It’s been a good few days of sewing. I think I re-learned how to count and measure. 🙂
Except for one set of a million* HSTs. I have finished all the clues up to Clue 6. I have to finish those HSTs before I can work on Clue 6.
Lupine HRTs
The biggest achievement was finishing the HRTs. As I mentioned the other day, using the Accuquilt to cut them out was a real life saver. I was able to plow through some of the rote sewing in double quick time.
I was running out of the dots on black fabrics I chose as a background. I always intended to use a variety of colored dots on black, so I wasn’t worried. However, I found fewer multi-colored dots than I expected and panicked a little. I set about hunting out some more. I looked in a couple of other places and found more suitable background fabrics hidden in a weird place. I’ll be able to work on that last set of HSTs now.
I have all of the Patchwork Palooza blocks as much as I can. I also have the half blocks made for the border. I am waiting for a little more of the Dovetail fabric to arrive, so I can finish it.
I am pretty pleased with how it looks. I may put some pink and plum squares in the corners when I put the border pieces on. I’ll check to see how that looks.
I have been working on Lupine steadily since after Christmas. As previously mentioned, it is a lot of piecing. This is not a project to work on while distracted and I have made some cutting errors. This means I have had to re-cut and sew some of the pieces. No shortage of fabric, but frustrating.
Lupine Clue 5: finished
I really wanted to make progress, so I cut some 2.5 inch squares and made the blocks for Clue 5.
Clue 1 was the only clue I had completed, but I had the units I needed so with some squares, I thought this was low hanging fruit, which would give me the boost I needed to get back to the miles of piecing I still needed to do.
These are also the first finished pieces for the quilt. I don’t know how they will fit in, but they show me how the color combination I selected work together. I am pleased. So far the black doesn’t seem too dark and I am using up some fabric that has been around awhile.
Accuquilt in use
Jeff Rutherford gave me a great idea. It was a serious DUH! moment. He made a comment on my blog and sent me some instructions I needed (free, no copyright issues here!), which set off an email exchange. In the course of this exchange, he mentioned he was using his Accuquilt** to cut pieces for the various Luppine clues. I don’t have tons of dies, but thought that even if I had one die that would work, it would be worth dragging out the machine and doing the prep.
It turns out I have three dies that worked for this project, though I couldn’t find one of them. ERGH! Fortunately, I had HST and HRT dies that I could use. There was some pre-cutting because the HST die I have is the “Value“** die. It came with my Accuquilt and has pretty useful shapes. I cut some fabric just the size of the HST section so I wouldn’t waste fabric on shapes I didn’t need. The picture above shows my fabric/die layout before cutting.
I was able to layer 6 pieces of fabric on the die and cut about 6 HSTs at a time. When you need a lot, it is a good deal.
I did the same thing with the HRT die. I don’t think I had ever used that die before. I think I bought it when I was writing the HRT Resources guide or while making a donation quilt. Anyway, it worked GREAT. I was able to cut, then sew them together easily. As a bonus I didn’t need to trim. I am behind in getting my clues done, but this machine really helped me to almost get caught up. I have to start incorporating the machine into my thought processes and planning when working on a quilt that has general sized shapes to cut. If I start using it more, I might even consider buying one of the electric versions.
N.B. Bonnie will remove the posts to which I have linked from her blog sometime in February 2026. Download or save the clues now if you want to make this quilt.
**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.
I spent some time assembling Patchwork Palooza the other day. I haven’t finished yet, but I am making progress and I enjoyed the process.
I wasn’t sure about the sashing, but think the blocks needed some space between them. Some blocks, where I used the background fabric as their background, are floating now, which I think looks nice.
All Patchwork Palooza blocks
The blocks looked very crowed when I put them all up on the design wall right next to each other. Now
I put them up according to the layout of the project. I changed around a few of them and may change a few more, but we’ll see. With the limited palette I used, it is hard to keep similar colors away from each other.
I also decided to finish out the Irish Chain effect. You can see what I am thinking in the lower left hand corner of the photo at the top. I took apart some of the extra alternate blocks and made them into border blocks.
Of course, I am not following the finishing instructions, so I am not sure how big it will be in the end, but somewhere around 72×84. A good size.
I am very behind, but not giving up. These Flying Geese took a long time, but I was working on the HSTs at the same time.
Clue 5 will be easier, I think, as it is block making and I might jump to it before I get back to the HRTs and HSTs.
N.B. Bonnie will remove the posts to which I have linked from her blog sometime in February 2026. Download or save the clues now if you want to make this quilt.
As I said, I am trying to stay ahead of the crowd, so after the BAM Holiday Party, I quickly made a Friendship Star.
