A-B-C Challenge: M & N

Remember the A-B-C Challenge? It is still going strong!

• ABC Blocks for March. March's block names should start with K & L
• ABC Blocks, This month's block name should start with letter M and N
(April)

What blocks can you make that have names that start with M & N?

1. Moon over the Mountain requires some curved piecing. All you need to do is sew slowly to achieve a nice, flat block 
2. March Kite would make a lovely kid or baby quilt.
3. Morning Star is really sashing that, when put together with other blocks forms the star. Still, the lozenge shapes are nice looking.
4. Mosaic is related to square-in-a-square blocks
5. Mother's Dream is all about Half Square Triangles. Use the AQ Triangle Technique to make perfect HSTs.
6. Mr. Roosevelt's Necktie is an interesting bowtie variation
7. Monkey Wrench is a classic. The images on the referenced site are broken, but email the forum if you want to make this block and can't find any better directions.

Of course, for N, our old favorite the Nine Patch is a good standby, but there are many N blocks that look great! Here are a few:

1. Navy Star has a little bit of tricky piecing. Piece slowly and carefully and you can do it.
2. New Shining Star (more tricky piecing)
3. New York Star only has some 60 degree angles, but si otherwise straightforward. Try the Fons & Porter tool to get those angles right.
4. New York Beauty is an old favorite. Requires some paper piecing, but nothing you can't handle.
5. Nine Patch Log Cabin is mostly strips and squares.
6. Northumberland Star is another fun star.

Below are a few of the many block dictionaries available to inspire you:

1000 Great Quilt Blocks by Maggi McCormick Gordon

Around the Block with Judy Hopkins: 200 Rotary Cut Blocks in 6 Sizes by Judy Hopkins

Around the Block Again: More Rotary Cut Blocks from Judy Hopkins by Judy Hopkins
The Civil War Love Letter Quilt: 121Quilt Blocks Inspired by Love and War by Rosemary Youngs

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt: 55 letters and the 111 Blocks they Inspired by Laurie Hird
Japanese Quilt Blocks to Mix & Match by Susan Briscoe

Judy Martin's Ultimate Book of Quilt Block Patterns by Judy Martin

Modern Quilt Blocks: 99 Quilt Blocks from your Favorite Designers by Susanne Woods
Once More Around the Block by Judy Hopkins
The Quilter's Album of Blocks and Borders by Jinny Beyer (out of print)

The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns: 4044 Pieced Blocks for Quilters by Jinny Beyer
Of course, these are just a few examples. Look around and use other resources such as Electric Quilt to find a block that suits your project. We can't wait to see what you come up with! Bring your blocks to the April meeting.