow by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics

This is a beautiful blue, cream, and linen white collection that will appeal to the traditional and modern quilter! Willow features classic florals and delicate foliage but also includes soft and subtle geometric prints, like chevron.

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Love Always, AM by Anna Maria Horner for FreeSpirit Fabrics. Get yours from Missouri Star Quilt Co today!

Love Always, AM by Anna Maria Horner for FreeSpirit Fabrics

Pen a love letter with this charm pack! These hand-picked fabrics are a love letter to sewing and quilting with vividly colored florals, geometric patterns, and more.

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Summer Travel Projects

The Sidekick quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The Sidekick quilt from BLOCK Volume 5 Issue 3.

Summer is just around the corner, so don’t leave your creativity behind as you embark on your summer vacations! Just because quilting is often seen as a home-based activity, that doesn’t mean there aren’t projects that you can work on from the road. Even if you don’t enjoy bringing your work with you, take the time to immortalize your summer travels with a brand new Summer Travel Project!

From Destination Panels from Riley Blake to the Road Trip quilt from Missouri Star, we’ve gathered some of our favorite summer travel projects to share with you. Whether your sewing from the comforts of home, or stitching on the go, be sure to always share your creations with us by using #msqcshowandtell on Facebook and Instagram!

Quilt As You Go Hexagon Quilt

The Quilt as You Go 2.5" Hexagon quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The Quilt As You Go Hexagon Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Is there a more perfect travel project than a Quilt as You Go Hexagon quilt? This revolutionary project is made easy with the Quilt As You Go 2 1/2″ Hexagon Template designed by Daisy & Grace which allows you to play with your fabric and fussy cut designs you’d like to feature. To finish, you can either hand stitch or machine stitch these beauties. Not only does this create a beautiful and unique finished quilt, but it makes quilting while you travel SEW much easier!

This template fits perfectly on a charm pack (you’re definitely going to want some coordinating yardage for the backing though as it’s slightly larger!). Go big and go bold with this project because it is bold in it’s design. Consider a Kaffe Classics Prism Charm Pack by Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit Fabrics for your 5″ squares. Not only will these colors be vibrant, but they’ll blend perfectly together to create an eye-popping, unique quilt!

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Pick up the Template >

Destinations by Riley Blake

The Destinations Collection by Riley Blake from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The Destinations Collection by Riley Blake

Quilting on the road isn’t for everyone. Some of us enjoy the organization and peace of our home quilting studios and don’t wish to be bothered while we’re out experiencing everything this world of ours has to offer. Instead of working while you’re going, show us where you’ve been with this jaw-dropping fabric panels from Riley Blake!

The Destinations Collection features postcard style panels in an Art Deco theme highlighting popular travel destinations from around the world. Whether you’re stitching up a quilt highlighting all the national parks you’ve been to, or a beautiful pillow featuring your hometown, The Destinations Collection allows for a quick and easy project that will be a favorite for years to come!

Shop the Destinations Collection >

Learn more about Quilting with Panels >

Sew on the Go Pouch

The Sew on the Go Pouch from BLOCK Magazine Volume 7 Issue 3
The Sew on the Go Pouch from BLOCK Volume 7 Issue 3.

For those of us who prefer a little organization, the Sew on the Go Pouch is the perfect compliment to any summer vacation. Whether you’re traveling on your own, or attending a sewing retreat (think of how handy this would be!) this cute little custom-made pouch holds your most important notions and tools of the trade.

This BLOCK Magazine exclusive is featured in Volume 7 Issue 3 and comes together with ease using no more than a few yards of scrap fabric. While this perfect stash buster will help eliminate your growing fabric supply, you can also create this project as a gift featuring a favorite fabric of a friend! Pick up some fabric by the yard, such as the beautiful Curiouser and Curiouser – Baby Buds Daydream Yardage by Tula Pink for FreeSpirit Fabrics and create a long lasting and frequently used gift for the quilter in your life!

Download BLOCK Volume 7 Issue 3 >

Browse Fabric by the Yard >

Road Trip Quilt

The Road Trip quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The Road Trip quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Planning a cross-country drive this summer? Show off your journey with the Road Trip quilt! This gorgeous pattern allows you to document your journey with easy to print state applique shapes. Even if you aren’t traveling this year, stitch up a simple pillow using this pattern to commemorate your favorite destination.

Start this project by downloading the free state applique shapes and then select your favorite layer cake to fill them out! Show off your patriotic pride by selecting a red, white and blue fabric such as Land That I Love 10″ Squares by Michael Miller for Michael Miller Fabrics to really capture that Americana theme of the classic American road trip!

Download the Applique Prints >

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

I Spy Jar Quilt

The I Spy Jar Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The I Spy Jar Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

I spy with my little eye, your next quilting project! Do you have memories of playing the “I Spy” game in the car? Road trips in the summer are all about fun, so bring back this great summer travel memory by creating an I Spy Jar quilt featuring found fabrics from your travels!

You’ll need charm packs to create this fun travel friendly project. If you’re at home and ready to get sewing, consider a kid-friendly fabric that’s full of different elements to point out such as Unicorn Kingdom 5″ Stackers by Shawn Wallace for Riley Blake! Make memories with your children or grandchildren by playing a game of I Spy at home with the quilt as your guide. If you are traveling however, pick up fabric on the way! Stop in at local quilt shops or repurpose some old T-Shirts for a truly unique project that captures all the great memories you made.

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Get the Pattern >