Blockheads 6 QAL + Free Setting & My Plan
- mysewquiltylife - Heather Briggs
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Did you hear the news? Moda Blockheads is back and it’s time to get started!
Moda Blockheads 6 is here! 🎉
I’m so excited to officially kick off Moda Blockheads 6, and I can’t wait to share all the fun details with you. Whether you’re a returning Blockhead or joining for the first time, you’re in for a treat with this creative, community-filled quilt-along. Get ready, get set, let’s get sewing!
So, what is Moda Blockheads? Moda Blockheads is a free, weekly quilt-along hosted by Moda Fabrics. Each week, a different designer shares a fun quilt block pattern—completely free to download! It’s a wonderful chance to try new techniques, connect with fellow quilters, and watch your quilt come together, one block at a time. And the best part? At the end of it all, you’ll receive a free setting pattern from Moda or a fun finishing layout from one of the designers to help you bring all your blocks together into a beautiful, one-of-a-kind quilt.
You can find more information and the weekly block patterns as they are released on the Moda Blockheads blog and join the conversation with over 70,000 members in the Moda Blockheads Facebook Group. It’s a great place to ask questions, find inspiration, and share your progress!
About Blockheads 6
Blockheads 6 officially kicks off today (5/21/25) with everything you need to get prepped and ready for our first block release next week (5/28/25). The QAL will run from May 21st to November 19th, 2025. New blocks will be released every Wednesday by 8 AM Central Time.
Block Info
There will be a total of 24 blocks released, featuring a mix of 9” finished blocks, 18” finished blocks, and even some larger options. As of now, there are five free setting patterns planned—including one from me! Keep reading to download my exclusive setting pattern, designed just for Blockheads 6.
Video Tutorials
There will be video tutorials for each block, which you can find on the Moda Fabrics YouTube Channel: Moda Fabrics Youtube Channel
Block Difficulty Level
The blocks in Blockheads 6 will range in difficulty from beginner to intermediate. While some blocks may look challenging at first glance, most will come together easily—as long as you have an accurate 1/4” seam allowance. This is key for achieving the right size and fit. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and give each block a try—you might surprise yourself!
Fabric Requirements from Moda for Blockheads Blocks
If you’re going for a scrappy look or want more variety in your blocks, you’ll need approximately 30–35 assorted print fat quarters and 3–4 yards of background fabric. The amount you use will depend on how scrappy you want your quilt to be. Some participants are using solids, a limited color palette, or just pulling prints from their stash.
A good rule of thumb: make sure each block has enough contrast. You can even get started with just 1–2 prints plus background fabric if that fits your style.
Please note: I don’t have exact fabric amounts for each block, as they vary week to week. Also, fabric requirements for quilt settings are not included in the totals above, since each setting option is different and requires different amounts.
If you’re planning to use my setting pattern, I’ve listed the specific fabric requirements for it below.
My First Blockheads Experience
I actually joined my very first Blockheads last year during Blockheads 5, and let me tell you—it was love at first block! Watching the weekly creativity unfold, seeing the community come together, and watching the final quilt take shape was such an incredible experience. The Blockheads 5 theme was all about stars, and if you know me, you know that star blocks have always been a challenge for me. Matching points and avoiding cut-off tips used to be my weakness! But I’m happy to report that thanks to all the practice during Blockheads 5, I’ve gotten so much better—and now my stars come out just the way they’re supposed to. That’s the beauty of Blockheads: you get to try new things and grow beyond your comfort zone.
Here’s a look at my Blockheads 5 quilt! I used one of the free settings I designed last year, which you can still download over on my blog CLICK HERE. I made the entire quilt using Flower Girl, my very first fabric line with Moda Fabrics, and I absolutely love how it turned out. It’s truly a cherished quilt in my home.
