The excitement of starting a fun and easy Summer sew along has been swirling!! I personally LOVE starting new things.
Are you ready for Main street Block #1?
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My Mystery Block Wednesday is very easy this summer with a very wonderful theme! We'll be chatting about our favorite things on Main Street. Many of you told me you don't have a town, but I bet there is a place, like a plaza or a shop, that everyone gathered. Maybe the local roller rink, or grocery store is where you see your neighbors and catch up on things. That is what we'll celebrate this summer!
THE DOWNLOAD is at the end of my article HIGHLIGHTED IN PINK, so keep reading
In each pattern I have a memory or story of my own. When You share your block at my Facebook group, or when you leave me a comment after posting your block, share YOUR memory with me!
The local 5 & 10 starts off our Main Street Adventures, I can't wait to hear about Main street!
PLEASE READ INFO:
- Blocks are ALL 12.5" for this project
- At the end of ALL my Block Wednesday sew alongs I give you a BONUS layout using multiples of the block.
- For this sew along I'm using making two of the same quilt with different fabrics, much like I did for Christmas Fig.
- Fabrics I'm using are beloe
TIP:
- Some weeks I'll have a tip. The units for this block are interchangeable. So you can decide placement before you sew.
- Make the Half Square Triangle Unit first
- Layout out the blocks until you have them the way you like them. These are 2 options for my General Store quilt
General Store quilt, fabric buying below
Cheeky quilt, fabric buying below
Article continues below this Ad
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Download Pat Sloan Block 1 Main Street pattern
Download Pat Sloan Half Square Triangle (HST) directions
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I thank you for using my links, it supports my small family business and does not cost you any extra. I receive credit for anything you buy if you start via one of my links.
Cheeky Fabrics version:
- Cheeky Fat Quarter Bundle – 28 FQs in this bundle
- 1.5 yds of white with little red dots
- 1 yd red dots that is in the FQ bundle is now sold out. So if you want to do similar to me select another red print or just wait until you make a few blocks and decide.
- 2 yds Roses & dots to use as a full border. The quilt layout will not have a solid border but I will put a solid border on this one as I love this dot and rose print! - pick the shade you love. OR wait and see the border option. This fabric will go quickly
- ** to see ALL Cheeky Fabric
General Store Fabrics version:
- get 33 FQ, the BUNDLE is sold out, so purchase by FQ, I won't use them all but don't know which i will use yet
- 1.5 yds of soft carnation background
- 1 yd red gingham
- 1 yd stripe
Watch my Fireside Chat on using your stash
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- Thank you for using my links to buy, it helps pay for all the fun!
62 Responses
kresge’s was great!
I’m really looking forward to The Main Street Sew Along. I’ve finished the first block and can hardly wait until the next block is released. The dime store I went to as a kid was Kresge’s. It’s where I learned to count change and buy myself things such as candy and little trinkets.
Thank you for the free block. I’m so glad you are on YT now. I want to learn so much about quilting. See you on YT.
Our 5 and dime was a Woolworth’s. It had creaky wooden floors and so many neat things to buy. There was a lunch counter with ice cream, mmm, a favorite place to go. Looking forward to the next block!
We had a five and dime 3 blocks from my grandmas house. She used to call it the dime store. As little children we used to walk with Grandma and she would by us candy. Loved to go to Grandma’s just for the adventure. Hope my grandson’s (I have 6) has as fond memory as I have of my Grandma. All the time i say “I want to be just like Grandma J”.
My story ended up kind of a long one, and it ended up on my blog which I posted the link in the address below if you’re wanting to read about it. But in short, my Main Street was the main thoroughfare, never called Main Street down whatever Air Force Base we were stationed at. And our 5 and Dime was our AFB Base Exchange (BX). Of course I not only mentioned that, but I also told of visiting with my Granny to HER Main Street and to HER Woolworth’s and the memories shared there. I also shared my block there as well.
Remembering Main St is fun. Like the others, we had a Woolworths. My grandmother would take us shopping and we’d have lunch at the food counter sitting on the stools.
I remember going to Woolworth’s every Saturday after going to the movies. Back in the day, $1 got me in the movie, popcorn, and then an ice cream from the dimestore!
My hometown’s five and dime was a Mattingly’s. They had everything. My favorite memories were the candy counter (I especially loved the warm cashews) and Christmas when the upstairs was transformed to a wonderland, and Santa was there to hear our many wishes.
