Inspire. Empower. Create.
Do you remember your first cartwheel? It was probably a little wobbly. Maybe you didn’t land on your feet. But chances are, before the recess bell rang, you could cartwheel your way across the playground without stopping!
Jenny is not turning cartwheels this week. (Wouldn’t that be a sight!) But … she IS turning quilt blocks, and that’s even easier! The Simple Squares method of setting quilt blocks on point is so quick and painless, you’ll be turning blocks like a pro in no time!
The Half Hexagon template is no one-trick pony. (Great templates never are!)
Jenny’s Design
For our newest Triple Play tutorial, we’re using that trapezoidal wonder to create sailboats, links, and whirligigs.
Misty’s Design
We’re tackling y-seams and whipping up a friendship braid border.
Natalie’s Design
And at the end of it all, we’ll have 3 unique quilts AND a bonus table runner! I’d say that’s pretty good for a simple hexi ruler! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!
I could stare at Jenny’s Good Fortune quilt for a hundred years and never realize…it’s a simple disappearing 9 patch!
It’s true! All those cute little pieces are nothing more than a chopped-up 9 patch with one fun twist: a snowballed sashing.
And the best part? You can use the leftover fabric to make a 2nd quilt with a whole new layout! (Watch all the way to the end of the tutorial to see how it looks!)
My hope is by the time I’ve written this letter to you and BLOCK arrives at your home, that life will have returned to normal. My hope is the sun will be shining outside your window… you’ll be free to gather with friends and family… you’ll feel comfortable greeting neighbors and walking the dog again, and a trip to the beach might be just around the corner. It’s hard to imagine after weeks of being separated from loved ones and anxiously watching the television, but I have great hope that we’ll make it through…many of us have been spending extended periods of time at home. I am trying my best to view this as an opportunity instead of an inconvenience.
I recently read a quote by one of my favorite people, Fred Rogers, that made me pause. He said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” It has shifted my mindset and caused me to be proactive. Each day I ask myself, What small thing can I do to help?…
Quilters never cease to amaze me. You make a difference with every stitch and it’s never been more apparent to me than at this very moment. You’re sewing masks by the thousands, you’re making surgical caps for hospital workers, you’re helping friends and neighbors, and you’re a positive influence in your community. Thank you sincerely for everything you do. I feel privileged to be a part of this remarkable global community of quilters. We really can change the world one stitch at a time.
Love,
Jenny
Like Jenny (and Mr. Rogers), I believe many of us makers feel grateful to be part of a community that creates – not only quilts, but comfort, inspiration, and kindness. (After all, we are the piece-makers ✌️)
Fun fact: Back in 1889, the women of Caldwell County (now home of Missouri Star) came together to create a “census” quilt. For an entire year, wives, mothers, and children throughout the county helped one another to hand-stitch the names of over 1,000 residents to create a gorgeous hand-sewn quilt that celebrated their entire community.
130 years later, the antique quilt remains a representation of the connections made among a community of quilter’s helping one another to create a beautiful, inclusive piece of art. It hangs inside our Caldwell Country Historical Society, seven miles from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Much like those whose names were stitched onto that quilt from long ago, when you subscribe to BLOCK Magazine, you subscribe to become a part of a community of makers whose stories become stitched into our hearts! BLOCK Magazine’s upcoming summer issue contains our own stories and the stories of our readers, together building a community of creatives inspired by one another.
Subscribe by our May 25th deadline to ensure you receive the new June issue straight to your mailbox late next month!
Get a sneak peek of what’s inside!
Ruby Sensation Sew-Along
This five part sew-along walks you through every step until together – we’ve created a ravishing masterpiece! (Subscribe now so you won’t miss out!)
BONUS Table Runner Patterns
Enjoy three BONUS table runner projects, great for a quick refresh to your dining table!
Travel Pocket Project
This handy, little organizer is great for traveling with kids and other simple storage solutions.
Jenny’s Journal
Get an exclusive look into Jenny’s studio as she shares with you her latest projects. There’s always something unique and inspiring!
… and seriously, SEW MUCH MORE:
• Stories from Jenny, Missouri Star, and our readers! (Subscribers are invited to submit their own story and some are even published in BLOCK! Jenny loves to hear from our readers!)
• 10+ quilt patterns (including two hexi patterns by Daisy & Grace!)
• When you subscribe, you’ll get instant access to April’s digital issue so you can start enjoying BLOCK right away! (That means you’ll get seven issues for the price of six!)
• NO ads and your subscription ships free!
Take a look behind the scenes!
“We hope our magazine will inspire you to create beautiful quilts.” – Jenny
With seven children under the same roof at one time, Jenny and Ron are pros at finding creative solutions for common family chores, like the ever-present loads of laundry and nightly gatherings around the dinner table.
Jenny sat down to share some of the creative solutions she’s learned from parenting her seven children, like how to assign laundry and dinner days. Watch below as she shares her thoughts on how to tackle these daily household chores.