Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #19

Are you ready for our 19th block? We're coming down the home stretch and there's plenty more excitement to come, so stick with us till the end and pretty soon you'll be snuggling under a beautiful quilt! 

Next Wednesday my co-host Maureen Cracknell and I will (hopefully) have a survey in place on our blogs so we can get a better indication of exactly how many of you SBS Makers there are out there plus some questions to help us gauge your skill level and what you'd like to see in a possible future Sew Along. Be watching for that starting next week. 

We still have a few new Makers joining our sew along and Maureen and I couldn't be more proud of all the gorgeous blocks and the remarkable community that's being built from this sew along. Anyone just joining us may want to take advantage of the in-blog tutorials for the different patchwork techniques used throughout the Sewcial Bee Sampler. Pick up tips and block variations beginning with the first blog post The Start of Something Sewcial.

With no further ado, let's get to this week's block #19--Circle of Friends. Download the free PDf for the blocks on my Sew Along page.

Circle of Friends is a beautiful block that looks way more complicated than it really is. It's made using 8-at-a-time Half-Square Triangle (HST) units we've been using throughout this sampler quilt with the addition of (4) 2-1/2" squares for the center of each "friend". If you need a refresher on how to make 8-at-a-time Half-Square Triangle units, read more here. If you are using directional prints and want to keep everything running the same way, read about how to control print directions in an earlier tutorial, here.

I thought it fitting I include the lovely necklace given to me by the talented and sweet Paola of @loveoffabrics she made with fabric from my Bountiful Scenic Blue Sky print. Our virtual community is indeed a Circle of Friends.

Block Variation

I deviated from the PDF pattern this week and added a fourth fabric to this block. If you'd like to make this variation you will need to cut:

• (2) 5-3/4" squares fabric A
• (4) 5-3/4" squares fabric B
• (2) 5-3/4" squares fabric C
• (4) 2-1/2" squares fabric D

Each quarter of this block is made exactly the same and a fun overall pattern is created once the four quarters are sewn together. I've used prints from my Bountiful fabrics collection for Art Gallery Fabrics. Shown are Prairie Crimson, Scenic Blue Sky, and Gather Rustic with the addition of Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Elements Snow solid. 

I was excited to see a full page feature of my fabric collection in the latest issue of Pretty Patches Magazine issue 36. Be sure to check out this gorgeous publication for the projects plus how to enter for a chance to win a 20-piece fat quarter bundle of AGF fabrics!

Don't forget that this Friday's Giveaway Friday and this week I will be hosting the giveaway from this blog. We've got a great giveaway planned from Intrepid Thread you won't want to miss!