Choose the block size that suits you best when you make Pinwheel in a Square — 8-inch or 12-inch. I designed the block to be used with the Springtime Mosaic Pinwheel block, but it looks good all by itself in a quilt, or sewn next to Snowball connectors that give your quilt a bit of extra visual movement. My colors are primarily light to medium shades that blend together just a bit, because I wanted a somewhat colorwashed appearance. You can change the look drastically by creating more contrast among the patches of your quilt blocks. Pinwheel in a Square is another good choice for kids quilts.

_{© Janet Wickell}

The Quilting Forum's beginner block lotto gives members an opportunity to make blocks from stash scraps. This year it's been easier than ever, because Sophie (the event's hostess) planned twelve months of (different) 6" quilt blocks, smaller than blocks in previous years (but not so small that they're difficult to make).

September's choice is the Cracker quilt block. It goes together quickly and easily, and a batch of scrappy Cracker blocks offers all sorts of color play across the surface of your quilt. Another plus -- the blocks can be arranged lots of ways (I've included a few examples in the pattern).

_{Blocks & Photo by Barbara}

Friendship quilts have been popular forever, but they don't all have signature panels like centers of these 6" patchwork star blocks. The blocks are easy to make and the dark star tips and center bars don't require much fabric at all -- it's an excellent pattern to help you use up your scraps. If you'd rather make the quilt all by yourself, use the signature panels to honor family members, or sew a darker strip in that slot if you'd prefer to do away with signatures.

_{© Janet Wickell}

Lots of you have written to request more patterns for big quilt blocks. Here you go -- All Hallows is brand new, with two sizes to choose from -- 12" square and 24" square. I've included a blank, coloring book drawing with the pattern, to make it easy for you to either use more fabrics than shown in the example, or to change the placement of color value to give the block a different appearance. Just print that drawing out and experiment a bit.

_{Janet Wickell}