I would like to point out that I've added a few guidelines to my standard post above, since there have been several members that have asked for feedback on their blocks. The guidelines that I've included cover some of the things I have seen sent in and gleaned from other websites pertaining to lottos.
I do hope that no one takes this as me doing any 'policing', but only as some observations and suggestions on what to watch out for.
Thanks so much everyone!
Cathy

Sign me up for 1, please!

Count me in, but I don't know how many yet.

Odessa

Count me in for 2, please!!

hello
I'm gonna try for 3 but I'll let you know how many before I send
thanks
michelle

Like this block:)! I'll do 2-3, let you know exact # when I mail out.

Put my name on the list too. I'll promise you just 1 this month since I have a lot going on in the garden and with out of town visitors, but I'll do more if I have time.

Cream fabric I have (I'm guessing beige-on-beige will work?) but don't know about the sage...

Kate

You know the sage was a sticker for me, too. I kept looking and no, that's really just light green, too bright, and no that's just too olive. I had a 1/4 yard solid sage from helping Mom explore all her pathway options, and this was the ONLY other sage I had in I bet 1000 fabrics

I paid attention this time to my Sally Collins book, and oversized my units and cut them down to perfect size. Very satisfying technique!

{{!gwi}}

Very nice block!

Patsy- isn't her book great??? One of the precision piecing tips I got from it that I have been consistent in doing (takes practice to get into the habit) and it works is -when chain piecing, leaving needle in the down position off the seam, do not lift the pressure foot but a teeny bit to slide the next block under just up against the needle (pressure foot and against the needle is the important part). The result is an accurate seam at the beginning and the end of the seam - which is where you match your seams. I will definitely try her method on this block.

I bought sage fabric for this block a few months ago - with help from the LQS- sage is hard! (Why it is so helpful to post the blocks and colorways early for those of us who need to shop- thank you). My fabric will blend with yours nicely. Thanks for posting the picture. You did a really nice job on this block! A good example of what it should look like. Now I am excited to try her method and make the block.

Petalpatsy - 1
Odessaquilts -
Lafonda_ranch - 2
Micyrey -
Quiltpartner -
Solstice98 -
Magothyrivergirl -
Woodenzoo - 1

Welcome aboard all!
Kate, yes, cream... beige... same thing. lol
Cathy

I was just worried about using a tonal print instead of a solid but I see Patsy's cream is a print so I know I'm OK with mine.

Gosh, I didn't think of that, that it's not solid cream. You have to watch me like a hawk!

I am also using a very light beige tonal print. It will all look nice together.

Sign me up for 3. I love sage green.. color of my bedroom & it shows up everywhere in my house!
First block:

Petalpatsy - 1
Odessaquilts -
Lafonda_ranch - 2
Micyrey -
Quiltpartner -
Solstice98 -
Magothyrivergirl -
Woodenzoo - 1
Kay_in_pa - 3

Welcome aboard Kay!
Pretty blocks you two. Thanks for posting them!
Cathy

Well, I'll join in for at least two. I'm just hoping my cream is creamy enough, and my sage is sagey enough, LOL.

Mary, it sounds like you're talking about Thanksgiving dinner! Dressing & gravy!

i will only sign up for 1 this month. will mail this one a lot sooner than i did for march.

I got my fabric yesterday, now if my machine will cooperate. It wasn't very happy yesterday :-(

Petalpatsy - 1
Odessaquilts -
Lafonda_ranch - 2
Micyrey -
Quiltpartner -
Solstice98 -
Magothyrivergirl -
Woodenzoo - 1
Kay_in_pa - 3
Mary_c - 2
Patti60 - 1

Welcome aboard Mary and Patti!
I'm hoping my sage and cream will play nice with the others.
Looks like it's what most of us are doing, so they should match up nicely even if they are 'off' a bit.
Cathy

hello
I will have to drop out of this one, all my blocks came out 8 1/2 inches not 9. I'm still having trouble getting the seam allowance right on my new Janome. I have made 11 blocks so far and don't know if I have the time to try again. sorry
michelle

Michelle, if there's anything we can help you figure out with it, please let us know! On this block I cut the triangles like the directions specified and ended up cutting them down a little because they came out a touch too large.

Have to admit I had a bad moment when I finished the block because it looked way too small. Then I saw on the directions that it's a 9.5" block. I'm too used to 12" blocks, I guess.

I have one block done and that's all I can get to before company comes this week. I'll be sending it tomorrow.

Kate

Petalpatsy - 1
Odessaquilts -
Lafonda_ranch - 2
Micyrey -
Quiltpartner -
Solstice98 -
Magothyrivergirl -
Woodenzoo - 1 (Here)
Kay_in_pa - 3
Mary_c - 2 (Received)
Patti60 - 1

Mary, your pretty blocks arrived today. Thanks!

