Second Round of SAHRR

Star block was chosen for the second round of the Stay at Home Round Robin.

I wanted to use fewer small bits but still make a 3.5 inch block.

I cut 1.5 inch strips of the background and 1.5 inch yellow squares.

Sewed them together just a thread over from the diagonal.

The first block was made with 3.5 inch by 1.5 in strips of background.

After measuring this block I cut the other background strips 2.5 inches by 1.5 inches. That worked perfectly.

I am using some fat quarters of Curiouser & Curiouser that I bought at Gotham Quilts in NYC when I visited our grandsons in the fall.

I used the rose on yellow for the center of the star blocks and added two strips on either side of the block in the border.

This star block is tricky to make but I love it.

The first side piece is only partially sewn on the center block.

The second and third side pieces are sewn completely.

The fourth side piece is a little twisty to sew.

The key is leaving 1/4 inch unsewn on the first seam.

The corner fabric is the roses on yellow that ties in with the center queen of hearts.

Below is the back of the star block.

Here is my finished 2nd round.

I'm going to add some decorative stitching around the heart.

Will show that in the next round.

Happy sewing.

 

 

Charity quilt finish

This week end I worked on a charity quilt kit I was given at UTQG Tuesday.

It was an easy pattern with 4.5 inch strips of several dog themed fabric.

The flimsy was made in a couple of hours.

I wanted to return a finished quilt, so I looked in my stash for batting, backing, and binding.

The batting was assembled from one big piece and a few smaller bits.

I found a funny cat fabric for the backing.

The binding only took 15 inches WOF.

I used small clips to flip the binding to the front and hold the corners in place over night.

The quilting is straight line quilt in the ditch.

I plan to wash and dry the quilt before I turn it in at the February meeting.

Hopefully some of the wonky quilting will crinkle out after washing and drying.

I love how a folded quilt looks.

A quilt for a dog and cat lover.

Don't my corners look great?!

 

Busy sewing

I finished the X blocks for my Tell-me-a-story quilt.

I have received 8 swap blocks out of 36 that I should get.

Couldn't wait to see how the blocks went together.

I had enough swap blocks to make 4 rows with 9 blocks each.

Above is the left side and below the right side.

I put together a charity top from a kit given out at guild meeting this week.

My DMC order was delivered today!

Finally...

Don't know what caused the delay but I am ready to work on my hand quilting.

Possible places where I will use each color.

Here and there.

This week I hung the first quilt I made many years ago.

I still love the fabric but my quilting skills have definitely improved.

Happy sewing.

 

First Round of SAHRR

The first round is to include a spool block.

I made mine 3.5 inches but changed the method to make the block.

First I auditioned a black and white fabric with pops of solid colors on the corners.

After making one block I tried the colors again.

I made my spool blocks by cutting 1.5 inch strips from the border fabric and the solids.

Then I used the stitch and flip method to make the corner triangles on the border strips.

Ta-Da! My spool blocks are flipping around the corners.

My extra fabric for the X blocks I'm making for another top was delivered.

Next post on that progress.

Happy sewing.

 

Stay at Home Round Robin

Below is my center block for the Stay at Home Round Robin.

Yes, another detour from my list of possible projects for 2023.

I'm going to hand whip the heart to the background before the first border is announced.

Why am I detouring?

One reason is I am waiting for an order of pearl cotton to be delivered so I can

continue hand quilting My Small World.

Second reason, I am waiting for fabric to be delivered for the X blocks I'm making for

my Tell-me-a-story quilt top.

Third reason, I'm waiting for my teams to send their swap blocks for the same quilt.

I am in the mood to sew - not patiently wait.

The next photos are of a secret sewing block for a member of one of my quilt groups.

We were asked to make a heart block.

I made a sort of crazy quilt applique' heart.

I hope the scrappy fabrics remind the recipient of happy times.

Below the finished block (11" x 11")

I used fusible interfacing for the sewn and turned applique' method

I'm going to the Oxford Fiber Festival in Oxford, MS this week end.

Should be a lovely day for a road trip.

Have a good week!

 

Tell me a story block swap

I impulsively joined the Tell me a story block swap.

I made 'cat' blocks using Amy Friend's book Intentional Piecing.

Since I am new to paper piecing, I started working on the blocks as soon as the book came.

The instructions are to make two blocks for each person in the team.

The colorful cats were so cute I couldn't choose which two to use.

I made four different blocks and sent two different ones to each team member.

I made several extra for myself.

When the email came with the list of my team I was surprised to find out I signed up to be on TWO teams.

The second team is a general group. 

I looked through my scraps and found four fabrics to use for the centers.

After counting up the blocks I was swapping I realized that I could make a good size quilt.

I tried out different ways to space the story blocks.

One option was a plain block.

Below are my general story blocks.

Children playing surrounded by books.

Frogs splashing in water on a hot summer day.

Bunny and birdy ready for fun on a pink spring day.

Girls playing on a green grass playground.

Another idea for spacing blocks.

I drew this out in my quilt journal.

I like the lattice look of the X blocks.

Another view.

More test layouts.

I received my first swap blocks - the cowgirl is one.

My finished general swap blocks.

The other swap block is the paper boat below.

Ready to mail.

One last look at the layout.

I will have 54 Tell me a story blocks and 49 X blocks.

Look for more photos when the swap blocks arrive.

A little side trip.

Mr. M and I visited the Dixon Gallery and Gardens recently.

Doris Lee was the featured artist.

She designed the fabric below. I wish it was still in print.

One of her designs was printed on silk scarves.

Little miss Ava is coming over tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait to see what crafty things we make.

Have a good week.