2024 Block of the Month Preview!

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for … I hope! It’s time for me to reveal the 2024 block of the month blocks. Like last year, I am creating seasonal groups of blocks for each season. At the end of each 3 month time period, you will be able to make a wall hanging for hang for the season! The big reveal will take place below after I share my favorite tips & tools for wool appliqué. Let’s get started!

Tips & Tools

These are the tips and tools I like to use every time I am doing wool stitchery. Feel free to adopt them or not. Also, search the internet for other wool appliqué enthusiasts. You never know where you’ll find the tip or tool you can’t live without.

Tip #1: I’m different from many wool stitchers as I like to appliqué my wool motifs onto fabric. Because of this, I recommend treating the edges of the fabric background with Fray Check to prevent the background from fraying too much from handling. This helps save your seam allowance.

Tip #2: If you are stitching wool onto individual blocks, cut the background fabric and inch larger than needed. If your block is supposed to be 12 1/2″, including seam allowance, cut the fabric background 13 1/2″. Then, draw a line 3/4″ around all sides of the square (photo below). This defines a center 12″ space for your design. Then keep your stitching at least 1/8″ inside that line to make sure your motif does not go into the seam allowance.

Tip #3: Templates. For pattern templates that need to be used several times over for tracing, I reinforce them. I do this by either copying them directly onto card stock from the pattern or by gluing the template page to a piece of card stock and then cutting them out. 

Once you have them cut out, you can write the number of shapes needed for the pattern and the color of wool on the template. Save them in a plastic bag attached to the pattern for future use.

Tip #4: Use the thread color that will complement your project. I like to use Valdani Perle Cotton threads in size 8.  I often use an array of neutrals from light to dark, depending on the color of my appliqué  piece.

You can also use threads that match the color of your wool appliqué piece so your stitches blend in and don’t show. I like to store my threads in a small box I found at a local craft store. A school pencil box works also!

If you don’t want to use perle cotton, you can use embroidery floss like DMC. You’ll need to use 3 to 5 strands to mimic the thickness of perle cotton.

Tip #5: Even if you use fusible web to secure your appliqué pieces, it’s always a good idea to keep some fabric glue by your side in case a piece loosens while you are stitching. I use both the large size and a smaller size that I keep in my thread box.

2024 BOM

Here’s what you’ve come here for! Below is the preview of all 12 of the 2024 BOM blocks grouped into four seasonal panels.

I hope they look like fun to you! To get started, I have written starting instructions that you can find here: 2024 BOM Starting Instructions.

The fabric I used for the background is from the Cheddar & Coal collection from Marcus Fabrics. It is a line that’s a few years old, but you still may find some in your favorite quilt shop that carries these fabrics. If you want the look of my blocks, you should be able to find fabrics that are close to those I used if you are unable to find the exact fabrics. The background I have chosen is a dark grey with a small black print. The fabric that will be used in the pieced blocks to finish the wall hangings is a black print from the Cheddar & Coal II collection.

The first block will appear on January 15, 2024 and there will be a limited amount of wool only kits available in my shop on that day, as in previous years. If you want the block instructions early, sign up for my newsletter here on my web site. You often receive the block at least a week before the public release.

That’s all for now! If you have not downloaded any of the 2023 blocks but still want to do that BOM someday, download the blocks before 12/31/23. After that, the blocks will disappear and will no longer be free.

Happy Quilting and Stitching!
Deanne

UPDATE: I’ve had some questions on the fabric I used for the BOM. The photo below shows them. The fabric on the right is from the Cheddar & Coal collection and will probably be scarce since that line has been out awhile. That’s why I felt I should share a photo so you can match it with a similar fabric. The fabric on the right is the one that will be used for the pieced blocks that finish each wall hanging.