I am certainly late to the Swoon Party, but yesterday I made my first Swoon block! It turned out great, and I love it and can’t wait to make more.
Probably, I am the last quilter on Earth to make this cute block, but here I am. The block is a pattern creation designed by Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms Quilts. The pattern is available in several sizes, including a mini version. I am making Swoon Sixteen, a quilt that is made from sixteen-inch finished blocks made from sixteen different fat quarters. I don’t see why you couldn’t use your scraps to make each block different. I think I’d prefer that kind of variety anyway.
I am using leftover scraps of Nantucket Summer, a Camille Rosskelley collection featuring navy, medium blue, light blue, and green. Of course, I got onto Etsy and ordered more fabric in that line, and ended up spending just under $70. What an economy, right? Make a scrappy quilt from leftovers, but buy more fabric in case you might need more.
This block is not for beginners, in my opinion. There are many points to match, and accuracy in both cutting and seam allowance is essential for things to come out properly. I would also recommend pre-starching fabric, trimming each unit as you go, and pressing seams open. Camille does a YouTube tutorial on how to construct the block, but there don’t seem to be any pressing instructions.
I used triangle papers for the half-square triangles, and the four-at-a-time method for flying geese. I didn’t press those seams open, but I did press everything else open. I think it helped my points meet up better. The instructions in the pattern call for making three blocks at a time with three fat quarters, but I want more variety, so I will do one block at a time.
One caution: there are two units in the block that look like they could use square-in-a-square foundation paper piecing, but that won’t work. (Ask me how I know). You must use the sew-and-flip method for the eight wider star-point units.
I do love the Swoon block, so stay tuned for more!
My eye injection and trip to the Bay Area were successful. I didn’t have my laptop, so responding to comments was a little tricky. Forgive me for not replying while I was away.
16 Responses
I have kitted up a Big Swoon with Spotted fabrics and a regular swoon with Sunflowers in My Heart by Kate Spain. I sent your fabric out Snail Mail last week. Let me know when you get it. Glad your shots went well.
Thanks Kathy. I will let you know when it arrives. Thanks again for coming through for me!
I remember when Swoon was all the rage. So many variations for color, size (I recall a quilt that was a giant Swoon). You may have inspired me to try it!
I was watching an older YouTube video with Kimberly Jolly and Camille Roskelley, where Camille was showing a ton of quilts she’s made over the years. She had a Swoon quilt made with the Nantucket Summer fabrics in blues and greens and I was inspired. I had some scraps of that collection leftover from something else and made the one block. I loved how it turned out, so I ordered more fabric from that group!
I made a Swoon quilt back when ‘swooning’ was first a thing. It was with the larger blocks which were not my favorite. Although I’m one-and-done I’ll be looking forward to seeing your’s finished!
The larger ones are pretty gigantic. Aren’t they around 24″? That would make a good pillow! The ones I am making are 16″. Still big, but they are complicated enough that it doesn’t bother me.
Delightful!
I made my only Swoon block in 2014 and used just the one block for a summer wall quilt called “Dreamsickle”
Am glad all went well with the eye treatment and that you’re back home.
We’re still iced in as Sunday’s 4″ of snow froze overnight as all of our recent nights have been in the low double digits and way below freezing. It’s an ice rink out there without anything to hold on to!
Hugs!
I can just imagine how treacherous the ice makes going outside! Now and then it gets down to freezing here and the ramp that leads down from our front porch is super slippery. I go slow and hang on for dear life.
Hi Nicole. I love the swoon block. I started the swoon 16 at least a year ago. I had a stroke in June so my quilting has definitely taken a downturn. Figuring out patterns is now more difficult and that pattern is a bit more than I can handle right now I think. But I will get back to it again. I have about six blocks done. I think it would be gorgeous in almost any fabric line.
I enjoyed your podcast earlier this week. I’m amazed at how many books you and Sara read!
I really enjoy your blog. Keep up the great work!
From snowy and cold Vermont.
Thank you so much for the kind words Kathi. I am so glad to hear someone listens to the podcast!
I hope you do get back to sewing soon. The Swoon block took me a while to wrap my head around too!
I love this block! I deal with glaucoma so I understand about the eyes. So happy you got a good report!
My doctor seems happy with the medication we are using now. He hopes to spread out the treatments a bit from every four weeks to five.
You are not the last quilter to the Swoon Party! It has been on my wish list for years but I have yet to find the perfect fabric. Happy Quilting.
Linda
That’s a beautiful block- design and color wise. Is that a half square rectangle I see? They give me the heebee geebies. I just did a table runner with them. Not a fan. Maybe because it was only 1x ¾ in finished. Anyway, you do such beautiful work. Now I need to go investigate a Swoon Block.
Glad you had good news with your eyes!
Yes, the navy units are half-square rectangles. The only way to do those navy units are with flip and sew corners, which aren’t my favorite. I was super careful with drawing my lines and they actually came out ok. It is a great block, and I think it will be fun to play with different fabric combinations in each of them.
Glad your eye injection went well.
I was trying to squint and see how the units went together. Yup it does look a tad tricky. The other night I dreamt that I was sewing white pinwheels with plaid backgrounds. It was so vivid that I remembered it and made a sticky note for it. I hadn’t even seen pinwheels on plaid quilts so I don’t know where that came from! I really don’t want to do any more than I already have on my plate! But this was driving me nuts (and I’m already nutty!) LOL!