September 2026 Block Lotto: Denim

This year, we are embracing UPCYCLING! We are hoping you'll have lots of fun, and see fabrics of all kinds in a new light.

Have old clothes, linens or towels that are beyond their best years, or that you're tired of using, but don't know what to with them? We'll be exploring how to reuse these items and share them to create new quilts to love! If you don't have any of the types of fabrics suggested, asking family and friends, or your local buy nothing facebook group, is a great way to source fabrics. Each month, we'll also ask you to bring your extras to share for upcoming blocks! Find out what materials we will use next on the main block lotto page.

This month, we're using denim. Not the modern stretchy jeans that wear out so much faster than they should, but the solid cotton kind (or other non stretchy types). Where to find denim? In jeans of course, but don't forget those jean jackets and other jean accessories.

The MQG put out a video this summer from an artist that uses jeans in his creations. He speaks about what motivates and inspires him, discusses the tools he uses, and shares some of his work and that of other artists. Find the link to the video in the resource section at the end of this page.

Due: Our next in-person event, in October.

Techniques and concepts: Upcycling, deconstructing 

New to block lotto? Learn about it here

What you'll need

• Denim (non stretchy), any colour/wash
• Scissors
• Seam ripper
• Rotary cutter
• All the sewing things
• Curiosity, and a sense of adventure!

Steps

1. Deconstruct your denim with the help of a seam ripper, or cut it in large pieces with scissors or a rotary blade. Deconstructing takes more time, but if you do take this time, you'll find interesting shaped pieces and wear patterns that may spark ideas to make your blocks.
2. There are only two rules... The first, your block needs to have one decorative element, or at least one seam (no just cutting out plain blocks to hand in!). The second, your block should be cut at 9 1/2 inches square (helpful notes: make sure thicker embelishments are within the inner 9 inches of the block to minimise bulk, and giving a slightly larger block to allow for trimming is often helpful).

Only have one pair of jeans? The backside can be just as fun as the front, so don't hesitate to flip your denim around to the "wrong" side when creating your blocks!

 

Need ideas? 

• Patch some holes, from the front or behind, leave the fraying or cut it off.
• Applique some of the elements you found when deconstructing your jeans.
• Add interest by embroidering or stitching Sashiko style.
• Reuse patches taken from other apparel. 

Additional resources

• Working with Denim by ELiu Hernandez (MQG Member Resource Library*) (In a hurry? Don't have the patience to watch a 17 minute video? The presenter speaks quite slowly, so you can easily watch the video at a 1.5 by clicking on the speed icon at the bottom right of the video)
  
  
  
• Free Denim Quilt Patterns & Jean Quilt Ideas - Recycle Old Jeans | FreeQuilt.com

* Your OMQG membership includes membership to the MQG. Can't find your account? First contact the OMQG's membership coordinator to confirm your membership and that your MQG account was created. Still can't get in? Use the "forgotten password" links on the MQG site,or, contact the MQG directly.

Vice President's Quilting Elements Challenge - Bold Use of Colour

This year, we are exploring modern design elements, and how they can be applied to your quilting practice.

This month's theme is Bold Use of Colour. We've often seen bold colours used in modern quilts, but have you thought to apply it to the quilting?

"White on White Log Cabins" (By Robert J Bosscher @rjbosscher) is a wholecloth quilt and great example of how quilting and colour can be used as a single point of of interest. 

"Stash Colour Wheel Revisited" (by Lynne Hanson @lynnepusscat) demonstrates how colourful quilting can enhance an overall design.

Your challenge, should you accept it, is to make a quilt sandwich out of a decent sized scrap and then practice quilting with colour. 

If you don't have coloured thread on hand, or would like to practice designing without having to quilt, feel free to use this printable page to practice with coloured pencils, pens, or other media.

We're looking forward to seeing your creations at Octobers event!

Photo credits: Lindsay Upiter

Vice President's 2025-2026 Challenge - Party Line

  

I was very inspired by our guest speakers last season and thought the "Telephone Challenge" Karen Bolan presented as part of her talk on "Collaboration is Fun" would be a fabulous fit as our VP Challenge this year, but, naturally with a twist!  We won't have just one prompt, but, up to 5 depending on participation.  The prompts have a theme but that is all part of the big secret (or reveal, depending on your perspective).

