Blockheads 6: Catch-Up Week & Creative Settings

Take a deep breath, Blockheads — this week, we’re pressing pause on releasing a new block and giving everyone a chance to catch up. Whether you’re right on schedule or just getting started, this is your moment to sew at your own pace, celebrate your progress, and dream up how your finished quilt will come together.

To help spark your imagination, we asked some of our designers (and a few of us at Moda HQ) to share their favorite setting ideas for Blockheads 6 blocks. There’s something for everyone — from bold and modern to classic and cozy — so you can find a layout that feels just right for your quilt.

 

New Here? A Quick Refresher on Blockheads

Blockheads is our free, community sew-along celebrating the joy of quiltmaking, one block at a time.

New to the Blockheads party? Check out our kick-off video below!

Each week, a different Moda Fabric Designer shares their vision for a brand-new block pattern. The blocks vary in size and style, so you can mix and match them to create a quilt that’s uniquely yours.

Blockheads is:

•          Completely free

•          Flexible and go-at-your-own-pace

•          Perfect for mixing fabric styles and building your skills

Need a little help along the way? Our Moda Fabrics YouTube Channel has step-by-step video tutorials for every block, so you can follow along with confidence.

 

Setting Option: My Favorite Color Is Moda 2

Looking for something structured and striking? The printed pattern for My Favorite Color Is Still Moda is a perfect fit for Blockheads 6. This paid pattern includes a full layout option for your blocks, with clear instructions and a stunning design that really lets your fabrics shine.

Ask about it at your local quilt shop or find one near you with our Moda Shop Finder.

 

Setting Option: Starlight Crossing by Heather Briggs of My Sew Quilty Life

Designer Heather Briggs of My Sew Quilty Life created a gorgeous setting she’s calling Starlight Crossing, designed especially for her Blockheads 6 quilt. It combines stars and sashing for a layout that sparkles while letting each block shine.

Follow Heather on Instagram and find her free setting pattern and details on her blog here:

•          Starlight Crossing Setting – My Sew Quilty Life

 

Setting Option: From Robin Pickens

Robin Pickens is sharing her layout on her blog and updating the mock-up week by week as new blocks are released. This is a part of her incredible Color Study Series and we encourage everyone to check it out to get an interesting perspective on each week’s block!

Read more about Robin’s Moonbeam block as well as her gorgeous setting option: https://www.robinpickens.com/blog/moda-blockheads6-week-6-is-my-block

Be sure to follow along on her Instagram or join our Moda Blockheads Facebook group to see her quilt come together in real time.

 

Setting Option: Shine On, From Annie St. Cyr of Little Quilting Closet

Moda’s own Annie St. Cyr (@littlequiltingcloset) has also created a setting for her Blockheads 6 quilt — a colorful, star-splashed layout called Shine On, designed to let every 9”  block shine.

You can read all about her approach to building a flexible layout as well as finishing instructions in her blog post here:

•          Building a Quilt That Shines – My Blockheads 6 Layout Options

 

Setting Option: Pattern Work by Sarah Thomas of Sariditty

 

Designer and pilot Sarah Thomas of Sariditty created a setting she calls Pattern Work — a playful nod both to the intricate patterns of quilting and to the aviation term used when practicing maneuvers around an airport.

Sarah’s layout uses one version of nearly every Blockheads 6 design (with one duplicated in place of Block 17) and cleverly incorporates her own foundation paper pieced block, High Flight.

The 27" Folk Star block evokes the look of an airport runway, with the surrounding blocks arranged like airplanes flying a left-hand traffic pattern. The 9" and 18" blocks scattered throughout represent landmarks and structures on the ground below.

In this setting, not every block is used at full size — Sarah resized two of the 18" designs (hers and Laura’s) down to 9" to make the composition flow. You can reach out to her for sized down cutting measurements of Blocks 23 and 24!

 The result is a layout that blends storytelling, aviation, and quilting artistry in a uniquely Sariditty way.

Want to try it yourself? Sarah is offering her High Flight FPP block pattern and this setting option for free during Blockheads 6. Simply email her directly at SARIDITTY@gmail.com to request them.

Once the sew-along wraps up, the pattern will be available in her Etsy shop, SARIDITTYshop.

Follow Sarah on Instagram @sariditty for more of her colorful and creative quilting journey.

 

Coming Soon: A Setting from Sherri McConnell

Sherri McConnell is also dreaming up a special setting just for Blockheads 6. While it’s not quite ready to share yet, we know it’s going to be every bit as beautiful and timeless as her quilts always are.

Follow her on Instagram and keep an eye on her blog — this is one layout you won’t want to miss. You can also sign up for her newsletters at A Quilting Life.

 

What’s Next

Use this week to:

•          Catch up on any blocks you’ve missed

•          Try out a few layout mock-ups

•          Share your progress in the Blockheads Facebook Group

 

Seeing how everyone brings their quilts to life is one of the best parts of this journey. A brand-new block will be waiting for you next week — until then, happy stitching, Blockheads.

-The Moda Team

 

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If you’re new to Blockheads, here are a couple of quick things to know:

• This is a free quilt-along. No sign-ups are required. Just download the pattern and you’re ready to sew!
• The PDF patterns will be posted on the Moda blog and in the official Facebook group every Wednesday by 8:00 AM CDT.
• You can also bookmark this page: Blockheads 6 main page to find a convenient list of all the patterns as they are released.
• If you’d like to sign up for our blog newsletter to get blog posts delivered to your inbox, you can sign up here: Blog Newsletter Sign-Up 
• If you want to sew along with a virtual Blockheads community, head over to Facebook and join our official Moda Blockheads Facebook group. Our group is an active and vibrant community of 81,000 quilters and counting! It’s a great place to be inspired and share pictures of your Blockheads progress.
• If Instagram is where you prefer to hang out, be sure to follow us (@modafabrics) and the hashtags #modablockheads and #modablockheads6 to see the latest blocks from our designers and other Blockheads.

(Looking for a little more information about Blockheads? You can check out the Blockheads 6 archive HERE.)