Braided Love

February’s theme for Quilt Block Mania is “Connections”. I am excited to see how all the designers have interpreted this theme because it is so broad.

I chose to go with a French Braid block with an extra triangle to add some pizazz. In this image it shows a three color block, but this could be so pretty with a unrestrained scrappy look. The block uses the odds and ends of all those 2.5″ strips to make the braid. I think as long as the larger piece is treated as background, this will be a really effective quilt.

Here is the block.

And here is just one way that you could set the blocks. This sample uses 16 of the 12″ blocks and an easy 5″ border for a 58″ square quilt. It would be very easy to make the quilt larger by adding more blocks or borders.

Here is a much scrappier version with some different border choices.

The instructions for this block are FREE until March 31, 2023.

To get the free pattern, you will click on the button below and it will take you to a landing page where you will put in your e-mail address and first name. Yes. . . you are subscribing to my once-a-month newsletter. (Keep reading- this makes it easier for you in the future!) Once you press the submit button you will be taken to the block download page. You will download the PDF pattern to your computer and use it when you are ready.

IN THE FUTURE- You are always welcome to go through the process listed above, but once you sign up for the newsletter I will send you the FREE block design every month and there will be no hoops to jump through. You will get to go straight to the download page.

This block is now available for purchase on Etsy and from my Shoppe for just $2.99.

Buy from The Shoppe
Buy from Etsy

Heart and Star
Woven Heart by Inquiring Quilter
Puzzle Block by Inflorescnece
Connected Hearts by BoBerry Design Co.
Mardi Gras Geese
Chain Link by Sugar Sand Quilt Co.
Linked by QuiltFabrication
Irish Chain
DNA by Palm Creations
Hello at Patti’s Patchwork
Lover’s Knot at Lovingly, Lissa
Double Hearts by Appliques Quilts and More
Key to my Heart
Connections by Penny Spool Quilts
WiFi Signal by Crafty Staci
With Love By Sew Cute And Quirky
Text Me!
Braided Love by Kaye Collins
Celtic Tree of Life By Sallys’ Sewing Circle
Hearts Together Block by Sew Worthy Mama
Sunshine Village Church by Sarah Marcina
Braille Block
Left and Right Block at The (not so) Dramatic Life
Love Encircled by Jessica of Blue Sky Modern Craft
Celtic Hearts by A Piece of Quiet Quilts
Half Friendship Star with Heart by Blue Bear Quilts

Introducing: Edie Wait

I have met Edie a couple of times and she is just a fun, colorful lady! She is very creative and is quick to laugh and smile. She is a fun addition to the Handi Quilter team.

Artist Statement – Be You Quilt
Here is the story of how my “Be You” quilt was born. When I decided to participate in Handi Quilter’s Black and White Quilt challenge I searched the internet for inspiration. I spent hours and days looking and just couldn’t find anything that spoke to me. As it turns out, I didn’t have to search the internet! I
just had to look at what was right in front of me. I retired in 2021 and spent most of the summer on my deck when I was not quilting for my customers. I armed myself with iced tea and You Tube to see if I could draw a face. No one in particular, just a face. As my drawing journey progressed, I broke out the watercolors…I just couldn’t live with black and white. All the abstract faces I had drawn just HAD TO HAVE COLOR! When I decided to join in on the Black and White Challenge, I took one of my drawings and made it into an applique! I digitized the name of the quilt and then quilted it in the background using metallic thread from Superior Threads. I then zentangled (free motion quilted) the background and each section of her hair. I also used couching to define each section of her hair…all on my Amara 20! The Black and White Challenge has been an interesting journey for me as I usually use many colors, prints and textures in my quilts…the more the merrier!

Artist Statement – Frequency Quilt
I knew I would make more than one quilt once I decided to participate in Handi Quilter’s Black and
White Quilt Challenge. When I spied the Frequency pattern by Desert Bloom at Designer Fabrics in
Carrington, North Dakota, I knew this would be my next quilt. I fell in love with the movement in the
pattern and knew it would be the perfect for showcasing an edge-to-edge design I digitized using Pro-Stitcher Designer. I love the way my digitized design mimics the movement of the pattern. I pulled things from my stash…I had plenty of black and white as I’m usually all about the color! The Black and White Challenge has been an interesting journey for. I normally use as many colors, prints and textures as possible in my quilts…the more the merrier! This quilt was quite the challenge for me as I had not yet attempted half rectangle triangles…all those bias edges and points to match!! I didn’t let all edges or points deter me…I just jumped in and went to work. I am quite pleased with the outcome. I hope this quilt brings you joy and inspires you to just jump in a go to work…take a chance and try something new. Who knows you may surprise yourself! Happy quilting!

