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STLMQG 2026 Block of the Month
Make it Modern!
For this year’s guild challenge, we will be doing a BOM exploring and reinterpreting the traditionally pieced quilt block to create a double-sided quilt (or two quilts! The world is your oyster!). This will be a chance for us to look back at some traditional concepts and think about how we want to change and modify them to create a new and unique block.
What is Make it Modern?
Over the next nine months we will give you directions for one 12” traditionally pieced block each month. After you’ve made the 1st block, the traditional block, you will have the option to create a 2nd block playing off the theme of the traditionally pieced block.
What should my 2nd block look like?
That’s up to you! Here are some ideas you can play with:
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Bold or monochromatic colors
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Scale
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Layout
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Negative Space
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“Wonky” cutting (i.e. no rulers)
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Fabric choices (crumbs, textured fabrics, etc.)
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Minimalism
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Asymmetry
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Fussy Cutting
Will you help me on this journey?
Of course! Don’t feel intimidated! Each month we will provide you with examples and prompts to help guide your second take on the block.
Can you give me an example? |
Traditional block Classic nine-patch with 3 color values (light, medium, dark)
| Re-interpreted block showing wonky alignment and very similar cross colors
| Re-interpreted block showing bold prints and different color value layout
| Re-interpreted block adding another design element in some of the pieces
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What’s the plan? This challenge will officially have six 12in block styles and their Modern partners (12 total blocks). On month’s we do not have a guild meeting, we will have a bonus block that people can add if they want to make a bigger quilt with eighteen 12in blocks. | March: (bonus) Bear Paw Block April: (bonus) Friendship StarMay: Basket Block June: Ohio Star Block July: Arkansas Traveler August: Dutchman’s Puzzle Block September: Dresden Plate Block October: (bonus) Courthouse Steps November: Assemble your quilt top! |
How do I put it together?
The short answer is that you can put your quilt together however you want! But here are a few ideas:
You can do a double sided quilt! Consider these tips from Juniperusthreadworks. You could make twin quilts! One of the traditional and one of the Modern (or however you want to mix it up!) Check out these examples from Dave's Craft Room
| You could make it as big as you want by adding negative space! Consider this example from Just Get it Done Quilts.
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We can’t wait to see what you come up with! Every month email your photos to stlmqg@gmail.com the Wednesday before the meeting by noon to be entered to win the monthly challenge.