May Block Lotto - Inspired by Gee's Bend

 Block #8 - Celebrating Sadie Bell Nelson

The last block in our celebration of the quilters of Gee’s Bend features the centre medallion from a quilt by Sadie Bell Nelson (1936-1981), circa 1965.  The medallion is a Monkey Wrench block, also known as Churn Dash.  I am staying true to Sadie’s colour choices, but reshaping the block into a square rather than a rectangle.  The block finishes at 12 inches square.

Fabric requirements

Peach, grey, pumpkin orange, turquoise, dark brown, and green solids (or near solids).

Cutting

From the grey 

1 - 5.75” x 5.75”

From the pumpkin orange

1 - 5.75” x 5.75”

From the turquoise

1 - 6.5” x 6.5” 

From the peach

8 - 2.5” x 3.5”

From the dark brown

2 - 2.5” x 3.5”

From the green

2 - 2.5” x 3.5”

To make the block:

Use a ¼” seam throughout.

Start by making four at a time Half Square Triangles (HSTs).  

1. Stack the grey and the pumpkin orange squares, right sides together. 

Sew around all four sides of the square.  

Cut along one diagonal. 

Without moving the block, cut along the second diagonal.

Open each HST and press seams to one side.

Trim to 3.5” square.  Set HSTs aside.

2. Sew a 2.5” x 3.5” peach rectangle to each side of the dark brown 2.5” x 3.5” rectangles.  Press seams away from the centre.

3. Sew one of the above units to each side of the turquoise square.  Press seams away from the centre.

4. Sew a 2.5” x 3.5” peach rectangle to each side of the green rectangles.  Press seams away from the centre.

5. Sew an HST to either side of the above units.  Press seams towards the centre (so that seams will nest in the next step).

6. Sew the above units to the top and bottom of the turquoise square unit.  Press seams away from the centre.

You are done!  The block should measure 12.5” square.

We need you! Positions to fill for the 2025-2026 season.

We are looking for folks to fill these positions in the upcoming 2025-2026 season.  These positions help the guild flourish, bring the guild together, and provide opportunities for learning, connection, and fun.

• Program Coordinator
• Workshop Coordinator
• Block Lotto Coordinator

If you are interested but have questions before diving in, contact Kirstin @ PresidentOMQG@gmail.com.

Program Coordinator

• Communicates program and event information for members through email, blog posts, Facebook, and/or other social media formats.
• Communicates regularly with The Board on upcoming speakers and status of planned speakers.
• Attends meetings of The Board as needed to make proposals to The Board on programs and events.
• Actively works on future months’ programs, events, projects, challenges, Block of the Month.
• Coordinates giveaways, challenges or events based on the programs presented.
• Attends monthly guild meetings.
• Supports the planning, implementation, maintenance, and documentation of The Guild’s public programs and educational initiatives.

Workshop Coordinator

• Develops workshop schedules, coordinates with hosts and instructors, and plans all logistical details including managing the workshop budget. 
• Handles external communications with hosts, instructors, and participants, and manages inquiries.
• Ensures timely delivery and preparation of workshop materials and supplies.
• Serves as a point of contact for participants, addressing their questions and needs.
• Provides support to instructors, ensuring their needs are met and facilitates a smooth learning environment. 

Block Lotto Coordinator

• Creates or finds individual block designs for each month.
• Posts the patterns on the blog each month by writing or providing links to clear and detailed instructions for each month's block, including cutting instructions, sewing techniques, and any necessary tips.
• Responds to questions or concerns from participants regarding the patterns or program.
• Keeps track of which participants have completed which blocks in order to do the monthly draws.

April Block Lotto - Inspired by Gee's Bend

Block #7 - Celebrating Arlonzia and Arcola Pettway

The design for this month’s block is from a quilt made by Arlonzia Pettway (born 1923), a “Chinese Coins” variation, circa 1965.  The inspiration for the colours is from a quilt by Arcola Pettway (1934-1994) called “Lazy Gal”, made in 1976.  The block finishes at 12 inches square.

Fabric requirements

Light grey, cherry red, lime green, gold, and bright orange solids (or near solids).

Cutting

From the dark grey solid

1 - 2.5”x 8.5” strip

2 - 2.5”x 12.5” strip

From each of the cherry red, lime green, gold, and bright orange solids

1 - 2.5”x 11” strip

To make the block:

Use a ¼” seam throughout.

1. Sew the cherry red, lime green, gold, and bright orange strips together along the long side (order of the colours is not important).  Press seams to the side.

2. Cut the above unit in half.  Each should measure 8.5” x 5.5”.

Rotate one of the above units 180 degrees.

3. Sew the above units to each side of the grey 2.5” x 8.5” strip. Press seams away from the centre.

4. Sew a grey 2.5” x 12.5” strip to the top and bottom. Press seams away from the centre.

You are done!  The block should measure 12.5” square.

 

March Block Lotto - Inspired by Gee's Bend

 Block #6 - Celebrating Annie May Young 

This month I’m inspired by the quilt on the cover of the book “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend”, created in 1976 by Annie May Young (born 1928).  She created this stunning quilt from work clothes, assembling a centre medallion of bright strips, surrounded by different shades of denim.  I am providing instructions for two versions of the block:  one in red and yellow (inspired by the top of the quilt); and one in red and brown (inspired by the bottom half of the quilt).  Both finish at 12” square.  In the above image Version 1 is on the left, Version 2 on the left.  Make one block or the other, or try both!  

