2026 Block of the Month Preview

It’s the time of the year you have been waiting for (I hope). Time for me to reveal the 2026 BOM blocks that will be offered every month next year. I’ll also chat a bit on some wool appliqué tips I’ve covered before, but it’s always a good time for a review, right? OK, let’s get started!

2026 BOM Blocks

Here’s a photo of all the completed blocks. 

I call this pattern: Sheep Year!

This year, the blocks will all be stand alone mini quilts for small quilt hangers. That way you can change them out monthly. If you would like, you can stitch them together with a sashing and make a larger quilt top. 

The first block issued will be February so you have time to complete it in January and display it in February. 

The blocks will be released to the public on the 15th of each month and the PDF will be free to download. If you want the pattern earlier, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter that goes out at least 7 days earlier to my subscribers. Look for this photo on my website and click on it:

It will open a form for you to enter your name and e-mail address to receive my newsletter and notifications of new patterns. I don’t spam! I know I’ve have signed up at some websites and then get 3 or 4 e-mails a day. I will never do that.

Here’s the fabric I used for the blocks:

I chose a grey stripe from the Harvest Hill line by Kim Diehl for Henry Glass & Co and cut out the blocks so the stripe runs vertically. You can choose the same fabric for all 12 of your blocks or you can choose different fabrics, especially if you are not going to join them into a larger quilt. Here’s how much you need:

• 1 1/2 yards, cut 12 squares 10 1/2 x 13 1/2″. Once the motif is stitched, the blocks will be trimmed to 9 1/2 x 12 1/2″. 

There will be more full instructions in the first newsletter and on my blog the first week of January.

Wool Appliqué Tips

Here are some wool appliqué tips for stitchers, both experienced and beginner. I also have a step by step wool appliqué series on my YouTube page where I cover my tips for making a wool appliqué project from templates to layout to stitching. You can find that series here: Wool Appliqué Series.

Thread Tips

I am often asked what threads I use for wool appliqué. My favorite type of thread is perle cotton, which is a high sheen, twisted cotton thread. It is used in this kind of stitchery and also as embroidery thread. Perle cotton comes in sizes #3, #5, #8 and #12. #3 is the thickest while #12 is the thinnest. My favorite size to use is #8, but you can try the different sizes and decide which is best for you.

DMC is a brand of perle cotton floss people are most familiar with that comes in all those sizes. My favorite brand is Valdani perle cotton:

As you can see above, the colors I use are all in a neutral color scheme. I match my neutral shade with the lightness or darkness of my appliqué piece. However Valdani, like DMC, comes in a large variety of colors if you want to match the thread to the actual color of your appliqué.

For travel sewing, I like to keep my threads in a small plastic box I found in the craft store. This keeps them in order and I can also pull the thread from the side with the cover closed so the thread ball doesn’t roll across the floor.

Needle Tips

I recommend either size 22 or size 24 chenille needles for my type of wool appliqué, which is wool appliqué on fabric. These needles are sharp and have larger eyes for threading perle cotton. 

The size 22 needles are longer than the size 24, so use whichever size fits you best. You may want to investigate other needles if you are doing wool appliqué onto different or more delicate fabrics.

Template Tips

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 design and the color of wool required on the template. Save them in a plastic bag attached to the pattern for future use.

These templates will be used to trace the appliqué shapes onto fusible web, which you will then cut out and fuse to the designated color wool.

Time to Stitch Tips

Since you will be handling the fabric background quite a bit while stitching the appliqué motif, a good tip is to reinforce the edges of the fabric with Fray Check. This will keep your fabric background from fraying into the seam allowance. You’d be surprised how much you can fray away with a lot of handling!

Even if you use fusible web to secure your appliqué  motif, 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 larger size and a smaller size that I keep in my thread box.

Both of these are Roxanne Glue products that I have used for years and love. I love the small Dip & Dab because it fits anywhere.

Always stitch where there is good lighting. Of course we all don’t have a bright, sunshiny window to sit by, so task lamps are the second best thing. Good lighting will help you see your stitching so it’s too your liking and you don’t have to tear it out. No one wants to do that!

I have a desk top light and a floor lamp I use depending on where I decide to stitch. A bonus feature is both these lights have magnifiers on them to help me see my stitching better.

I hope you enjoyed the 2026 BOM preview and this review of my wool appliqué tips. Look for more detailed information in January and the first block on January 15th (unless you sign up for my newsletter!).

Happy Quilting & Stitching!
Deanne