6 February

Today's block is similar to yesterdays block.  We make the same unit, only smaller and put 4 of them together.  This was another easy one, and I just grabbed some scraps that were on my table from another project I was working on.  They were larger than I needed, so I didn't have to go searching through my scrap bin to find something that would work.  :-)

6 Feb

I have to admit I have never made a block like this one before.  It is much easier than it looks, and no pesky Quarter Square Triangles (QST) to deal with.  It was made using all HSTs.

Today, I hope to work on another Wall Hanging from my Imagine book, and get ahead of the months needed to put on our front door.  I don't like waiting until the end of the month to do the next one... so today I'm taking a break from prepping fabric for the Stash Busters Challenge, and working on some applique.

I did get 5 Sawtooth Stars done yesterday for Stars for A New Day, and once I get the Imagine block complete, I am going to start working on the pinwheel blocks for the next border on that quilt.

So time to get to work....

Until next time.. Happy Crafting!!!

5 February

Yesterdays block had more 1/2" HST units, and it took me a good part of the morning to get that block made.  However, she promised that it was going to be the last one for awhile.  After I got it completed, I had to get busy with a few other things, and didn't have time to write my post.  So here is yesterdays block.

4 Feb

Today's block was an easy one, and I had it finished in a few minutes.  We used an extra HST unit from an earlier block, and sewed it to create another unit.  We only needed one unit for today, and were told the other one would be used at a later time.

5 Feb

I am still working on prepping fabric for my Stash Busters 2019 quilt, and have selected all of my 72 fabrics I want to use for that quilt.  I still need more neutrals, and I haven't decided if I will buy more fabric to have a different neutral for each block, or reuse some of what I have.  I have been able to stick to my no fabric buying so far this year, but I also said that if I need it for a project I'm currently working on I can buy what I need to finish that project. So buying more neutrals wouldn't be breaking that promise, since I am working on that quilt, and my neutral stash is almost non existent as it is.   I will probably start picking up a few extra FQs of neutrals as I can, instead of trying to get them all at one time, so I can spread the cost over a number of months. I have to keep reminding myself that this is a year long challenge, and even though some people have already made enough blocks to make a quilt top, I am not trying to win any prizes for getting it done as quickly as I can.  And I have plenty of other projects to work on, until I can get more neutrals into my stash. So once I finish prepping what I can, I will get some blocks sewn, but then I will be getting back to my other projects that need attention.

I have made a few more Sawtooth Stars for  my Stars for A New Day quilt, and I need to get busy on those pinwheel blocks, for the next border.  And in the next day or two I want to work on the next Wall Hanging for March for our front door... so lots to do beside working on the Stash Busters quilt.


Until next time... Happy Crafting!!!

3 February

YIKES!!!!!! 1/2" HST units went into today's block!!!!!  That is the smallest I have ever made, and boy were they tiny!!  I did use my triangulations papers, for them, but that doesn't help when sewing them to the units next to them.  I thought I was being very accurate and precise, and while I was making this block, it looked to me like it was not going to finish at 3".  As I was sewing, I contemplated making it again later in the year when I didn't have so many other things I wanted to work on, or perhaps, changing it up a bit so it was easier, or not even using it at all in my final quilt top.  But once I finished it, and put it on my table to see if it was 3.5" it was almost perfect!!!!  I did trim up the edges, and that helped a lot with it looking much better, but it was exactly 3.5" when all those seams were complete.  

3 Feb

One thing that does help, a lot, when working with such small sub units, starch!!! Starch your fabric before you cut it to sew something this small.  It will help keep your fabric from stretching and then not ending up the correct size.  I try to starch all my fabric no matter what size I will be cutting it.  It just seems to work out better to be accurate when the fabric is starched, especially for units that work with bias edges like HST units do.  

So, even if things aren't looking like they will turn out correctly, keep pushing through to the end, and see if things don't turn out like they are suppose to.  Even if your quilt block doesn't end up the way it should, learn from what you did.  What can you do different the next time, to get better results?  What did you do that caused it to not turn out the correct size?  It is never a waste of time or fabric, if you learn something from the process, even if you don't end up with a quilt block that you want to use in your final quilt. 

And remember, unless you are making a quilt to enter into a show, it really isn't going to matter in the end, if all your blocks are "perfect" or if you chop off some points, or your seams don't line up.  Your quilt will be beautiful, because YOU made it.  It will still be appreciated by someone, and it will keep them just as warm, as a quilt with "perfect" points and seams.  Enjoy the process!!!  If you want to work on precision, go for it, but don't stress out over it, if things don't turn out like you expect them to.  Finish the quilt, move on to the next one, and keep working on your precision, if that is what you want to do.  If you don't care about how precise you are, then just enjoy each and every quilt you make... and don't listen to anyone that says something about your points or seams not being as they should be.

Until next time... Happy Crafting!!!

2 February

More tiny HST units!!! These finish at just 3/4"!!  I am glad I have my Triangulations CD to print out the papers to use for sewing them.  Not sure I would even want to try doing it with out paper.  But I hope these blocks get back to being a bit easier.   

2 Feb

Didn't get any finishes done yesterday to share, still prepping fabric for my Stash Busters blocks and another quilt.  It seems to take forever to get the fabric cut and ready to sew, and just seconds to get it all sewn.  :-)  I am adding more fabric to my scrap bin as I'm cutting up Fat Quarters to use for these two projects.   But it will be a few more days before I have enough ready to start sewing  on them.  I will be glad to be at the machine again.. and not standing at my cutting table.

Until next time...Happy Crafting!!!