Friendship blocks at the Santa Rosa Quilt Guild

The Friendship Block program is not as hard to understand as some think, and the rewards are absolutely priceless.

To get started, make three blocks, one for each of three different guild members, then you will be eligible to request blocks be made for yourself.

For each block you request you must promise to make blocks for others to repay your debt. For example: if you make a block for Sharon, Suzi, and Sally you are then eligible to request blocks to be made for you. If you wish a dozen blocks you already have three credits and therefore you must make nine blocks for nine other guild members to fulfill your obligation. When you fulfill your debt you may start all over again and request more blocks for another project and continue to make blocks for others.

There is no limit to the number of blocks you may request for a project, but it is usually suggested that 20 be the maximum.

Some people ask for everyone to make the very same block pattern, all in the same colors. Some want one block but in a variety of colors. And then some have a theme in mind (such as Easter Bunnies, Valentines, Spooky Halloween Characters, Kitty Cats, Puppy Dogs, Baskets Filled with Goodies, Samplers). Some are Traditionalists, some like Contemporary, and others like Modern styles. And some love scrappy.

You may ask for all blocks to be the same size, or a variety of sizes (such as 6, 8, 9, or 12” finished – make sure to remind people to add one-quarter inch seam allowance on each side).

As these are FRIENDSHIP Blocks, some people want to honor the artist by having the block signed on the front, and others may wish for the maker to just sign the back.

Coordinate your blocks request with the Friendship Block Chairperson. The Chair will post the directions on the guild’s website (srqg.org ) under the FRIENDSHIP BLOCK heading, and will send out reminders via email and articles in the newsletters reminding us check the Friendship Block page to see what is available to sign up for.

Members sign up to make ONE block for a person with the Chairperson. The block should be completed in a timely manner and turned in to the Chair so appropriate bookkeeping may be accomplished. The block will be photographed for the Friendship Block page, then the block will be turned over to the requester.

You can keep track of how many Friendship Block credits you have by clicking here. If your records do not coincide, please contact the Chair.

For ideas for Friendship Block projects, scroll down to the bottom of the Friendship Block page and click on “View the Archives.” In the Search Box near the top left of the Archives page type in a name to view blocks made by a particular person.

For ideas on how some of those Friendship Blocks were put together, visit our Show-and-Tell page on our website. Scroll down to “Archives” and type in the word Friendship.

The Friendship Block program is a terrific way to try out different patterns, color combinations, and techniques, and then a superb way to collect blocks made by others.

Don’t be shy – start (or continue) making blocks for others, and request blocks for yourself to keep this wonderful program alive.

Questions? Ask the Friendship Block Chair, or Sharon Fry who will be happy to assist with finding books in our library to give you incentive.

- Sharon ‘the Librarian’ Fry

P. S. Are you one of those people who is sighing and thinking you already have too many quilts hanging on your walls, stuffed in the closets, and not enough kids and kidlets to give your work to, but you still love to design and sew? Well, no problemo – Your Friendship Blocks can be turned into quilts to donate to our Community (see Laura Barrett or Janet Tonkin for details), or maybe you have a favorite charity that could use a quilt to raffle to bring in funds (see Jim Jensen’s Vegetable quilt)..

Contact Lisa Gamble to make a block or to request a block to be made.

Click here to see how many credits you have. (updated October 24, 2024)