The Olympics start in less than a week.  Have you cleared your calendar to watch at least some of them events?  Since most of us "multi-task", I wanted to give you something quilt related to piece while watching the games.

Each day I will give you a free sports themed block to piece.  The instructions will be downloadable for 24 hours.  Check in each day to get all the patterns at no charge.  If you miss a pattern you may purchase it in my store.

Most of the designs will be for paper peicing.  One of the borders does have a fair amount of applique -- but the shapes are super simple.  You certainly could omit that border if applique is not for you.  There a also a few blocks with a little bit of applique as well.The quilt is designed to finish 55-3/4" x 55-3/4".  But it would be very easy to modify if you wish to delete a few of the blocks and the applique.

I debated on providing yardage information -- but this quilt can be done with scraps.  Or you can purchase fabric as you go.    
  
To whet your appetite, I am offering the piecing instructions for the Rings block this week.  This is the center medallion of the quilt -- or could just be a stand alone project  This block finished at 14" x 14".  For this block, I am providing instructions on using folded corners on each of the units.

​Click on the image to download the instructions.

Block 2 will be released for opening ceremonies on Friday.

History:  The Olympic rings were designed n 1894 by Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin—a French aristocrat and intellectual.  Here is what he had to say about the rings.

"A white background, with five interlaced rings in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green and red...is symbolic; it represents the five inhabited continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six colors are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time."

Here is the layout with Block #1 added.

I have a video tutorial this week on drafting this block in Electric Quilt.  Check this out if you would like to draft the quilt yourself.

"Is it hot enough for you?"  It is interesting how sayings you heard in childhood come back to you.  The next few days are projected to have heat indexes from 105 to 115.  I'm not even sure what the heat index is -- but for this ice skating girl I know it is definitely "hot enough". 

I'm using the heat as an excuse to escape to the ice rink in the middle of the day (and hoping everyone doesn't have the same idea).  At home I'm working on a number of quilting projects, including ...

I've been wanting to develop my own pantograph to use with 2+6 = Easy.  And finally decided on balloons.  What a great way to celebrate a new baby or a special day in a child's life. I am really excited on how the pattern stitches out.  I've used on my last two 2+6=Easy quilts.

Quilting close-up:

Gekko Close-up:

Regular $25.  Introductory bundled sales price of $15.  Purchase here.

 I am having a lot of fun playing with Hexagonal Stars in Electric Quilt.  I saw a really fun hexagonal layout and knew I needed to use it to design a quilt.  Putting very simple square blocks in a triangle or parallelogram shape can create stunning designs.

Can you guess the "blocks" that were included in this quilt?

The Electric Quilt video tutorial this week will show you how to use and modify one of the hexagonal layouts from the library and then design a 60 degree triangle border to complement the quilt.

I've included some "Quilter's Math" in this video:

• Calculating the size of Hexagon Quilts (the length and the width are typically different)
• Creating 60 degree border blocks

Here is the work sheet used in the video.  Don't worry if you are math adverse.  Just go through it one step at a time (just like working through a quilt pattern).

I pulled out an old book this week - Infinite Stars by Gayle Bong. This book is amazing.  Basically the concept is to take a rectangular block and convert it to a 60 degree triangle block using 60 degree graph paper.  Then use a 60 degree ruler to rotary cut the pieces.

I remember trying to use EQ4 (I think that was the version back in 1992)  to draft these blocks and really struggling.  However there is absolutely no need to struggle today.

This weeks video will be about creating a 12 point star quilt from a couple of traditional quilt blocks.
​
​From this:

To this:

From this:

To this:

This video tutorial will also explain how I used Shades and Tints (and ultimately mapped them to fabrics).  Barb Vlack's Club EQ Challenge this month is designing One Color Quilts.  I may submit these projects.  (If you would like to submit one as well, click here.)

If you would like to read more about Gayle's technique and great suggestions for piecing your Infinite Star blocks, I would highly recommend Gayle Bong's book --  Infinite Stars.  I believe it is out of print -- but can still be found on Amazon.

Over the Fourth, I made it to North Dakota to spend some time with family.  We had a great time with mini golf (I lost), a sewing project with Josie, fireworks and even weathering a hail storm.  I learned that if you don't have access to a garage in Bismarck, a downtown ramp works great to protect your car from hail.  That same ramp provided a great view of the fireworks going off at the capital.

Josie did a great job on her mother's machine.  A very consistent 1/4 inch seam allowance!  I can't believe I didn't get a picture of the finished quilt -- a Fourth of July table runner.

Hanging out with my niece and nephews. Missing Sara this year who just started her residency program in Oklahoma City.

Watching the storm roll in.

Are you ready to learn Electric Quilt from the comfort of your home with an instructor that can focus solely on YOU?  Schedule private training to focus on the areas that interest you -- everything from the basics to advanced drawing skills.  YOU PICK THE TOPICS.

Send me a note to set up a free 15 minute introductory call to see how it works.

Ready to purchase - click here.

I am taking a few days off to spend time with family.  So just a quick post this week to wish everyone a wonderful 4th.

The International Study Museum is doing a display of Mountain Mist Quilts.  The above quilt (drafted by me with Electric Quilt) was inspired by one in the collection entitled Shadow Trail.  The original quilt (circa 1935)  was possibly designed by Fritz Hooker.  

 History:  Beginning in 1929, the Stearns & Foster Company printed a free quilt pattern inside the paper wrapper of each roll of Mountain Mist batting. Some patterns were copied from old quilts and popular new designs of the day. Others were original modern Mountain Mist designs or inspired by current events.

The company had a quilt made from each new pattern. These quilts became the centerpiece of advertisements and the stars in quilt shows and department store windows.

As a result, the Mountain Mist quilt patterns have been American favorites for decades.

Check out photos of the quilts on the International Study Museum's webpage.  I would love to see these quilts in person.