August Tradition: Leftover Blocks Party!

Every August, the DC Modern Quilt Guild hosts an Orphan Blocks design session - we gather leftover quilt blocks from people who don’t want them anymore, and each participant gets to pick anything they want from the piles to create a quilt for one of our charity organizations, the DC Diaper Bank and INOVA Ewing FACT.

This year, I was determined to pull blocks to create one quilt…but I saw so many tempting blocks that I think this might become two or even three :)

I had the instinct to look for red (and that tiny stack of red and white blocks at right felt like just the thing!) but then I encountered these teal blocks AND the warm blocks and, well …it became a party :)

I’m looking forward to putting these up on my design wall and playing with layouts - I also have a sizeable stack of leftover blocks of my own, so I’m hoping I may have a few things to supplement and add to what I found at the meeting.

In case you’re interested, here’s my story from last year’s meeting:

2025 DCMQG Orphan Blocks Design Session

This might be my favorite event of the year (though our annual destash and holiday party/gift swap come close!) There is something so fascinating and exciting about seeing what draws each person - and the resulting quilts come out so different!

I’ll try to remember to take more pictures next year :)