Learn More About Edie

Edie has dabbled in many arts and crafts while raising her son and going to college. She was also a member of the North Dakota Army National Guard for more than 21 years. Her career in the North Dakota Army National Guard ranged from part-time soldier to a full-time position at the Pentagon. One day she decided she wanted to make a quilt for her son for Christmas and discovered her true passion. She wanted to finish her own quilts and purchased her first Handi Quilter machine in 2012, the HQ Sixteen®. She started her home business, CountryPolitan Quilting that same year and has not looked back. Many free motion quilts later, she discovered Pro-Stitcher® and knew she just had to have it. Edie enjoys discovering the capabilities of a new software. In 2019 she upgraded to an HQ Avanté® with Pro-Stitcher, and in 2022 to an HQ Amara® with Pro-Stitcher. Today she uses free motion, rulers, Pro-Stitcher, and Pro-Stitcher Designer when she creates everything from an edge-to-edge design to custom designs for her customers. She loves
the freedom to create that Pro-Stitcher and Pro-Stitcher Designer have brought to her successful business.

Edie loves passing on her passion and knowledge about all aspects of quilting to her students. She teaches classes at two different shops in North Dakota. Her curriculum ranges from piecing to longarm quilting for both beginner and advanced quilters. She is also versatile with her teaching platforms. She can teach private, individual classes, Zoom classes, and group/event classes. Her quilting profile includes projects ranging from designing an original piecing pattern to customized digital quilting designs. She is the mother of one son and grandmother to one granddaughter and lives in North Dakota.

See more quilts by HQ quilters- Click Here!

Introducing: Chris Sousa

Since Chris is a New Englander, we have a lot of fun discussing Moxie and Whoopie Pies! He has been very helpful in answering ALL my questions and was instrumental in my success at my first event. He is a great quilter and an even better friend.

Artist Statement

Not being a modern quilter, this was a challenge in every aspect. I chose my inspiration from a quilt by Linda Warren Designs and her Learning Curve Ruler.

The challenge was blacks and whites with an optional color. I tried to use gradient shades to develop a 3D style. As you stand back from the quilt it changes your perspective.

I quilted it on my HQ Infinity 26 with ProStitcher with some design elements done on ProStitcher Designer Software. It has 3oz wool batting from Winline Textiles which is my go to batting. The threads used in the quilting at all So Fine 50wt from Superior Threads.

Get to Know Chris

Chris Sousa was artistic from a young age. He started as a professional photographer in the early 80’s and then worked in various aspects of the environmental industry for 30 years. After making his first quilt, he decided that he wanted a change and began to study textile history, color theory, art theory, and art history. To bring his art studies into the longarm realm, he learned how to digitize longarm quilting designs.

This quilt-life journey started 10 years ago when he decided to make a gift for his wife, a quilt for their bed. He wrote down some directions and dug out his vintage sewing machine and made his first quilt, a 120” x 128” kaleidoscope pinwheel quilt, tied, not quilted. Chris’s second quilt was a 96” x 96”, Loyal Union Sampler quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini. He felt that any quilt with 121 blocks deserved to be custom quilted, so he purchased his first longarm, a HQ Infinity™ with Pro-Stitcher™. Using the basic training he received from his retailer, he jumped right into quilting his sampler, entered it at AQG and won an award! He’d found his passion for longarm quilting and started his quilting business, CS Quilt Design Studio.

Chris and his wife, Pattie, recently moved to Arizona where he relocated his business and started quilting and teaching longarm classes and Pro-Stitcher classes at home and in connection with a local quilt shop. Chris’s advice to quilters, “Find your passion and you find your calling in life.”

Check out other quilters and quilts by clicking here.

Introducing: Kristina Whitney

Kristina is one of my favorite HQ peeps. She is funny and down-to-earth and creativity oozes out of her pores. I always enjoy myself when I get to work with her.

Artist Statement

Wedding Quilt to Baby Quilt??

I used leftover pieces from my daughter’s wedding quilt but I was short one block. Enter the pop of red! 

Created by Kristina Whitney 2022 Utah

Get to Know Kristina

Kristina began quilting with her grandmother in the 1990’s. Her love of quilting continued to grow as she shared it with others in various states and countries. She pieced and quilted on her domestic machine until being introduced to longarm quilting in 2014. She began her longarm quilting experience on an HQ Avanté® with Pro-Stitcher®. After touching the Handi Quilter machine for the first time, she was hooked and currently quilts on her HQ Forte® with Pro-Stitcher.

She was selected to be a member of the Handi Quilter Quilt Your Desire Inspiration Squad in 2017 and has been featured in magazines, show programs, and on the Handi Quilter truck. Kristina is also a member of many local quilt guilds and enjoys continually learning and improving her skills.

She enjoys all types of longarm quilting including rulers, Pro-Stitcher, free-motion (she quilts for hire, for pleasure, and is working to complete 50 of her grandmother’s quilt tops). She loves to think outside of the box and to push herself to try new things

To see more quilts and quilters, click here.