2021 Block Party

Grandma’s RECIPE box

THIS BLOCK OF THE MONTH PROGRAM HAS NOW ENDED. Full kits may be available. Please contact the shop at
913-268-3333 for availability.

Prairie Point Block Party 2021 begins in September 2020 with the theme "Grandma’s Recipe Box".

Read on to learn more, then sign up to join us!

Join us with this year’s Block Party theme celebrating the cooking, baking, and memories of our mothers and grandmothers. Looking through my Grandma’s recipes I thought they would make great titles for our three quilt options. It was difficult, but I chose Waldorf Salad, Ice Box Cookies, and Apple Crunch. Try not to get hungry while piecing your blocks together each month.

Waldorf Salad originated not long after my Grandmother was born, which is the latter part of the 1800’s. The recipe would have been very popular in the 1930’s. Reproduction fabrics are a classic and make a very happy quilt. A variety of colors and designs will be used throughout. An off-white background will be used.

Ice Box Cookies. The dough was rolled and chilled in the ice box, now refrigerator. This quilt selection is very Christmas-y with a modern/vintage look of reds, green, and off-whites.

Apple Crunch probably originated in the WWII era. This fun quilt design will consist of newsprints, handwriting, music, maps, and other composition-type prints. Each block will have a different background. The rich colors are from Moda’s Spotted collection. About 10-12 different colors will be used and repeated throughout.

Here are the Prairie Point Block Party guidelines: You may come in the shop on the second Monday or the second Saturday of each month. The blocks will cost $3.50 for your first block and the following 11 months if you personally bring in your completed block (from the month before) on "Block Party day." If for any reason you cannot come on Block Party day the block kit will cost $5.50.

At the end of the 12-month program, setting kits will be available for purchase. The pictures and descriptions of the finished quilts will be shown a couple months before for your consideration and you may sign up for one at that time.

A mail order option is available for out-of-towners. Call the shop for details: (913) 268-3333.

Each month we will post pictures of the finished block right here in each of the three colorways offered.

Again, to get the special price of $3.50 on kits:

Come to the shop on Block Party Day (the second Saturday or the second Monday)
Come you yourself - not friend, spouse or anyone else
Have the block from the month before completed and with you
Only one kit each month qualifies for the $3.50 price

here are grandma’s recipes!

Baking time will depend on how thin or thick you slice the cookies. I like them less than 1/4”.

To perk it up, add grapes cut in half, raisins or Craisins, and I like little Marshmallows!

We are now taking sign ups for setting kits!

To inquire about reserving your finishing kit, email erika@prairiepoint.com. Please put “FINISHING KIT” in the subject line and include the colorway you are participating in.

We went above and beyond with finishing kits this year! Each colorway has its own unique setting. Ice Box Cookies (right) stands out beautifully against a crisp white background and charming red polka dot corner stones and border. It gives a clean and classic look!

This quilt finishes 66” x 80”.
Price: $55

Apple Crunch (left) gives a fun rustic look with the deep off-set borders in grunge, surrounded by piano keys of ephemera prints.

Apple Crunch finishes 60” x 74”.
Price: $65

The 30s prints of Waldorf Salad (below) are so fun and charming. The scrappy border gives you an opportunity for creativity without the stress because scrappy always matches!

This quilt finishes 61” x 77”.
Price: $69

If you would like to make a larger quilt, we suggest getting four more block kits to make a 16-block quilt, or eight more kits to make a 20-block quilt. Or feel free to add more border to make it just a bit larger.

This Block of the Month program ends in August, but if you are interested in making one of these quilts, call and inquire about the availability of the monthly block kits. They are $5.50 each.

A new Block Party Block of the Month begins in September 2021. We will unveil the color choices and theme in August!

Find more pictures of these quilts at the bottom of the page!

September — This first month you will have four different pinwheel colors, plus the background. What fun that is! Just make sixteen half-square triangles and you’re done! Look for a short video on making these oversized block units to create a perfect sized 12-1/2” block.

Wow! We love these color/fabric combinations! The Block Party block of the month is always great for beginners, especially those who have already got their feet wet with cutting, piecing, and pressing units and blocks. They are just plain fun for experienced quilters. In September look for a short video with tips on making the pinwheel block.

October - I hope everyone is ready to get fancy because October’s block is Bow Ties! By the end of this block, you’ll be an expert at folded corners. But in case you need a little extra help, we’ve got a video below that might be able to help.

This block is great practice, especially for beginners. You’ll have your techniques perfected in no time. Just remember to have fun with it and find the way that works best for you! Since you’re doing so many of them, it’s the perfect time to experiment.

November - This month’s star block is simple, just lots of half-square triangles.

November’s block is so fun, and so easy! Just squares and half-square triangles.

December — No need to label the fabrics — It’s just “dark” and “accent” plus your background. It’s easy to figure out.

This block looks more complicated than it is! Let us take you through it in this video.

January — Lots of flying geese to practice on this month, and in a BIG way! These units are 3-1/2” x 6 -1/2. The cutting requirements are exact here; no extra to square up.

However, if you want to cut them oversized, here’s what to do: Cut your background rectangles 3-3/4” x 6-3/4”. Cut your squares 3-3/4” x 3-3/4”. Construct them the same way, then use your favorite tool/method for squaring them up. See the video for tips on precision. Check out the video below.

Notice what I did with the Ice Box Cookies version — I pieced the geese in two verticle rows going in opposite directions! You don’t have to do that, but I really like it! And if you’re doing one of the other blocks, you can do them that way, too.

February — Flying Geese with a different technique than last month’s. The rest is half-square triangles. Make into six-inch units that are identical, then turn them 90 degrees to form the 12-inch block.

Same easy techniques that you’ve learned before! Just a new, fun design.

March - A super simple and striking block. Just some half-square triangles. How great would a full quilt of these look?

This block is so simple! Jump right on in.

April - A fun, busy block. Just lots of half-square triangles, which we’ve shown before, so there will not be a video this month.

For help with half-square triangles, refer to earlier videos, like September!

May - Spools, how fun! They’re done in four different prints, but have the same background and same spool ends. Next month, we’ll show you the quilt layout and let you sign up for your Finishing Kit.

Use your Folded Corner Clipper or Simple Folded Corners ruler on the ends of the spool ends. Lay them out any way you want to.

June — We’re rounding the corner. Remember, August is the last month.

Be sure to watch this month’s video; you will see the finished quilts. Then, when you come in to pick up your kit, sign up for the finishing kit if you like. Finishing kits can be purchased in July and August.

July — If you want a finishing kit be sure to sign up soon!

A fun and different block!

August — Yea! We’re at the end! If you look closely you will see lots of flying geese units here. Eight of them to be exact. A video will be posted soon. Finishing Kits for Ice Box Cookies, the Christmas quilt, are ready to go. The Waldorf Salad, 30’s, will be ready soon. Unfortunately, for the Apple Crunch we must now wait until September for some border fabric to come in. Let me know if you want to make substitutions; we’ll see what we can do to help you out.

This final block looks hard, but it goes together easily! Just watch those points, and you’ll be fine.

If you are receiving your kits monthly in the mail, send an email to erika@prairiepoint.com and put Finishing Kit in the Subject line.

See more of our final quilts!

I love how every single one of these turned out. The red frames out the Apple Crunch blocks so well, and the piano keys really bring all of it together.