Coco Loco for March Quilt Block Mania

 What's a beach vacation without a fancy drink? Interested in a Coco Loco?

Looks very tropical, right? The computer generated picture doesn't do it justice -be sure to scroll to the bottom to see it in fabric!

And look at the fun my fellow Quilt Block Mania designers had this month, dreaming up different fancy drinks. Don't they all look fantastic???

Here's the links to all:

Tropical Drink by Carolina Moore of Always Expect Moore
Pink Lemonade by Crafty Staci
Mardi Gras Hurricanes
Milkshake by Patchwork Breeze
On the Rocks by Patti's Patchwork
Coco Loco by QuiltFabrication
Hot Coffee To Go
Christmas Cocktail by Inquiring Quilter
Sip Happens by Robin Kinley Designs Etc.
Unicorn Lemonade by Memory Barn Studio
Friendly Mule by Patchwork River Quilting
Margarita by Emerald Falls Quilts
Bartending Nutcracker by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts
Raspberry Lemonade
Mod Martini by A Piece of Quiet Quilts
Pina Colada by Appliques Quilts and More
Lemon Drop by Studio B

In January, I took a short vacation in Hawaii to celebrate my birthday. That trip is probably responsible for Coco Loco. The block just screams of relaxing by an oceanside bar!

Making a Coco Loco from a bar tenders perspective is pretty easy. The Coco Loco block though, is more for the intermediate quilter who's comfortable with foundation paper piecing. To make assembly easier, I've included aligning tic marks on the umbrella portion for matching up the parts - you're so welcome! And if there's some shrinkage in the block size, it can be made up in the beige 'counter' or 'table' at the bottom. Nothing like allowing for some wiggle room!

The Coco Loco block is a free download pattern until March 31. In downloading the pattern, you agree to not share the file with others, but direct them to the QuiltFabrication.com/Coco Loco post - thank you! Now go ahead and click on the download button below for the PDF file. 

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Sad News for Joann Shoppers

I'm sure you've heard the news by now. Joann has filed for bankruptcy (again), and will be closing more stores. Like over half - approximately 500 of 850. To read the press release and find out what stores are closing, click Joann Closing.

Now I know some of you quilters may be aghast that I shop at Joann. Where I live, it seems to be a taboo subject to mention. Who can resist a store within five miles, and 4 others within a 30 minute drive. Though I'll admit there was some quality missing in their fabric lines, you sure couldn't beat the selection and price!

I always loved stepping into the store and seeing the current display of seasonal fabrics just screaming 'take me home'! Having based most of my quilts around the seasons, these displays were absolute candy!

Of course, I can't leave out the fairly large selection of other prints available in a wide array of colors. A half yard here, a yard there, and I've got myself a wide selection of fabrics to play with. I was always searching for blenders, or for prints that hit a certain theme. I'm not known for buying a designer or fabric line. I'd rather select for myself.

Most of us quilters are about the fabric. But there's also the pins, needles, cutting tools, thread - all the additional items used for our craft. And batting! Joann had lots of choices there and usually on sale. I'll miss that.

For now, one store 30 minutes away will remain open. For how long, who knows? Not sure where I'm going to go when I need thread or batting. Heaven forbid that I have to turn to online shopping! I like to actually SEE the fabric. Guess I'll frequent the quilt shop close by, but it's just not the same.

So, a sad Adieu, Joann! Thanks for all the fabric and memories (especially Black Friday sales!). Maybe a buyer will step up and bring the store back. If not, I'll miss you.

Anyone else out there share my sentiments? Leave a comment!  

Happy Quilting

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Butterfly Block

I've got an updated block to share - a Butterfly!

Originally designed 2023, I made this when the first color, blue, was announced for RSC2023 (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2023). 

Some quilters were wanting scrap piecing instructions in addition to my Making Block from Crumbs video. Now I've decided to update the pattern and offer easy to follow scrap piecing instructions, thereby eliminating the guesswork if one is unfamiliar with the scrappy technique. The new Butterfly version lists the scrap sizes needed and provides the directions necessary to make a multi-colored butterfly. Yay!

Keep in mind that you don't have to follow my scrap sizes - be creative and make your own scrappy wings. Just be sure that they mirror each other, left and right.

Of course, wings made from scraps is not necessary - squares from fat quarters works just fine if you want to limit the amount of piecing. But it is important to have two values or different prints to distinguish the upper wings from the lower wings. That's what makes my Butterfly sparkle! Here's what it might look like with solids, and with the values reversed top and bottom.

After I made my scrappy version, I fell completely in love my little Butterfly block! Modified once again to make it really pop, it's charm then led me to design a full quilt, in several sizes even. But then life happened, and I haven't had a chance to make another block, let alone a quilt. It will happen someday.

So, for now, we'll just have to be content with my Butterfly block as just a block pattern, with the quilt to follow sometime later. With super easy stitch-n-flip piecing, the block finishes at 10.5" x 10.5", and is perfect for a beginner quilter.

Find my Butterfly block in my Etsy shop and send me pictures of yours - I'd love to see!

And if your wondering about the colorful butterfly props in the photo, they are from Send A Cake. They wind up to flutter out when released from a gift box. A friend sent them to me for my birthday - they were quite the surprise!

Happy Quilting!

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My Favorite Patterns