Welcome to the October edition of #QuiltBlockMania!  This month we are celebrating Family.  Many quilters use their talents to honor the bond we share with generations past, present, and future.  My Scottish heritage inspired the design for a Tartan block.

I used a red and blue color color scheme for my sample block.   Download the free block instructions HERE.

Inspired by Family

Years ago, I was blessed to travel through Scotland with my grandmother, uncle and brother. We stayed near Ayr, an ancestral home discovered by my uncle’s genealogical research.  We flew into London, then took the train to Scotland. My favorite spot was Edinburgh, where we hiked the Royal Mile and saw the Military Tattoo, a performance of drum and bugle corps from around the world.

In the museum of Edinburgh Castle, we found a statue of a McElvain, a distant relative who is remembered for carrying his baby onto the battlefield.  What quirky stories are in your family history?

Inspired by Color

I love traditional piecing, so the straight lines of a plaid design called to me within the theme of family.  There are so many color options to try with this block! I stuck to a simple red and blue in my sample block. For a look at the wide variety of colors in Scottish plaids, visit the Scottish Register of Tartans for inspiration. I am affiliated with the Clan MacBean, which wears a tartan of green, red and blue.

This Tartan block really starts to look like plaid when you put several blocks together.

Full quilt pattern coming soon! In the meantime, be sure to visit the other #QuiltBlockMania designers for more representations of Family.

Family Blog Hop

Warming by the Fire
Paper Chain Family at Slice of Pi Quilts
Family is Love
Family Quote Pineapple Block by Blockofthemodotcom
Family Pumpkin Pickin’ Day
Family Crest at Always Expect Moore
Old Rocking Chair at Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
Love@Home at Stash Bandit
Sisterhood by Michelle Renee Hiatt
Glimpse of Home at Scrapdash
We Are Family by Heidi Pridemore
Family Trees at Pretty Piney Quilts
Family is the Heart of Home by QuiltFabrication
Gathering by Blue Bear Quilts
Sister’s Choice at Perkins Dry Goods
Every Family Has One at Patti’s Patchwork
Orange Blossom Quilt
Wonky Nesting Hearts
Family Photo Block
Celtic Trinity Knot by Appliqués Quilts and More
Scarecrow
Family Ring at Devoted Quilter
Tartan Block at True Blue Quilts
FindSewingStuff.com
Flying Geese Family by Tacy Gray
Family Heart by Amarar Cracions