My Free Setting Pattern: Starlight Crossing
I designed a free setting pattern just for you called Starlight Crossing, created especially for Blockheads 6! It’s a soft, patchwork-style layout that really lets your blocks shine, while keeping the overall look simple, balanced, and charming. Whether you’re going scrappy or sticking to a specific color palette, this setting adds just the right touch of personality to your finished quilt. The quilt finishes at 81” x 93”, but you can easily adjust the size to suit your preference.
This layout uses 21 Blockheads 9” blocks and 21 simple patchwork blocks, complete with fun patchwork cornerstones, sashing, and a border.
Since the setting uses only 21 blocks, you’ll have the freedom to pick and choose your favorite Blockheads 6 blocks to include. Because not all of the blocks released will be 9”, I’ll be resizing portions of the larger blocks to fit the 9” format. I’ll share my revisions each week so you can follow along! Any extra blocks you make that aren’t used in the quilt would be perfect for coordinating projects—or even a creative pieced backing.
Fabric Requirements
(for the setting and patchwork blocks – not including the Blockheads 6 blocks)
• Background: 4 1/4 yards
• Prints: 675 – 1 1/2” squares (about 1 1/8 yards total)
• Border: 1 1/8 yards
• Binding: 3/4 yard
• Backing: 7 1/2 yards
Download Starlight Crossing
You can download my free setting pattern Starlight Crossing here:
Important Notice: You’ll be asked to subscribe to my email newsletter to access the free pattern. If you’re already subscribed, don’t worry—just fill out the form again and you won’t receive duplicate emails. I send newsletters 1–4 times a month, and they’re full of quilting goodies like sneak peeks, coupons, updates, and more. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Youtube Video:
I also filmed a YouTube video all about the Starlight Crossing setting, my plans for Blockheads 6, and how you can follow along.
🎥 Click below to watch!
My Plan for Blockheads 6
Ok, let’s get on with my plan for Blockheads 6!
I’m planning a sweet, scrappy quilt full of soft, cheerful tones that feel like a cozy day at home. My scrap bins are overflowing, and I really needed a project that could help put a dent in them—Blockheads 6 is the perfect excuse!
I’ll be using print fabrics from all five of my fabric collections with Moda Fabrics, including my upcoming 5th line set to debut in late July. That means my quilt will feature prints from Flower Girl, Dainty Meadow, Cottage Charm, Sunbonnet, and my newest collection—stay tuned for more details on that one!
For all of my Blockhead blocks, I’ll be using one tonal print paired with a consistent background fabric to keep things cohesive. I’ve chosen Moda Bella Solid 9900-182 Porcelain as the background for my entire quilt. This approach will allow the block designs to really shine, without clashing with the scrappy patchwork blocks that frame them.
I pulled a stack of fat quarters for the blocks, and anything leftover will be cut into 2.5” strips to create a fun, scrappy binding at the end. I haven’t finalized my border fabric just yet, but I’m currently leaning toward a pretty pink print to tie it all together.
Want to use the same fabrics as me?
If you would like to use my fabric collections, a few are still available in shops click the link below to check out My Sew Quilty Life Fabric collections or find them at your favorite local quilt shop!
Background fabric: Bella 9900-182 CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY BACKGROUND FABRIC
Want to make your quilt using Moda fabric collections?
Click the button below to explore beautiful Moda collections from your favorite designers—or find them at your local quilt shop!
Let’s Quilt Together!
I can’t wait to share this journey with you and see your beautiful blocks each week! Whether you’re going scrappy, coordinated, or trying something totally new, I hope this quilt-along brings you as much joy and inspiration as it does me.
Don’t forget to:
📥 Download the weekly blocks from the Moda Blockheads blog
👩👩👧👦 Join the Moda Blockheads Facebook Group
🎨 Use the hashtag #ModaBlockheads6 so we can all see your beautiful work!
Here’s to a season of creativity, connection, and cozy stitches. Let’s get quilting!
Comment below and tell us what your plan is for Moda Blockheads 6.
Happy Quilting,
Heather
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