So how will this work?

1. We will start with a picture prompt.
2. The 1st person will make a mini based on their interpretation of that prompt.
3. The 2nd person will use that 1st mini and make a mini based on their interpretation of the 1st mini. 
4. The 3rd person will use that 2nd mini and make a mini based on their interpretation of the 2nd mini.
5. And so on until we have 4-5 minis based on that picture.

** How many times can I say "mini" on one page?! 😸

Ok, so how is this a “party line” and what are the rules? …

The “party” is that:

• There will be more than one prompt shared.
• More than one person *could* get the same prompt in the same month resulting in two different takes on the same prompt.

The Rules:

1. Have fun!
2. Each mini is no bigger than 12”x12 and doesn’t need to be square.
3. The mini should be quilted, backed, and bound.
4. Please attach your name and the month to the back so I know the who and when in order to tie everything together when we do the big reveal in June.
5. Each mini is due by the next event.  Please give to Sam or provide a picture until you can hand it in. 
6. Because we are keeping all of the minis a secret, please conceal the mini in any type of opaque bag or share on the down low so that others can't see the front 😉.
7. DO NOT SHARE YOUR MINI or anything you know about the prompt UNTIL THE CHALLENGE IS DONE - ie JUNE.

🍁--------------------------------🍁

And just like that, the 2025-2026 challenge is over. The theme was "Canada," with the "big reveal" at our June 22, 2026, event. Check out this group's creativity!

**See any issues or have any questions, please tell me!  VicePresidentOMQG@gmail.com

Summer 2026 Block Lotto: Framed Hexies

This year, we have a bonus block lotto for you to work on over the summer, and it’s a nice portable project that you can take on vacation, or just work on outside.

We’ll be using English Paper Piecing (EPP) to make framed hexies.

Due: Our next in-person event, in September 

Techniques and concepts: English Paper Piecing (EPP) 

New to block lotto? Learn about it here

What you'll need

• A fabric for the center hexagon. I’d encourage you to fussy-cut a motif for this central piece. If the motif has a distinct top and bottom, place it so that the top and bottom are aligned with an edge, not with a point: 
  
  
  
• A fabric for the six half-hexagons used for the frame. Pick whatever you like.
• EPP template. If you didn’t pick one up at the June event, you can download it here. Be sure to print it at the actual size (100%) and use the 1" test square on the template to check that it printed correctly. I like printing the template on cardstock, but some people prefer working with lighter or heavier paper.
• Thread or glue for basting. You can use any washable glue.
• Fine, sharp needle and a fairly fine thread for piecing.

Steps

1. Cut out the template pieces. 
   
   
2. Cut fabric at least 1/4" larger than the pieces.
   
   
3. Baste the fabric around the pieces. You can thread-baste or glue-baste. If you use glue, please make sure it's water-soluble and use it sparingly so that the papers can be removed later.
   






4. Use a whipstitch to connect the pieces. You'll need to bend some of the pieces slightly when sewing some of the seams.
   
   
   

Please leave the papers in the block when you turn it in. 

Additional resources

There are lots of resources out there for EPP. One of my favourites is the EPP for Beginners guides from Tales of Cloth, which covers tools, basting, how to whipstitch, and more.  

The MQG site also has these resources:

Getting Started with English Paper Piecing (EPP) with Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill (Whole Circle Studio)
The History of English Paper Piecing
The Changing Shapes of EPP

May Block Lotto: Monochromatic Scrap Vortex

Due: Bring your blocks to the June 22 event

New to block lotto? Learn about it here

It's time to use up some scraps! Pick any colour - your favourite, your least favourite, or the one where you have the most scraps and make a scrap vortex block using just that colour.

What's a scrap vortex block? There are variations out there, but it seems to have been popularized by Amanda Jean Nyberg (@crazymomquilts), and you may also remember that this was a block lotto from Leslie back in 2022. 

For this month's block lotto, please follow Leslie's instructions, with these changes:

• Instead of using a variety of colours, just use one colour for each block (though you can use different shades/tints/tones of the colour)
• The blocks you turn in can be any of these sizes. The bigger the block, the more tickets you'll get for the draw!
• 12.5 x 18.5"
• 12.5 x 12.5"
• 12.5 x 6.5"
• 6.5 x 6.5"

Hopefully we'll get a variety of colours and the winner will end up with a rainbow! 

