The Quilt Works,Inc

BLOCK OF THE MONTH

Each year, The Quilt Works, Inc., offers a Block of the Month program. On the first day of each month, you can pick up a free pattern for that month's block, and, if you wish, purchase a kit with the fabrics for that month's block. At the end of the year, we publish instructions for a suggested setting of the blocks, and sell a kit with the fabrics required for that setting.
Immediately below is the information for the 2010 Block of the Month. Following that, we have included pictures and short descriptions of many of the Block of the Month quilts from prior years. As of this date, we are embarrassed to report that our files are incomplete; if you have additional information, especially pictures, to add to our page, please send us an e-mail or stop by the shop.

To view a larger image of a quilt, click on the quilt.

2010 BOM: Baskets for the New Decade, 51" x 66"

Our 2010 Block of the Month features fabrics by Kaffe Fassett, Ro Greg, Phillip Jacobs, Brandon Mably, and other designers. While we all contributed to this unique Quilt Works design, we owe a special debt of thanks to Grace Sanders and Phoebe McCafferty, who led the effort. As in previous years, the program runs for one year; however, this year you will find the fabrics for the sashing pieces included with each block. At the end of 12 months, you will have a completed quilt top, and the finishing kit will provide (only) the border and binding fabrics. The free pattern for each month is available in the shop on the first day of the month. Kits with the fabrics for that month's block are available on the same day - $14.95. [Patterns for previous months will be available at nominal costs throughout the year.] You may make a down payment for the Finishing Kit at any time; the sign-up list is already active.

The first seven blocks are shown below; click on each to get a better view. You will notice that our Jack Rabbit in our January block is looking in a different direction in the block than in the quilt. [Which way would you like him to look in your quilt?] Notice also the sashing, included in the kit, along the edges of several of the blocks. The April block doesn't have any flowers yet; they were added by the quilter, using variagated thread. In our June block, the left hand flower will overlap the May block; the little strip of black on the left is not part of the block. For this reason, you won't want to finish this flower until after you have pieced the blocks together. We have a similar situation in the July block: The flowers along the top and right-hand edges overlap the adjacent blocks. The sizes listed below each block are the finished sizes in the quilt. Please also note that there are some variations between the closeup pictures of the individual blocks and the blocks set in the quilt (above); this is often the result of the fact that, although the same fabric was used in the same location in each block, no attempt was made to use patches from exactly the same locations in these large-scale floral prints. In the July block, we went further; in our kits, and in the picture below, we used a single fabric for the basket. By contrast, the July block in our completed quilt (above) used several different fabrics for the basket.

JANUARY           FEBRUARY         MARCH                           APRIL                                  MAY                        JUNE
Easter Basket     Cattails                   Dresden Basket              Woven Basket                     Miss Fanci             Market Basket
6-1/2" x 25-1/4"   6-1/2" x 25-1/4"     13-1/2" x 14"                   13-1/2" x 11-1/2"                  9-1/4" x 16"            17-1/4" x 16"

JULY
Half Log Cabin Basket
12" x 12"

2009 BOM:Oriental, 66" x 80"

The 2009 Block of the Month features oriental fabrics. In the quilt top, we sashed twelve 12" blocks, several of which have oriental motifs. Three of these blocks are repeated in a 9" size in the border; a thirteenth 9" block is also found in the border.

2008 BOM Stars 79" x 97"

Each month we made a different star. Most are relatively uncommon, and some are original designs created in our shop.

2007 BOM Harvest Home 98" x 98"

Harvest Home was designed by Nancy Murty for the Honey Bee Club block of the month program, and featured fabrics from the Harvest Home collection by Andover Fabrics.

2006 BOM Harvest Spice 95" x 95"

Harvest Spice was designed by Nancy Murty for the Honey Bee Club block of the month program, and featured fabrics from the Harvest Spice collection by Andover Fabrics.

2005 BOM Christmas 82" x 106"

In this sampler, we used primarily the Christmas colors - red, white and green.

2004 BOM Mystery Southwest Row Quilt 60" x 72"

We had great fun with this quilt. Look at all the symbols! I-25, I-40 and Rt 66 road signs, the dinosaur, a windmill, a yucca, a rabbit, a pueblo dwelling scene, a stylized Zia symbol, the ojo, a hot air balloon scene, rows of blocks representing mountains, trees, cacti, desert flowers, Navajo rugs ... Motifs which, especially when taken together, are very much representative of New Mexico.

2003 BOM Floral Fantasy 68" x 80" (with a 1" border)

We started with 19 common blocks (Pinwheel, Churn Dash, Bow Tie, etc.), made them with a selection of wonderful floral fabrics, and then put them together in this unique setting.

2002 BOM String Pieced Fantasy 67" x 88"

Twelve string-pieced blocks are pieced into a unique black-white-bright colors bargello background. The black background makes the bright colors even more vivid. And the individual blocks are integrated into the greater design of the bargello. 20 fabrics were used in the bargello background, ten black and white fabrics, and ten brightly colored fabrics.

2001 BOM Desert Star 79" x 79"

The stars in this quilt were pieced on foundation papers.

2000 BOM Enchanted Sampler 68" x 68"

The twelve blocks in this quilt were originally drafted for the sampler we made for our 1993 Quilt Fiesta. This is an entirely new setting.

1999 BOM Juan Tabo Sampler 66" x 84"

The name? Well, Juan Tabo is the cross-street at which we are located.

1998 BOM Balloons Over New Mexico 52" x 38"

Here, we combined one of the most recognized New Mexico features - the hot-air balloon - with many of the other motifs we have come to recognize as very New Mexican. On the sandy backdrop we have a territorial house, a pueblo with a horno, a jack rabbit, a roadrunner, cacti, and so on. We did take some liberties with the balloons; the Quilt Works Sun Bonnet Sue hot-air balloon is clearly just a creation of our imagination.

1996 BOM Christmas Log Cabin 78" x 88"

This quilt features twelve 12" blocks, set on point. Each is surrounded by four sections of traditional Log Cabin blocks sewn in Christmas colors - red, white and green. Note: We have updated instructions for setting this quilt together (24 Jan 09).

1995 BOM Rio Grande Vistas 81" x 99"

The quilt top measures 56" x 74" (prior to adding the borders). The pattern was redrafted in 1998 with a different (flying geese) border; that quilt measured 66" x 84. A variation of the Chili Ristra block is still available.

1994 BOM

1993 BOM New Mexico Sampler 92" x 112"

The pattern for this quilt was republished in 1998.