A Look Inside Volume 6 Issue 5 of BLOCK Magazine

A Note From Jenny Doan BLOCK Magazine Fall Issue 2019

What is it about fall we love so much? Is it the blissful break from summer’s heat? Is it the fresh harvest of fruits and vegetables that we spent all summer tending? Is it the anticipation of upcoming holidays? Or is it something more? In my mind, fall is a culmination of so many year-long efforts. As I watch leaves pile up without the desire to rake them away, I realize that what I love so much about this season is letting go. I let go of carefully tending my yard. I slow down and go inward, preparing for the winter, allowing myself to curl up with a well-worn quilt and let time pass by slowly. I also try to let go of unnecessary constraints on my time and energy, allowing myself to say no more often and focus on things that matter most. 

Letting go is also about giving ourselves the freedom to say yes to new things. There are always those things that must be done, but what about the things we choose to do? Choosing to allow creativity into each day gives me a fresh perspective and a greater desire to do the things I must do. It’s incredible how energized I feel after a walk, observing fall colors, and bringing them into my fabric and design choices. Because I make so many quilts, taking these moments to pause makes it less of a chore and more of a time to reflect. I can let go of the thought of what I “should be” doing and let creativity flow. 

I hope this season fills you with inspiration and the desire to create beautiful things. Start small and just see what happens! I remember the first quilt I ever made, it was a simple log cabin, and that first spark of creativity has become so much more. Take a peek inside this issue of BLOCK and let it become a springboard for your next project. What inspires you to create?

Love,
Jenny


Behind the Scenes of Volume 6 Issue 5 of BLOCK Magazine

BLOCK Magazine Behind the Scenes Fall Issue 2019

There are over forty people on the BLOCK Magazine team working behind the scenes. Our copy writers will have you wrapped up in their words, our photographers capture scenery you won’t forget, our sewists create quilts that you’ll feel the need to make and our pattern writers will make it easy for you to get started!

Together, they pour their passions and creativity onto several glossy pages, then piece them together for you to enjoy.

Here you can see our photographers working hard and having fun creating props, getting ready for another great autumn-themed photo shoot!

Get a Sneak Peek of What’s Inside this Issue…

Here are just a few stunning quilts you’ll find in our next issue, featured in different colors and new collections! Within the magazine, you’ll find that each quilt pattern is tied to an inspiring story and beautiful photography!

Each issue includes 10 patterns plus a few of Jenny’s special projects! That’s over $50 worth of information all packed into each bi-monthly issue of BLOCK Magazine for just $7.99! ($9.99 bi-monthly for Canadian subscriptions)

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BLOCK Magazine Cover Voting Fall Issue 2019

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Diamond Chain Quilt

MSQC New Tutorial on the Blog!
Diamond Chain Quilt

Can you name the notes on a piano keyboard? ABCDEFG. That’s all! And yet, those seven notes can be played in a gazillion combinations to create sonatas, fugues, jazz or even a hearty rendition of chopsticks! 

Diamond Chain Quilt

The same is true for quilts. We use basic four-patch-blocks and half-square triangles to create an endless array of gorgeous quilt patterns. This week, Jenny arranged ‘em into a Diamond Chain quilt. Watch today’s tutorial and make this quick and easy charm pack pattern!

Diamond Chain Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!

English Garden Quilt

MSQC New Tutorial on the Blog!

When I think of an English garden, I picture quaint gravel paths that divide shrubs and hedges like strips of sashing on a quilt. I picture drizzly afternoons and neat rows of pretty blooms. I picture cozy cups of tea sipped on quiet garden patios. I picture peace, order, and beauty.

This week Jenny has packed all the charm of a real English garden in her newest quilt. Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!

Sunshine Lattice Quilt

MSQC New Tutorial on the Blog!

The same tune can be played by a 70-piece orchestra or a honky-tonk band. The melody is identical, but boy, oh boy! It sure sounds different!

The same goes for quilts, you know. This week’s new quilt is classically pretty with the sunflowers of “Jardin Dy Soleil” by Lola Molina for Wilmington Prints. But guess what? If you use solids instead, the pattern instantly becomes fresh and modern! The possibilities are endless! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!

Disappearing Hourglass Crazy Eight Quilt

MSQC New Tutorial on the Blog!

Let’s say you’ve just stitched up a nice, basic hourglass block. The ¼” seams are flawless and it’s pressed to perfection. What do you do next? Slice that block to bits, of course! Because when those pieces are rearranged and stitched back together, you’ll have a gorgeous, super-intricate block that looks like a million bucks!

Click HERE to learn how to make the easy-as-pie Disappearing Pinwheel Crazy Eight quilt!

Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!