On a personal note, I'd like thank everyone who participated in block lotto this year. I enjoyed putting them together and it was a delight to see all of your blocks.

New Location and Date for May 25, 2026 Event

Please note that we have a new location AND DATE for our May 2026 event which is now on Monday, JUNE 1st at the J.A. Dulude Arena in the Mel Baker Hall (941 Clyde Ave N, Ottawa, ON K2C 4B2).  This is our silent auction and Annual General Meeting.  Be sure keep an eye on your inbox for more details.

Our Guild Needs Volunteers

 

We need you! Positions to fill for the 2026-2027 season.

We are looking for folks to fill these positions in the upcoming 2026-2027 season.  These positions help the guild flourish, bring the guild together, and provide opportunities for learning, connection, and fun.

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

If you would like to see a job description, contact France @ SecretaryOMQG@gmail.com.

April Block Lotto: Blossom Quilt Block

 Due: Bring your blocks to the May 25 event

Technique: Snowball corners, 2 at a time HSTs

New to block lotto? Learn about it here

This month, we're making big, bold blossoms using a free pattern from Julie Cefalu (TheCraftyQuilter).

(Miranda Priestly might not approve, but I think we can all use a dose of springtime after the long winter we've had)

To make the blocks, please go to The Crafty Quilter website and download the pattern. Julie's website has lots of variations and ideas for how to use the blocks. 

The pattern includes three block sizes, and we'll be making the biggest one: the 12" block. 

A few tips:

• To keep some consistency between our blocks, please use yellow for the center, and white or a low volume fabric for the background. The petal colours are up to you!
• After downloading the pattern, go to page 2 to see the cutting chart for the 12" blocks.
• When the sewing instructions include measurements, those measurements are for 6" blocks. Here are the corresponding measurements for 12" blocks:
• At the end of the Make the half square triangle (HST) units section, the instructions say to trim to 2" square. We'll trim to 3-1/2" instead.
• At the end of the Make blossom center section, the instructions say this unit should measure 3-1/2", but ours will be 6-1/2". 
• When you're finished, the block should measure 12-1/2" square, not 6-1/2".

Proposed Constitution Changes

We have a few updates to our Constitution, By-Laws, and Procedures that need to be approved at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 25.

We’ve tried to keep the changes straightforward—mostly clarifications and a few additions where we didn’t previously have formal wording. To make things easier, we’ve included both a marked-up version of the Constitution and a short summary of the key changes.

There will be one motion to approve all Constitution updates.

In addition, we will be bringing forward a separate motion regarding our membership fees. Due to increased costs, we are proposing to remove the early bird rate.

If you can, please take a few minutes to review these before the meeting. It’ll help us move through the voting smoothly and leave more time for the fun stuff.

Of course, if anything raises questions, feel free to reach out ahead of time.

Thanks,

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16y3Pp5idL1EH6EKW8rwhqmvmn044ZaZA/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=116414742298483391323&rtpof=true&sd=true

Thanks so much,

France Cyrenne

SecretaryOMQG@gmail.com

March Block Lotto: Freestyle Arcs

Due: Our next in-person event, April 27

Technique: Improv curved piecing

New to block lotto? Learn about it here

This month's block is improv quarter circle arcs. The blocks you turn in should be 10 x 10 inches (they'll finish at 9.5" when sewn together as a quilt). 

Fabrics and cutting

Background: White or a very low volume fabric that reads as white.

Other fabrics: Two or more bright modern fabrics for the arcs: solids, prints, or a mixture. You can choose the number and size of arcs to add to the block.

The amount of fabric you'll need depends on your style of piecing, but the technique I show below makes a wonky block that needs quite a bit of trimming to square it up, so it's best to aim for a significantly larger size than 10 x 10", then trim it to size at the end.

Steps

There are several ways to create these blocks - feel free to use your favourite technique! For example, if you took the curved piecing workshop with Cheryl, she showed a nifty way to get accurate improv curves without the wonkiness that that you'll notice with the technique I'm showing below. 