Michelle, I'm sorry you are having troubles with this block.
If it helps any, I think most times when the blocks I've received were undersized, the seam allowances have been closer to a half an inch instead of a quarter inch. I'll include a link for instructions on how to test yourself on the quarter inch seams. I've used this method for pinpointing where I was going wrong and to get familar with 1/4" on my machine.
On a bright note, you have a good start on a quilt! Your 8 1/2" blocks will work fine together. :)
If you are sure you want to pass, I'll take your name off the list, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll figure it out on your new machine in time... (or if that isn't the problem, perhaps we can still help you figure it out).
Cathy

Here is a link that might be useful: Scroll to bottom of page for 'Test yourself'

That 1/4" seam allowance is the key to so much about quilting. I was lucky in February and won the lotto blocks that month. While they are all lovely, a few of them can't be used with the others because they are too small; in all cases it's because the seam allowances aren't consistent and are bigger than 1/4". It's OK - I'll just make a couple matching pillows out of them which will be cool, but I think it's a problem that a quilter can overcome.

Maybe this will help if you are having problems with it:
- measure so that you know exactly what 1/4" seam allowance should look like - it may be smaller than you think.
- measure the distance from your needle to the edge of your presser foot. If it's more than 1/4", see if you can adjust the needle position on your machine or maybe try a different foot to see if you have one that's 1/4".
- when sewing DO NOT look at the needle. Instead, watch the edge of the fabric where it feeds under the foot. If you keep it lined up to that outside edge, and you know that makes a 1/4" seam allowance, then all of your seams will be the same. It's too easy to let the fabric wander around if you keep your eyes focused on the needle. The needle is fixed in place, so watch the moving fabric instead.

Hope that helps!

Now that I am starting to cut my fabric for this block, I am not sure it is what you want.
Is the sage suppose to be a tone on tone sage - read solid from a distance? So the only colors in this block are the cream & sage?
Please clarify - I looked at the pictures posted and my sage does not read solid - what did others use?

Petalpatsy - 1
Odessaquilts -
Lafonda_ranch - 2
Micyrey -
Quiltpartner -
Solstice98 -
Magothyrivergirl -
Woodenzoo - 1 (Here)
Kay_in_pa - 3
Mary_c - 2 (Received)
Patti60 - 1

Kate, your pretty block has arrived. Thanks!

Marsha, I'm not sure what you mean. It must have enough sage in it for you to call it 'my sage'.
Is it a multicolor print? If it's predominantly sage, I think I'd go ahead and use it.
Cathy

I just used mine because it was all I had. I like the idea of prints with sage, they'll add more interest.

my block is in the mail. and i also used fabric i had on hand. i have so much to use up.

3 blocks went in the mail on Thursday.

My 2 blocks are going in the mail today!

Cathy - 1 block went to the post office today!

I am itching to get back into Block Lottos but not sure if I have time to get them done and mailed by the deadline. May is not far off...I can wait! :)

tuppermom - the blocks are now posted early so you can sew ahead if you like.
Read the fist post for this month. The winner now picks the block for an upcoming Lotto.
It will be nice to have you join in!

CATHY,

3 blocks went into the mail a few days ago - I forget when! Crazy week around here, & for 3-4 days I could not get onto the quilt forum at all. The other forums were fine, & it's the first time it's happened (this way) that I know of. All seems to be OK now. I hope the colors are OK, I used all from my stash. I loved this block once I got to it - looked way better 'in the flesh' than it did online!:):)

Cathy
Thanks for the heads up! Things have changed here in the last couple of years....great idea to post the upcoming blocks ahead.

Petalpatsy - 1
Odessaquilts -
Lafonda_ranch - 2 (Received)
Micyrey -
Quiltpartner - 3 (Received)
Solstice98 - 1 (Received)
Magothyrivergirl -
Woodenzoo - 1 (Here)
Kay_in_pa - 3 (Received)
Mary_c - 2 (Received)
Patti60 - 1 (Received)

Patti, Kay, Robbi and Cindy, all your pretty blocks have arrived. Thanks!
Marsha, thanks for pointing out the list!
Tuppermom, look forward to having you join us!
Cathy

Two more on their way in today's mail. Hurry, hurry Mr. Postman and get them there!

Odessa

Petalpatsy - 1
Odessaquilts -
Lafonda_ranch - 2 (Received)
Micyrey -
Quiltpartner - 3 (Received)
Solstice98 - 1 (Received)
Magothyrivergirl - 1 (Received)
Woodenzoo - 1 (Here)
Kay_in_pa - 3 (Received)
Mary_c - 2 (Received)
Patti60 - 1 (Received)

Marsha, your package arrived today.
LOL You girls are getting creative in wrapping your blocks up so that I don't open them to look at! ;)
I'll be keeping my eyes open for yours Odessa.
Cathy

You can open my block~LOL~I want you to ~ Make sure my print plays nice with the others!! I was trying to protect the block since it wasn't mailed in a bubble mailer.

Boy, time flies. I just put mine in the box tonight to go out tomorrow. It'll get there! I put my pp block in the same envelope, so I KNOW it will be on time. ;)

Cathy, just checking to see if mine arrived?

Odessa

Petalpatsy - 1 (Received)
Odessaquilts - 2 (Received)
Lafonda_ranch - 2 (Received)
Quiltpartner - 3 (Received)
Solstice98 - 1 (Received)
Magothyrivergirl - 1 (Received)
Woodenzoo - 1 (Here)
Kay_in_pa - 3 (Received)
Mary_c - 2 (Received)
Patti60 - 1 (Received)

Patsy, Joyce - your pretty blocks arrived. Thanks!
We're expecting rain and storms for most of the weekend so I'll try
to announce the winner early tomorrow morning
before the weather turns bad and our electric goes out!
Cathy