Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
I made quite a few at the beginning of the month, but other things got in the way of making more. My bin of 2.5 inch squares is overflowing, so something has to give.
While I can see that I am slowly emptying my pink scrap bin, I find it harder the more empty it gets.
I am past the point where I can add a strip and have the block grow quickly. I have to put smaller pieces together to make larger strips and chunks before I get a large enough piece to cut a block. It is a little tedious to sew small bits together. I keep reminding myself that this is my choice.
I have over 60 of these strip and chunk blocks and would like to get to 80 so I can make two donation quilts and really clean out this scrap bin. I could start on one; I just have to cut some blacks.
I am trying to avoid making another improv scrap quilt so this is what I get. I am also putting larger chunks together to make the exterior of a needle roll (needle case?) for a holiday swap.
All of the blocks for the guild Block of the Month are done. We will have the layout party at Sew Day in November. I decided to put my blocks up on my design wall to see what I could do with them.
I am thinking I would like to get the top sewn together so I can focus on helping other people get theirs laid out during the layout party.
The blocks shown are the major blocks, mostly. This doesn’t now show anywhere near all of the blocks. I just wanted to get something up on the wall to get started. Each iteration provides information.
I am not going to bore you going through all the permutations and changes that I made.
Version 8 is the best one so far. You can see some of the ideas that stayed, most notably the upper right hand corner.
I am thinking of making four more Birds in the Air blocks and at least one more Sawtooth Star. The bottom left hand corner is very light feeling and the whole piece is a little top heavy.
I am also thinking I won’t use the grey Pearl Bracelets as the background. First, I may not have enough and second the pearls make the background really confusing when parts are sewn together. I am thinking of a similar color in a solid. I need to look through my greys and at my color cards.
It is definitely a process!
A few months ago, I made the first version of this block, which I really like. This is a block that I explored in Flying Around. When I made the first one I knew it wasn’t right.
Later, I got some more of the grey Pearl Bracelets fabric. Recently, with the end of the project nearing, I remade the block so that it fits in better with the rest of the blocks. I like it much better.
There isn’t as much contrast between the star fabrics and the background. Perhaps that will make people move in closer and look more carefully at the quilt.
Now I need to think about how I will put the quilt together. We have a layout party scheduled for the November Sew Day. I don’t know if I want to have mine put together or if I will work along with the others. I think I will need it put together to show that it can be done. I also think I won’t have time to work on my own project while everyone else needs assistance.
I didn’t quite make the 30 I like to make, but I am making progress clearing out the pink bin. It is still pretty full, though I have used most of the strips that I pre-cut. Now the blocks are more chunky. I kind of don’t want to make an improv quilt from the smaller chunks, but may end up doing it.
None this month.
As mentioned, I finished up a couple of Four Patch Fun blocks. These, along with the leftovers I didn’t use in the Cool Four Patch Fun quilt or the Warm Four Patch Fun quilt will make a nice donation quilt.
I am contemplating different layouts. My first idea was a kind of column quilt.
This layout works because I have an extra couple of blocks that I cannot make into a Four Patch evenly. This layout incorporates those half blocks evenly.
I did try another layout, which I thought was just too boring. I would also have to make a few more blocks into order to make it even and I really just want to be done with this design.
These are the last blocks for the BAM BOM 2025-26 project. I know I showed them on Tuesday, but they turned out not to be the last blocks. I decided to re-make the Friendship Star Wreath block with the darker background.
To make these Flying Kite blocks, I used the Fat Quarter Shop directions from a sponsored 2014 (2013??) sew-a-long. I thought the directions made cutting pretty easy, despite the leftovers generated.
I have made this block before and it was always a pain to piece, so I was willing to deal with the leftovers / waste / extras if the cutting was easier. I have a lot of respect for people who figure out how to cut blocks out more easily.
I cut a few extra pieces and decided to make a second block for the top. I may make more, but for the moment I need to finish all the ‘required’ blocks.
I also wanted to show all of the blocks I have made for this quilt.
I looked over the combinations my sister and I worked on to get some ideas about a top. I don’t know if I will try to finish a top before the Layout Party or if I will work with everyone else on my layout.
On Sunday, I did some clean-up projects. It seemed like a good thing to do after finishing the Pandora Charisma #2. I needed to tidy up my workroom any way.
First, I made a label for the Quilt for Valor quilt. I haven’t shown that one here yet, so stay tuned.
Next, I got out my BAM BOM fabrics to make the last block. This is the Flying Kite (AKA Spinning Wheel) pattern. I made two and I really like them.
Leftovers from the Four Patch Fun quilts have been laying on my cutting table. I finally decided to get them into blocks. I have a few leftover blocks from those quilts and plan to make a donation top with them. Getting these leftovers pieced will add to the donation quilts.
I also tidied up after finishing the Pandora Charisma #2. I put the pattern, leftover fabric, etc away as well.
In between the above photos, I continued to work on the Pink Color Strip donation blocks. I think I have made 60 so far!!! Twenty more and I can make two Sidewalk quilts.
I saw a star made with lots of triangles. I used that as my inspiration for my most recent BAM BOM blocks, Birds in the Air.
This grouping is made up of 12 blocks. I may not arrange it this was, but I am enjoying looking at it.
We distributed the schedule for finishing the tops made from these blocks, so I need to get serious about making more blocks, or not.
Others have made blocks for my stepdad for the Quilts of Valor quilt.
I think they have done a great job making the blocks look lively (not boring). The placement of the colors in a limited palette is really good.
My stepdad is ill and I wanted to get him a Quilt of Valor quilt.
I tried back in 2016 and never heard back. I reached back to the woman I had spoken to and her email address no longer worked. I left a request with the situation on their website and haven’t heard anything.
At SueS’ Sew Day I asked if anyone had a contact. Suddenly, a quilt was being designed and everyone there was picking out blocks to make for a quilt. The block above is a 26″ block that I made.
I am so grateful to the guild members. The quilt won’t be a ‘real’ QoV quilt, but I think the sentiment will be just as meaningful.
I made my goal of 30 blocks this month plus some! I am not stressing myself out over the goal, but I do want to celebrate when I can.
I quickly made the Bow Tie block before the meeting deadline last weekend.
This is not a favorite block design, however I am, again, being a good guild citizen and making all the blocks.
I used the Mini Simple Folded Corners Ruler** and it went very quickly.
We are nearing the end of the BAM BOM, so I need to get serious about my blocks. I need to re-make the Friendship Star wreath and see whether I need to make more blocks.
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Sheesh! I haven’t posted about this since April. Well, it is a little bigger! In fact, I finished the top last weekend.
I probably should make it a little longer, but I don’t want to. I am done with this process for the moment. I might quilt it with straight lines myself – a gentle curved line that is one of the decorative stitches on my new machine.