When you're assembling the blocks, you can start with the background and work your way in, or start with the inside. Here's a technique that starts with the center:

1. Freehand cut a quarter circle(ish) for one corner of your block.
   

   
   
2. Lay the piece you just cut on top of the next fabric, right sides up. Cut along the outside edge of the quarter circle to cut the inside edge of the arc that you'll be attaching. You can also cut the outer edge of the arc now, or do it after you've sewn these two pieces together.
   
   
   
3. Stitch the two pieces together, right sides together. You can pin the pieces together before stitching, or just match one end of the two pieces, then stitch until the end. It helps to occasionally stop with the needle in the fabric and lift the presser foot to ease the tension and reposition the pieces. 
   
4. When finished, you'll likely have some extra fabric to trim off. At this point, you can move on to adding the background, or add one or more extra arcs.
   
   
   
5. In this example, I've added another arc using the same method.
   
   
   
6. Use the same technique to add the background.
   
    
7. Trim the block to 10"square. 
    

   

   
   

   If you win the blocks, there are several ways to assemble the blocks. You could line them up all facing in the same direction, position them randomly, arrange pairs of them in rows of rainbow shapes, or join for four together to make circles. Have fun!

   

   
   

Additional resources

• Improv Circles tutorial by Leanne from She Can Quilt. The tutorial also includes links to a video and other instructions by Leanne.
• Improv Quarter Circle Photo Tutorial by Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl. 
• Yvonne also has a Curved Piecing: Beyond the Drunkard's Path video on the MQG site (login required). 

February Block Lotto: I Love Economy Blocks

Due: Our next in-person event, in April

Technique: Fussy-cutting, piecing, and trimming blocks

New to block lotto? Learn about it here

This month, we're making Economy blocks, with a central square that represents something you love. 

I absolutely love Economy blocks (sometimes called Square in a Square). They're a traditional block that's easily transformed into something more modern by your choice of fabrics, and they provide a great opportunity for highlighting special fabrics.

For this month's block, pick something special for the center square of the block: fabric that depicts something you love, something that reminds you of a loved one, your favourite colour, a treasured fabric scrap, etc.

Fabrics and cutting

Central square: Cut a 4.5" square. When fussy cutting, it can help to use tape to mark a 4.5" square on a clear ruler or make a template so that you can plan how to cut the square. Remember that 1/4" on each side of the square will be in the seam allowance.

Inner (first round) triangles: Cut 2 squares, each 4-1/4". Then cut the squares in half diagonally.

Outer (second round) triangles: Cut 2 squares, each 5-1/2". Then cut the squares in half diagonally.

Steps

1. Mark the center of each side of the square, and the long (cut) side of the triangles.
   
2. Center the long edge of one of the first round triangles with one edge of the square, and stitch. Be careful because the triangles are cut on the bias, so they can be a bit wiggly/stretchy. 
3. Repeat with the opposite side. 
4. Press seams towards the triangles. 
   
5. Trim the extra flaps of the triangles so that they're even with the centre square.
    
6. Repeat steps 2-4 with the other two inner triangles.
7. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4" all around the block. Measure seam allowance from the point on the inner square.  
    
8. Repeat the same steps to attach the outer set of triangles, lining up the centre of the long edge of the triangle with the point of the inner square.  
   
9. Trim the block so that the outer seam allowance is 1/4". The block should be 8.5 x 8.5".
   
   

Additional resources

• Catbird Quilt Studio: Economy Block ANY Size
• Red Pepper Quilts Economy Block Tutorial
• Just Get It Done Quilts Economy Block Video
• Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild instructions from November 2018

January Block Lotto: Play in the Snow!

Due: Our next in-person event, in April 

Technique: Improv 

New to block lotto? Learn about it here

This month, let’s have some fun with improvisational blocks! You can use improv piecing or applique. This goal of this month is to experiment and have fun.

If you’d like to learn more about improv, the MQG site has this great Improv Resource Playlist (requires member login).

A few constraints to give the blocks some harmony:

• Take inspiration from winter, though you don’t need to make a literal representation of something wintery. Maybe take inspiration from a snowflake, a winter storm, an icy river - whatever you like.
• Keep the colours limited to white and cool shades of blue (leave the tropical aqua tones for warmer weather!)
• The blocks you turn in should be 8.5 x 8.5”, or slightly bigger. With improv, it’s often easier to aim for a slightly bigger block and then trim it down.