Love the block! The first five and dime was called mona’s. It was in Corktown, Detroit, Mi. I used to go down there and buy my mom hankies, trinkets and cards. By my Grandma’s there was Kresges, and Neisners. Downtown there was Woolworths, and Kresges, and Hudsons had a wonderful sewing dept. Miss those days.
Love the block! My first job was at Sine’s 5 & 10 in Quakertown, Pennsylvania when I was 15 yrs old. I was assigned to the section where all the thread, patterns, yarn and embroidery items were sold. When I didn’t have a customer I was allowed to stitch so that started my love for hand embroidery items. I am 55 years old and I still have a tablecloth that I made for my mother back then…it is 40 years old…does that make it vintage????
On the main street in the UK we had a haberdashary store and I used to count the button and check the ribbons whilst my mum purchased fabric to make some clothes. Haven’t thought about this until just now, brings a smile to my face… memories 🙂
We also had Woolworths on Main Street in Buffalo, NY. I don’t remember much about the store itself, but I remember the lunch counter, just inside the entrance. There were balloons at the counter that had coupons in them. I remember picking the balloons to pop for the coupons and the wooden floors. The doorway had a sloped entranceway and I remember my brother lying on his belly, running his Matchbox car down the ramp while we waited for my mom to pay for lunch.
We had C.G. Murphy’s in North Tonawanda when I was a teen. Two floors (again, wooden floors), and we still have Vidler’s Five & Dime on Main St. in East Aurora. It’s still fun to go in there. And they have a fabric section in the store! http://www.vidlers5and10.com
I love this first block, and I’m excited to be joining in the QAL! We had a sort of Five & Dime when I was a kid in California. I can’t remember the name … I’ll have to text my mom. But, I know they had an ice-cream counter with the *best* lemon curd ice cream, and they had a pet section with kittens and birds and sometimes puppies. I loved that place!
I’m getting my fabric out now; have a Tilda bundle that I’m going to use since it reminds me of the flowers along our driveway where I grew up. My pony would munch on them as we meandered by.
I actually live on Main Street in a small, off the beaten path, small Utah town. There is a nice park, a library, an old Rexall drug store (converted to a dance/exercise studio – times change), and Bullie’s drive in downtown, five blocks from my house. The people here are wonderful and everybody knows everybody!
I remember having grilled cheese sandwiches at the counter at Woolworth’s with my Mother when I was little. I’m enjoying that memory. Thanks for bringing it up, and for the lovely Main Street quiltalong. My block came out so pretty in pink!
I’m resisting making in Bonnie Lane until you can order it, it’s hard to wait!
Oh, the memories. We had a Woolworth’s 5 and dime and also a Gaumer’s drug store where all the high school kids gathered after school at the soda fountain. We will be married 60 years next week so we have some wonderful memories of the good old days.
Love this block – so cute in your Bonnie Lane fabrics! Can’t wait to make mine. Enjoyed fireside chat too. Have fun at Babylock – I LOVE my Solaris.
My color way is blue with a touch of yellow and white. Two twin quilts for the grandchildren’s guest room. They are grown now and rarely stay overnight so I am updating
Love reading the walk down memory lane on Main Street posted by others. Woolworths is one I faintly remember but there was a pharmacy that had original soda counter that stayed open until late 1970’s before closed its doors.
The all so famous Walton’s five and dime is what comes to mind
My first job was at Kresges. We had Murphy’s and
Ben Franklin. Small town stuff on Main Street
Mine was just called the 5 & 10 store. I loved going there. I have memories of even getting family pictures taken there each year. And of course buying candY with my allowance money! Excited to start the block!
I love your fireside chats. I am ready to do with General Store FQ bundle from Connecting Threads. I found a old time looking newsprint fabric called Cazette on their site too.. I hope to use that as background or border. I grew up in San Jose, Ca. I remember going to downtown San Jose with my grandma to the Woolworth Store. It was amazing as a child to sit at the soda fountain, look at the 5 & dime treasures… Today, I know that whole street has changed. My new favorite Is a hardware store in Placerville, CA, which is a real step back in time, but with a great modern twist. It is truly a general story. You can find all you need there. So cool. Thanks, Pat, for our great work in the quilt community.
Thanks Pat – This looks like a great Quilt party!. Lots of memories. I am going away for a week – but will make my first block when I get home.
