Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Midweek Update - Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks

This adorable little sewing machine was in the gift I received last week at our quilt group Christmas party.  We each brought a gift and then played a game where the gifts were passed around.  I'm pretty sure this is supposed to be a Christmas tree ornament, but I'm keeping it in the sewing room!


After spending the first half of December sewing with traditional Christmas greens and reds, I decided I was ready to get back to a rainbow project.  So I got out my collection of Gameboard blocks, made this year as mostly leaders and enders.  These start out as four patches, then become 16 patches, and finally are framed with 2.5 inch squares and 2.5 x 4.5 inch rectangles.  

These are 8 inches finished, so I'm shooting for 30 of them eventually.

It looked like the next step was to finish off those three 16 patches in the bottom right corner, and that is what I did!


Now there are 14 of these - almost halfway there.  


Simple four patches are the perfect block to play with at this busy time of year!  But what colors to make next?   Looking at the photo of all the Gameboard blocks together,  it looked like I could use more yellow and orange.  I dug into my stash and got busy!  These are made from strip sets which are quick and easy to work with when you need small blocks.


Update since Wednesday - I've been making more four patches in lemons, limes, and oranges!




And at Alycia Quilts for Finished or Not Friday.
SoScrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday.











18 comments:

Melisa- pinkernpunkinquilting said...

That is the cutest little sewing machine ever! Oh yes, it would be perfect for your sewing room. I really love the gameboard blocks. What a fun project to work on during this busy holiday season. Enjoy. Hugs.

Anonymous said...

That little sewing machine can hang in your tree now and live in your sewing room the rest of the year. I’ve been admiring your game board blocks all year. I think you need some more green blocks…I always like to see some green in a quilt. You have wonderful scraps. Gail at the cozy quilter

Julierose said...

Lovely RSC project in the making;)))) Cute little sewing machine decoration...neat for your sewing room decor...hugs, Julierose

Linda at Texas Quilt Gal said...

I've been to Christmas parties where we "stole" white elephant gifts from each other and I've never laughed so hard. Your little sewing machine looks much better than a white elephant! Your gameboard blocks are growing - looks like fun.

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

What a cute sewing machine! How big is it? Your RSC blocks are stunning!

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Adorable ornament, I'd keep it in the sewing room too!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Very cute little machine!! and your blocks are coming along so nicely!!!

Jennifer Fulton Inquiring Quilter said...

Gosh that sewing machine is cute! Looks like you won the gifting lottery. Love those sweet Gameboard blocks. That quilt is coming together fast! Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss.
https://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2025/12/17/wednesday-wait-loss-463

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

the game board quilt looks great - I really like it. The sewing machine is cute - a little big for the tree or is it smaller than it looks in the photo?

Jeanna said...

The little sewing machine is adorable, Diann. The gameboard blocks look like the perfect project for this time of the year. Four patch blocks are so versatile.

Kate said...

Very cute little sewing machine. The Gameboard blocks look really cool on that green. Looks like you made good progress towards your goal of 30.

Vicki in MN said...

Isn't it just so fun that we can switch our projects to work with different colors when we want! Very cute sewing machine.

Libby in TN said...

Your gameboard blocks are great scrap busters.

thatfabricfeeling.wordpress.com said...

I love your little game board blocks. They really look lovely all together in different colors. I started a few but am very delayed in working them through. I saw the leaders and enders Bonnie project and couldn't resist. Thankfully, she expects it to be a year long project and certainly that will be how long mine take to complete.

scraphappy said...

Thanks for breaking down the block. I am always thinking about blocks that could be made as leaders and enders. Gameboard is just complicated enough to be interesting while still working between other things.

Sue said...

You know I've been fan girling on those Gameboard blocks all year & now to see so many together is filling my mind with possibilities. Not sure if I can resist now that you've basically told me how to make one! LOL

Astrid said...

The little sewing machine is the cutest! I had kept it in my sewing room too! Your gameboard blocks are so pretty in RSC colors. Now I'm tempted!

Rose said...

Your gameboard blocks are fun! Bonus quilts from leader/enders are great and give such an accomplished feeling.