If you are new to the lotto and want to check out the entire year, please click the following link: 2018 Block Lotto at a Glance

I've added the instructions below for easy reference. In the past, we would include in the main post, but it appears I can no longer do that as Houzz has reduced the size limit for posts.

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The lotto is beginner friendly and is open to everyone! As in the past, we’ve selected a variety of blocks that are simple. New quilters are encouraged to participate. You will learn much and it’s a fun way to build your skills. You may participate in as many, or as few, months as you want. No yearlong commitment or monthly sign up is required.

Here’s the drill:

- you will have 1, 2, or 3 chances to win each month, depending on how many blocks you submit (please note that you may send in more blocks, but you will be limited to 3 chances)

- please make blocks measuring 12.5 inches x 12.5 inches (please note that all of the 2018 lotto blocks are 12.5” unfinished/12” finished)

- please follow all instructions for the designated block pattern including color/fabric requirements (please note that all of the 2018 block patterns are from the Quilters Cache website)

- blocks must be received by the end of the month to be included in the monthly lotto drawing

- include your name, mailing address, forum name and $1 per lotto month (not per block) to cover postage for the winning blocks

- if possible, attach your name to the back of each block or write your name in the seam allowance with a fabric pen so the winner knows who made the block (this is not a requirement, just a request)

- if possible, please post a photo of your blocks on the monthly thread (this is not a requirement, just a request)

2018 blocks are to be sent to Valarie (littlehelen_gw). She will collect the blocks, determine the winner, and send the blocks to the winner. If you need her mailing address, please contact her via email at vgmcneese (at) comcast (dot) net.

Fabric requirements for the lotto are also kept simple with the intent that you are able to use fabric from your stash. Posting the entire year upfront provides plenty of time to plan ahead. All fabric used in the lotto should be 100% quilting cotton and may or may not be pre washed. A certain amount of variation is great and it's what gives these group quilts their depth and character, but please try to stay within fabric requirements so your blocks 'play well with others'. Also, please no holiday or juvenile/novelty prints for 2018.

Notes:

- Where it says white that means solid white or white-on-white (WOW) prints that read as white

- Where it says Kona Black that means Kona Cotton fabric by Robert Kaufman in the color Black which is widely available in stores as well as on line (we specify Kona Black to provide consistency in our quilts since black fabrics vary so much)

- Where it says off-white, cream, beige, or tan that means any variation of beige; solids, tone-on-tone, small prints, etc.

- Where is says solid that means any solid, blender, tone on tone, or print that reads as a solid in the specified color(s)

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If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask!

February's cut and ready to be sewn!

Is anyone else busy with these blocks?

This pattern - its challenging triangles - is the reason I joined the lotto.

I do not “do” triangles. I have never done triangles. I do strip piecing - as for Log Cabins, Irish Chains, Spiders’ Webs, Four-Patch Posies. I do squares, rectangles, and appliqué.

This pattern is going to drive me to distraction, but I’ll bet my hyperventilating fear of triangles will be cured!

I found exactly one red & white print in the three “local” venues that seems to fit the guidelines. I have enough for two blocks cut out.

I’ll make several practice triangles with other fabrics before sewing the real-deal blocks.

On hand I have a tiny ( 1/8”) stripe fabric and a 1/4” gingham check fabric in red and white. Do you think they would work in this pattern, or would they be too rustic/country?

Here is the floral print I found. The “white” is a true white; the same one I used last month.

Hi Caroline!

The fabrics you posted look great to me and I think either the stripe or the check fabric would also work and will give some nice variety to the quilt.

Just a tip regarding half square triangles (HST). Since the directions in Quilter's Cache are "no waste", you may want to cut your pieces a bit larger then trim them down to size. Also, if you are looking for "how to" advice there are numerous tutorials on You Tube that demonstrate different methods for making HSTs. I think I've tried most all of them in trying to find what works best for me.

Yes, the lotto is really good practice and a great learning experience, which is why I continue to participate. I'm so happy that you're playing along, too. Most of the lotto blocks do have HSTs (hard to avoid them), however, there are a couple of blocks this year that have no HSTs (May and Oct) and you will be able to strip piece them.

Jennifer

I, too, disliked HST, but with the lotto I've overcome my fear of them. Look at some of the tutorials. Also the larger square that you're cutting out, place the white on top of the red, draw a diagonal line, sew a 1/4" away from the line on both sides, cut on the line and you should get two 3 1/2" squares from it. One of the ladies in this group taught that tip and it works! Soon you'll overcome your fear of HST as well!

For HSTs, I tend to cut my initial squares 1/8" larger and then trim the HST squares to size, making sure the diagonal is in the right place.

I sent my squares last month with my Jan. entry. The first one I did turned out too small to be official so I made another. I sent the small one as well just in case the winner can use it.

Nice blocks, crrand1!!!

Hi Caroline:

Here's a link for a tutorial and there are many many tutorials on the web, just google and you'll find one for you. This site normally provides goood basic advice.