Fabric requirements

Dark blue - solids, near solids, small scale prints that read dark blue

Red - solids, near solids, small scale prints that read red

Yellow (for version 1) - solids, near solids, small scale prints that read yellow

Brown (for version 2) - solids, near solids, small scale prints that read brown

Version 1 

C1= yellow

C2= red

Version 2

C1= brown

C2= red

Cutting

From the dark blue

2 - 2.5”x10.5” strips

1 - 2.5”x12.5” strip

From C1

4 - 1.5”x10.5” strips

From C2

4 - 1.5”x10.5” strips

Note:  The following photos show Version 2 of the block.  If you are making version 1, you will use yellow instead of brown.

To make the block:

Use a ¼” seam throughout.

1. Join the 1.5”x10.5” strips by sewing along the long side, alternating colours.  Press seams away from the centre.

2. Sew a dark blue 2.5”x10.5” strip to either side of the unit.  Press seams away from the centre.

3.  Sew the 2.5”x12.5” strip to the top of the unit.  Press seam away from the centre.

You are done!  The block should measure 12.5” square.

February Block Lotto - Inspired by Gee's Bend

Block #5 - Celebrating Loretta Pettway and Gloria Hoppins 

I’m switching things up a bit this month, by drawing inspiration from two Gee’s Bend quilters - Loretta Pettway and Gloria Hoppins.  Loretta created a Courthouse Steps quilt (circa 1974) from a single block, made of dark and light blue denim.  I wanted to use the block design, known locally as Bricklayer, but was looking for a different colour scheme.  For that, I turned to a quilt by Gloria Hoppins, a sunny log cabin creation, circa 1975.  Our courthouse steps block combines yellow and low volume fabrics with a tiny pop of orange. The block finishes at 14 inches square.

Fabric requirements

Assorted scraps - 

Orange (small amount)

Yellow (solids, tone on tone, or small scale prints that read yellow)

Low volume 

Cutting

From the orange scrap

1 - 2.5”x2.5”

From the yellow scraps

2 - 2.5”x6.5”

2 - 2.5”x10.5”

2 - 2.5”x14.5”

From the low volume scraps

2 - 2.5”x2.5”

2 - 2.5”x6.5”

2 - 2.5”x10.5”

To make the block:

Use a scant ¼” seam throughout.

 

1. Sew a 2.5" low volume square to each side of the 2.5" orange square. Press seams away from the centre.

2. Sew a 6.5"x2.5" yellow strip to the top and the bottom of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.

3. Sew a 6.5"x2.5" low volume strip to each side of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.

4. Sew a 10.5"x2.5" yellow strip to the top and the bottom of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.

5. Sew a 10.5"x2.5" low volume strip to each side of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.

6. Sew a 14.5"x2.5" low volume strip to the top and the bottom of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.

You are done!  The block should measure 14.5” square.

 

January Block Lotto - Inspired by Gee's Bend

 Block #4 - Celebrating Lucy T. Pettway

This month my inspiration comes from a quilt called “Snowball” by Lucy T. Pettway, who  made quilts for seven decades.  Snowball is made up of red and white quarter circle blocks, assembled to give the illusion of a circle in a square.  For our block lotto, I’m changing up the block construction to a hand appliqued squircle - a cross between a square and a circle - and maintaining Lucy’s vibrant red and white palette.  The block finishes at 5” square.  

Fabric requirements

Red fabric - solid, or tone on tone, or small scale red print

White fabric - solid, or tone on tone

 

You will also need the following

Fabric scissors

Pins (regular or applique)

Needle and thread in contrasting colour for basting

Seam gauge

Needle (milliner’s or applique)

Thread that matches squircle for the needle turn applique

Note:  If you are new to needle turn applique (or you would like a refresher), here is a link to an excellent how to video by guild member Jenn McMillan. 

Another good resource is the book “Savor Each Stitch” by Carolyn Friedlander.  The following instructions are based on the above resources

Cutting

1 - 5.5”x5.5” background fabric, either red or white

1 - 4”x4” squircle fabric in whichever colour you didn’t use for the background

To make the block:

1. To cut the squircle, use sharp fabric scissors to round the corners of the 4” square squircle fabric.

2. Centre the squircle on the background square and pin in place.

3. Use a contrasting thread to baste the squircle to the background square ¼” from the raw edge (use seam gauge for accuracy).  Remove pins as you baste. 

4. Thread the applique (or milliner’s) needle with thread that matches the squircle fabric, knotting one end.

5. Using the tip of your needle (or your fingers) fold raw edge of squircle under to meet basting, creating a ⅛” turn-under allowance. 

 

Bring the needle up from the back of the background block through all layers close to the folded edge. 

Direct needle down through background fabric at folded applique edge, and back up through squircle ⅛” from previous stitch. 

6. Continue around the squircle until all edges are folded under and stitched down.  Knot thread on wrong side of block.

7. Remove the basting thread and press. 

You are done!  The block should measure 5.5” square.