Nutcracker Block of the Month: reservations are open!

Join me and my lovely friend Andrea from the Willow Cottage Quilt Company in front row seats as we wait with bated breath for the orchestra to strike up and we raise the curtain on our next block of the month performance...

ETA Hoffman's fantastical Christmas tale of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King inspired Tchaikovsky's magical ballet and a family outing to see the Nutcracker has become a much-loved Christmas tradition for children and adults alike. Little girls have dreamed of becoming a ballerina after watching the Sugar Plum Fairy pirouette across the stage.

The Nutcracker Sampler, our seventh Block of the Month programme, will run for nine months from October 2025 until June 2026. As a participant you will receive an exclusive early access pattern book - I can't wait to introduce you to our very own Clara! - and beautifully packaged kits containing everything you need to create nine original Nutcracker sampler blocks and our delicious Land of Sweets setting. We'll be using my favourite tried and trusted techniques, which include simple machine-piecing, creating Dresden fans and adding ribbon and embroidery embellishments. We'll include any little extras you will need and, as always, a few lovely surprises, just because.

This year's quilt will finish at 56" x 63" and we're thrilled to be sewing with Tilda Fabric’s much anticipated Merry Little Christmas collection. Tilda’s whimsical prints combine classic Christmas reds, greens and creams with icy Nordic blues. And I've added touches of pink and gold from Creating Memories to round out the colour palette and recount the Nutcracker story in all its glory.

The programme also includes: special password-accessed blog posts, where I'll be sharing my inspiration and guiding you through the techniques we cover; exclusive filmed tutorials for each block; and a creative community hub where we can share our trials, tribulations and triumphs. And given the continued uncertainty surrounding postal rates and tariffs, you'll have the choice of a full kit, rather than monthly parcels, delivered at the beginning of the programme.

If you'd like to join us on our latest adventure, here are all of the important details: -

Please note that there are limited places available for the Block of the Month.

There is a £19.75 reservation fee which is non-refundable and commits you to participating in the nine month programme. Reservations are available here.

NORTH AMERICAN FRIENDS, PLEASE RESERVE YOUR PLACE WITH ANDREA HERE.

For the Month by Month option, the remaining nine payments will be made by PayPal Subscription and will cost £19.75 plus postage (postage will be £3.60 within the UK & £8.70 to Europe/Australia/New Zealand*).

The full Quilt Kit, which will be invoiced through PayPal in October, will cost 177.75 (postage will be £6.05 within the UK & £16.05 to Europe/Australia/New Zealand*).

*If you are elsewhere in the world (excluding North America) please contact me for postage.

Andrea and I always look forward to sewing with our kind and clever block of the month friends - many of you have been sewing with us since year one, you truly are friends - and we'd be absolutely delighted if you channelled your inner Sugar Plum Fairy and joined us to create this magical heirloom quilt! 

with love from our studios,

#BlockoftheMonth #Nutcracker