I'm a little behind the curve, but I'm excited to share the 2023 Quilt Block Challenge hosted by Riley Blake Designs. I've been waiting on the sample yardage of my new Portsmouth collection to arrive and this week I got it! So I've been having fun getting caught up on the January blocks. The Quilt Block Challenge is always free! Sew along to make a block a week for the next 5 months and at the end you'll have everything you need to make a finished quilt!
Here's how the Quilt Block Challenge Works:
You may remember the previous quilt block challenges in 2021 and 2022. This challenge have the same format as previous years. Each month 3-4 new 10" x 10" quilt blocks will be released, 1 new block per week, on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesdays of the month.
The last Tuesday of the month there won't be a new block, so you can use that last week as a week to get caught up. (Couldn't we all use that sometimes).
A total of 16 quilt block designs will be released through May. The final layout and finishing instructions will be given right at the end, so it's a bit of a mystery quilt too.
Find all patterns for all of the released blocks here at any time.
You can see my finished 2021 Quilt Block Challenge quilt here. It was a lot of fun to sew a long.
January Quilt Blocks
Here's what I've got done so far:
Block 1 Design: Cottage Garden by Bev McCullough.
Find the free block pattern Here.
Block 3 Threaded by Christopher Thompson.
Find the free block pattern Here.
I obviously need to catch up on Block 2, Fanfare by Jill Finely. It's on my cutting table with lots of little half-square triangles ready to sew together this weekend.
I've also got lots of big half square triangles ready to sew together as well. My sewing table is covered with Portsmouth fabric in various stages of cutting and stitching and I'm not sad about it.
I'm so excited to share all of the things I'm making with Portsmouth! Watch for it to arrive in stores in February!
POST UPDATE: See the finished Sampler Quilt Here.
Claudia says
Yes, we know. It is too beautiful for words and I only hope I can get some of this before it sells out It has to be my very favourite collection of the year so far..
Amy says
aww, thank you, Claudia!
Melanie says
Beautiful collection, Amy. And I'm not even a "blue person," but love this! Congratulations on a great design of fabrics, soon to be a best seller!
Dianne Douglas says
Amy I absolutely LOVE the Portsmouth fabric.....I will surely get Portsmouth in February!! Your blocks in this fabric are beautiful!!!
Madge Phillips says
I love portsmouth!!! And it looks amazing I'm those blocks
Karen Nakai says
I would love to make this quilt in your Portsmouth fabric. Is there a store that Carrie’s a kit using your fabric? Thank you.
Chenelle says
Do you know how much fabric would be needed of the Portsmouth collection to do all the blocks? Is a layer cake be enough, or would I need a fat quarter bundle?
Thanks
Devonna Tabor says
Please continue to make the Riley Blake 2023 Block challenge with the Portsmouth fabric and show them on future posts. I love the first four that you did and I am hoping to copy the rest using the Portsmouth fabric, which I absolutely love! I've already bought 1/2 yard of each for this project and can't wait to get started. Thanks, Amy, for designing such a beautiful collection!!!
Amy says
Yep - they're on my to do list. Along with way too many other things at the moment. I'm hoping to work on getting caught up this week!
Kellya says
The full list of all fabric requirements for the Lori Holt’s 2023 RBD Block Challenge Runner is located at: https://blog.rileyblakedesigns.com/announcing-our-2023-rbd-block-challenge/
It gives the hand-dyed fabrics or the Confetti Cottons collection.
Sue Simon says
I love your version on the 2023 challenge using your Portsmouth fabric. Do you think a fat quarter tower would do it? Also, what background fabric did you use?
Amy says
Yes, a Fat Quarter Bundle should be plenty. I'm using Confetti Cottons Cloud solid as my white background fabric. Thanks Sue!
Sharon Conjurske says
I love your Portsmouth fabric! I am cutting my pieces today (crossing fingers) LOL! I am using it for my RBD 2023 Challenge! God Bless! ❤️
Pauline Woronko says
Where is the final block of 2023 challenge that Amy Smart sewed?
Amy says
I did not sew the last block of the challenge. My sampler quilt layout only uses 13 blocks so I did not make all of the blocks.