It's been a stellar year for the Beginner Block Lotto, thanks to our Forum Members and to the time and efforts of our Hostesses, Sophie and Kate. So good that we're nearing the 2,000 mark for blocks made for the event in 2008. The December block is Yankee Puzzle, super quick and easy because December is time-crunch time for most of you (the blocks are absolutely lovely when sewn together in a scrappy way). You'll use two fabrics per block, one yellow or gold and the other a darker color of your choice -- a perfect choice for stash-raiding.

I hope you'll consider participating in this fun event, but if you can't right now, do try the pattern for an upcoming quilting project.

_{Yankee Puzzle Blocks by Beatrice}

This traditional quilt block sometimes has slightly different components, and there are other blocks that are known by the same or similar names, even though they look completely different. That's confusing, but not at all uncommon in the world of quilting. No matter what you call it, Steps to the Altar is a lovely block, and looks good when you sew it in either an orderly or a scrappy layout.

_{Illustration © Janet Wickell, created in EQ v6}

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a good day. I'm popping in here for a bit to show you my newest pattern, an easy wallhanging made from a 20" square Christmas Star quilt block. It doesn't take long to put the quilt together, and Christmas Star is one of those blocks you can change dramatically by altering color and color value. There's no need to use holiday colors in your quilt -- design it to suit any color scheme.

_{Janet Wickell}

Here's a close-up of the Double Star block, but the pattern is for an entire quilt (20 blocks with sashing). It's just that an image of the block helps illustrate the special little technique used to assemble it. Take a look at the blue center, and notice first that the unit sewn to each of its sides is identical. Then take a look at the seams along the sides of the square -- they follow the center in a round-the-clock motion, but are shorter than the unit that's sewn to them. Are the seams inset? No, they're sewn as partial seams, and it's the same technique we used to make the Bright Hopes quilt block. Don't be discouraged by the slight change in assembly -- partial seams are very easy, even if you're a beginning quilter.

_{Janet Wickell}