Hey, everyone!

Welcome to another Blockheads Wednesday! This week we’re twirling toward the MBH6 finish line with Block 21 — Bowtie Ballet, courtesy of Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique. This 9” finished beauty isn’t just another four-patch-and-HST combo — it’s a tiny stage where fabric pirouettes into a graceful bowtie motif. The shapes move across the block like dancers in motion, playful yet deliberate, and yes, it somehow manages to look elegant without making you sweat over complicated pieces.

Despite its elegant look, Bowtie Ballet is built from just two simple units: four-patches and half-square triangles. It’s super fun and quick to piece, and when you focus on precise color placement, those tiny units come together into a block that feels both intentional and rhythmic. Even the smallest four-patch can steal the show, giving the block sparkle and movement that make every stitch feel like part of the dance. Whether you’re a confident beginner or a seasoned quilter, this block is definitely worth making.

When it comes to fabrics and color choices, things haven’t changed. I’m sticking with a reliable red, white, and blue palette — my comfort zone for this quilt-along from day one! For the backgrounds, I’m using Steel 9900 184 (standing in for Moda’s white, which is unfortunately still temporarily sold-out ) and Graphite 9900 202 (filling in for the navy). If your lights are running low, curated Fat Quarter bundles with 18 light FQs are still available for $72. The darks aren’t bundled, so dig into your stash, have a little fun experimenting, and let each block shine in its own way.

Can you believe how close we are to the finish line? In case you didn’t know, MBH6 officially wraps up November 12th, with the big grand finale landing on November 19th. I know… holy scraps, right? The stacks of blocks, the color choices, the months of commitment, the “why did I get myself into this?” moments… it’s all about to come together.

Speaking of milestones — did someone say cake? Tomorrow happens to be my “29th” birthday… for the 31st time! I’ll be LIVE on my YouTube channel, STITCH with Lisa Bongean at 1:00 p.m. CST, to celebrate with all of you. We’ll chat about my birthday plans, show off some exciting new things in the shop, and of course, cake. There might even be a little birthday surprise in the mix for all of YOU! You’ll have to tune in to find out what it could be — just hit the STITCH button below to watch! Until then, have a wonderful evening and I will see you tomorrow! ~Lisa