HST Tutorial

I was were you were on HST when I first started and a took a class where I learned about the Easy Angle ruler for making HST, it's the only way I make them now. If you ever have the chance to see a demo, I recommend it...makes it very easy.

Love your fabrics, very pretty!

Valarie

Valarie - I’m following the tutorials; thank you for posting them.

I’m still sweating bullets.

I made these patches and got four rows sewn for the first block.

I guess the proof will be in the pudding - once I try putting them together tomorrow. I hope some of the triangles will still have points.

February is flying by....I finished my block today...looking forward to posting everyone's all together next week!

Blocks look great Caroline

Red is one of my favorite colors. I really should do this one. Being a pretty new quilter, I've shied away from HSTs. I'm going to check and see if I have any red prints to use. Thanks for sharing all your squares.

bkay

Got a block done for the February lotto! Yay!

And then I realized I misread the directions and cut it too small (12" instead of 12.5" - newbie mistake). Snot!

Ah, well. It was good practice. Hoping to get another cut out and finished before the end of the month. Thought I'd show it off anyway. I suppose it could always become a potholder.

I love all the blocks shown.

Here’s mine. I made an extra block since I needed the triangle practice. I will mail them tomorrow.

Awesome blocks, everyone!

Welcome to the lotto, Larri! Pretty sure that I've made every newbie mistake imaginable, so I feel your "pain". But no doubt, you'll find a way to use the block. That market print is really cute. This year all the 2018 lotto blocks are 12" finished/12.5" unfinished. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask. We have lots of nice and experienced quilters in the group!

Thank you, jlt37869! I've already decided to add some sashing and turn that block into a small table topper. Lemons to lemonade, so to speak. Hoping to get back into the sewing room this weekend and make a couple more blocks. In addition to the Market print, I want to use this sweet llama fat quarter I had in my stash.

Welcome to the lotto Larri....love both those prints! Good for you making it into a table topper, it's too charming not to enjoy.

Valarie

Thank you, Valarie! Happy Sewing to you!

Got one block done. Hoping to complete another today.

If not, will mail this one on Monday morning.

Like Caroline, I have avoided HSTs in my short quilting life. I didn't have any trouble with the HSTs, I just made them 4" and cut them down, so everything worked.

I'm having trouble with the spot where all the seams come together. I can't get them to behave. My sewing machine balks at the bulk in those areas and the points get pushed out of place.

Is there some trick to get them to line up correctly?

bkay

bkay, when I come across this situation, I nest the seams......one going one way and the other going the other way. Or, you can open both seams and sew them that way. Hope this helps.

Good job, Larri! I love the llama print. Just make sure your HSTs are going in the right direction. The one in the first column (row 3) is not quite right. We all get them wrong at some point, but, on the bright side, it's an easy fix!

Thank you jit37869! I knew something didn't look quite right, but now it's glaring. Yikes! I'm off to spend some time with the seam ripper. Sigh.

ccrand1, thanks. You were right. I pressed to the dark side, so everywhere that large group of seams met, they were all going the same way. Needless to say, they didn't nest correctly. I took the worst ones out and re-sewed and re-ironed. They worked much better.

Thanks again for the tutorial.

bkay

Well, I fixed that and took my photos and then realized I had a the wrong color in the wrong place. So, maybe I'll do-over tomorrow. (I guess that's why I had 2 red/white HSTs left over.)

My blocks won't go out until tomorrow. They aren't likely to make it by the 28th. Just draw without me, but please send my blocks to the winner.

I need to participate more often. I learn a lot every time I do one. I think I made these three blocks three times each, as I kept getting them upside down. If I made a whole quilt, I would have to work out a method to keep everything straight.

Thanks again for the lessons.

bkay

Y'all,

My table topper has extended to two blocks, and zero for the lotto. I cannot get into the sewing room in time to fix and mail. My apologies. Looking forward to stitching up some March blocks! Happy Sewing!

Bkay, since you have mailed your blocks, I'm happy to include your name in the drawing.

Here's we have thus far. When I laid them out I placed them all in the same direction......reminds me of a summer picnic! .ok now for the drawing...drum roll please.......

And our February winner is.....CHRISTINE RAND, in Rochester MN. Congratulations, Christine...I'll mailed your blocks once I have bkay's!

THANK YOU ALL for participating!

Congratulations, Christine!

Thank you, Val for posting a group picture. It's always fun to see all the blocks together. And a big thank you to Nannykins for suggesting this block, which makes some really nice secondary patterns. Here's another one: http://www.quilterscache.com/images1D/maryssunlightandshadows.jpg

Looking forward to seeing what you do with them, Christine. Enjoy!

Hey, thanks everyone. I won't be back home until the middle of March, so you can take your time sending them.

Way to go, Christine!

Congratulations, Christine!

Hi Christine, your blocks were mailed priority on Thursday, you should have them today...St. Paddy's day!

All 20 blocks look really good. Thank you all.