Year of Doubles BOM: January 2022

From the Block of the Month committee: Shannon Mitchell, Emily Keller, & Bonnie Mitchell

Welcome to the 2022 Seattle Modern Quilt Guild Block of the Month! For our 2022 BOM we will be 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. Perfect for the year of doubles!

What is the Year of Doubles?

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:

Bold or monochromatic colors
Scale
Layout
Negative Space
“Wonky” cutting (i.e. no rulers)
Fabric choices (crumbs, textured fabrics, etc.)
Minimalism
Asymmetry
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.

We're also planning to create a BOM virtual sew-in group. Show off your progress, get inspiration, or just allocate this time to work on your BOM blocks with your fellow guild members.

Can you give me an example?

Yes! To get you thinking, the BOM committee took the simple, and classic, 9 patch cross block and each came up with our own second version, stretching our improv and non-traditional piecing skills.

Traditional block (1st block)	Re-interpreted block (2nd block)
Classic nine-patch with 3 color values (light, medium, dark)	Emily's sample showing wonky alignment and very similar cross colors
	Shannon’s Reinterpretation showing bold prints and different color value layout
	Shannon’s Reinterpretation showing more skewed crossbars
	Bonnie's Reinterpretation with fussy cutting
	Bonnie's Reinterpretation adding another design element in some of the pieces

January Goals:

Look for Inspiration:

Do some research and look through some of your favorite modern quilter’s portfolios. The MQG website is a great resource or try checking your local library or bookstore for books on the subject. I’ve also included links at the end to resources I used putting this together. OR For even more ideas we’ve started a Pinterest board HERE

Choose Fabric/Colors

Anything goes! I’m using this as an excuse to finally make a Christmas quilt, but the sky's the limit when it comes to ideas. Look through your stash and see what calls to you. Maybe pick a novelty print that you know would make great fussy cut blocks. Go all solids! Splurge on a FQ bundle from your favorite designer. Get scrappy and take a trip down quilt memory lane pulling fabric from your scrap pile. There is no right or wrong way to make this quilt.

Not sure where to start for inspiration? Find a picture you love and pull colors from there. This palette generator gives you corresponding Bella or Kona solid choices. Pretty neat! http://www.play-crafts.com/blog/palettebuilder2/

Get inspired by the resources I used:

Website content inspiring me about "What is Modern Quilting?" from the MQG
Maria Shell's Riffing on Tradition workshop and her Log Cabin Circles
Emiko Toda Loeb’s exhibition using double sided quilts at the International Quilt Museum, specifically her Ode To Joy quilt and this video lecture where she shares her story about her work called “Dualities.”
100 Modern Quilt Blocks- Tula Pink’s City Sampler
Savor Each Stitch- Carolyn Friedlander
Modern Quilt Bible- Elizabeth Betts
Quilter’s Field Guide to Color- Rachel Hauser
https://www.chrisenglishquilts.com/
https://sherrilynnwood.com/
http://www.cherylarkison.com/
https://carolelylesshaw.com/

Share your progress!

Tag on Instagram to share your BOM progress:

BOM schedule:

January: find inspiration and pull fabrics
February through October: one traditional block will be released each month at the guild meeting, along with ideas and inspiration for playing with it
November: assemble quilt top and start quilting
December: finish quilting and bind the quilt. You're done!

What's coming next:

In February, we'll post the next instructions for the first block after the February meeting. Stay tuned, and happy sewing!

Still reading?? Here is my finished Mini Doubled Quilt- I chose to play with the double-sided version just for fun!