Since I’ve been married 50 years, this Friday, I’m going to use these experiences. There was a Fords dep store on Main Street and it had wooden floors in the first level, that was cool to walk on, with a lunch counter. I remember a lot of kitchen stuff, and I would wander around at gadgets. I have to add that in Fredericksburg, Texas, there is a variety store of long ago, although more expensive, that has great items sitting out all over the store. I saw the wooden paddles with the ball stapled to it, white cotton bras all layed out in rows. It’s like stepping back in time, yet it’s new and it’s very touristy. I love that town.
I love this block. I have a quilt to finish and then I can get started on this one.
I grew up in Indianapolis. My sisters and I would take the bus down to “the circle” which is Washington Monument in the center of town.
There were big department stores all around the circle and a Woolworth’s that had a counter. Cherry cokes and fries were always our choice.
I grew up in Birmingham, AL. If we had a Main Street, I think it would be 20th Street. There was a department store there called Loveman’s, and it had everything. We went there every Saturday. My mother would cruise through the enormous dry goods department and pore over the pattern books for clothes to make for us. When I had learned to read, I used to sneak over to the book section and read as much as I could in the children’s section before a clerk would come tell me that the books were there to buy, not read in the store!
great memories!!
Woolworths is the best!
Great memories and love that the store is still there!
sounds pretty!
i started with the FQ of it Judy
Welcome to quilting!! I bet that was true! my grocery store has free ‘ripe’ bananas and oranges for kids
fun times!
I’ve missed the last two projects working on others I had started. I’m jumping in for this one!
I grew up in a neighborhood where we had an ice cream soda shop ran by two Greek brothers. I spent a lot of time there after school with friends. They had the best cherry cok and ice creams. Kreske and Woolworth were a bus ride downtown. Friends and I would go after school and during the summer.
I worked at Elder-Beerman a short while and they had a lunch counter. Fun memories that kids today don’t have.
What a cool design the 4 of these blocks make! A few of these together would make a great summer quilt for picnics in the city park, or over at the river. 3 of the towns I grew up in had a river or large creek running thru them.
Oh, the 5 and dime store. Walmart just isn’t the same. I remember the Woolworth’s on Main Street. Also, there was another 5 and dime around the corner. Can’t remember the name. An ‘off Broadway’ store, if you will. We sometimes went there when we couldn’t find what we wanted at Woolworth’s. I miss that about today’s stores. It seems like today’s inventory is all computerized and ordered from the same source. Everything is the same, no matter which store you shop. I miss the individuality.
Well, this will be fun. I’m ready to pull out my fabric stack and get to going. Thanks, Pat, for this interesting block.
Thank You Pat! This is a lovely block. Love It! I love your fabrics. Another wonderful quilt.
Can’t wait to start this new journey with you Pat! I love ALL of your quilts/patterns! Have a Blessed Day!
We had Woolworths and Newberrys. It was so much fun to go to both stores. My brother and I would get our allowance and then go between the two stores to figure out what we would buy with our 50 cents! Both stores had lunch counters where we ate when we were older. Both stores are gone now. I have such good memories of spending time and money in them!
My family and I lived five miles out of town but Mom and I would visit the 5 & dime often. They had a wide variety of items such as sewing notions, handkerchiefs, socks, nylons,shoe laces etc. I would often be allowed a few pieces of penny candy when checking out. I remember the store had a huge double swinging door to enter which I thought was so cool! The store still exists but is now a coffee shop and icecream parlor which is also very cool and they have managed to restore and keep those wonderful doors!
In answer to your question on what color way are you currently using: I am working with what might be considered fall colors, yellow, orange and several shades of green. They are quite bright and vibrant colors so they don’t feel like fall to me.
Did you use background from your 1.5 yards of carnation or from one of your FQ?? Don’t want to cut into my light if I need it for borders
I’ve only recently discovered quilting. I just found you! I’m so excited to quilt along with you and others. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial. And, we had the Village Store. The old proprietor gave free candy to us kids 😁 Now that I think about it, probably had more to do with keeping our mouths shut and letting our parents browse.
My very first job was at the Ben Franklin dime store in our town – called Webb’s. I could walk there after school.
love these memories!
Can’t wait to see yours Kim!
My Main Street 5 and dime was called Schrock. They carried a little of everything but, next door was a store that was called Garber’s. It was an awesome little place because it had a lunch counter. This is where I spent my young married life. As a kid we had woolworths in my home town. Loved going to the lunch counter for a milkshake. We also had a regular soda shop. Don’t remember the name of it but my mom used to work there as “soda jerk” when she was young. Had the best cherry cokes.
Love your quilt patterns. Thanks for sharing!