I love block books - books filled with different quilt blocks - and I have a lot of them.

I don't know exactly how many I have because I refuse to count them - it might make me think twice about buying more.  Okay, probably not but I'd still rather not have an exact count.

So it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that I've also been a longtime fan of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazines.  Did you know that the most recent issue is Volume 12?  That's 1200 blocks!

This past year, the lovely ladies at Quiltmaker decided to do a sewalong with 100 of the blocks from those first 12 issues.  But they decided to put a twist on the blocks - they'd make them half-size!  The blocks finish at 6" instead of the original 12".

After that, the rest was easy.  Sampler quilts?  Done.  Multiple versions? Done.  A blog hop-quiltalong? Done.

Welcome to the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Sampler Sewalong!  Block pictures and a piecing diagram will be posted weekly on the Quilty Pleasures blog.

Update: My goof.  I mistakenly thought the patterns were available as a free download but they are only available as a for-purchase PDF pattern.

Block 1 was designed by Lynn Roddy Brown - it is titled Spinning Star and it is Block No. 261, found in Volume 3.  (That was an outstanding issue.)

Village Square is Block 2 of the Sampler - it was block No. 967 from Volume 10 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.  It was designed by Mickey Depre.

Block 3 of the Sampler is/was Block No. 291 - also in Volume 3.  It is titled Get The Point?

It was "designed" by some silly Rosie person.

With the 6" finished size of the block - and the 1" finished half-triangle squares, I decided to use an assortment of Cross Weaves for my block.  Blocks.  Of course I'm making something with this - a pillow.

I'll need 16 blocks or 64 of these units.  I have eleven made.  I'll let you know when I finish.

The block is easy to make - half-triangle squares, a couple of connector corners and strips.  Easy peasy, right?  The only challenge is that the pieces are a bit small - but that's also the best part about it.  And keeping the pieces oriented properly while assembling the blocks, that can be tricky too.  Ask me how I know?

A few of these blocks will have a seam re-sewn to get a better point on the half-triangle squares - that's sometimes the challenge for me with cross weaves - they can be a bit stretchier than most quilting cottons.  I do best when I size these fabrics and I didn't have time to do that.  Next time, right?

Until then, hop on over to say "Hi" to the ladies at Quilty Pleasures.  I might be back later with some Easter fun.

Happy Wednesday!