In general, I have a tough time with this block. I think it looks much better small. The 12 inch size just looks like it has too much fabric, though a 12 inch block with the star made from a blowsy, large flower fabric might work better.
I do think that using the Friendship Stars as cornerstones, like a donation quilt I made, works well.
The best use of Friendship Stars I have found is making a wreath out of them. I got inspired by Camille Roskelly and then made Flying Around using the Friendship Star wreaths. I’d like to make one for this project. We’ll see if I get to it.
I have been working on and off on Lupine, especially after I finished some gifts.
Lupine: Clue 1 Finished
A week or so ago, I finished the Lupine & Laughter First Clue. I wasn’t sure how the black would look as a background, but I am pleased with the combination. It has a little bit of a 1954 vibe. I know you are thinking “WTH? How can she be so specific?” I have a book called 100 Years of Color** by Katie Greenwood. It gives a palette for each year for 100 years. While 1954 doesn’t have the black as part of the palette, it does have the feeling that occurred to me when I put the combo together.
One concern I have with the black is that the fabric seems to shred very easily. Not within patches, but as I trim shreds of fabric embed themselves in my rotary mat. As I mentioned before, I have had this fabric for a long time, so it is possible that the quality is different from current fabrics. Fortunately, I have a number of blacks with colored dots that I will use for this project, so not all will be subject to this problem.
Lupine Clue 2 and 3 Progress
I am simultaneously working on Clue 2 and 3. I sewed quite a bit over the weekend. It was kind of rote sewing, but it was good that I didn’t have to think too much. I also did quite a bit of trimming, though not enough. There is a lot of trimming in this quilt.
Bonnie always has different ways to make the various units. Friend Julie says that she likes to try the various methods in order to practice and to find the method she likes best. I usually just use a method with which I am familiar. For the HSTs, I am using the 8-at-a-time method you can find under tutorials. Her comment gave me something about which to think. I did use the Essential Triangle Tool** to make the QSTs, which was new-ish to me.
N.B. Bonnie will remove the posts to which I have linked from her blog sometime in February 2026. Download or save the clues now if you want to make this quilt.
**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.
Because of the holidays people have two months to make the next two blocks. Month 2 and 3 blocks are due at the January Meeting. I made a set of Checkerboards very quickly right after the meeting. Since I am one of the leaders, I really want to keep ahead of the others as much as possible.
Once things had settled down a little for me, I made another checkerboard block from the book Cyndi lent to me, Use Scraps, Sew Blocks, Make 100 Quilts** by Stuart Hilliard.
BAM BOM Checkerboard, month 2
I don’t have the wide variety of fabrics that would make this block look like the one in the book, but I am pleased with the way it came out.
I cut up the Philip Jacobs print to make the middle then used the others (added some additions since the start) around the outside. I want to work with this block again at some point. Still, I like the way it came out. I keep looking at it.
BAM BOM December 2025
Although blocks were not due at this meeting, people brought some, so we put them up to illustrate when we introduced the new block.
It is so fun to see the different designs that appeal to the participants.
**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.
I finished all of the Patchwork Palooza blocks and am now waiting for the finishing instructions. I can definitely finish this without them, but I want to see what they say. I was annoyed not to receive the email last Friday despite receiving other marketing emails. I may just have to make my own instructions for finishing. 🙁
Julie was working on her PP blocks at Sew Day so I was able to see that sashing provided the blocks with a little bit of space. I think it needs the space just by looking at what I have on the design wall.
Some of the blocks look complicated or busy, but that is somewhat because of the fabrics I chose and where I decided to place them. I can also see where making some half alternate blocks might look nice in the border. We’ll see. I’d like to get this finished, so I might not want to make it more complex.
Yes, I started another project! I know it is crazy, but here we are.
As usual Bonnie Hunter has started her winter mystery quilt. This year it is inspired by a trip to Iceland and called Lupine & Laughter. I wasn’t going to make the project this year, considering all the other quilts and bags I have on the go. I changed my mind and started piecing.
Of course, before piecing I had to choose fabric. I thought about using one consistent background. I couldn’t find a white piece large enough so I picked out several whites to use. Still I wasn’t happy with the choices.
I could have certainly used text motifs on white fabric again, but I didn’t want to make the same quilt again.
Color tryouts for Lupine
Each time I go into my fabric closet, I see a bin of dots on black. I decided that I would pull some out and try them. The first black was called Color Dots by Jean Ray Laury. It has been in the fabric closet for a long time and it was a good time to bring it to the light.
I thought it looked good with the purple and pink (again!!!) I chose, so I started cutting.
Lupine: QSTs
I realized pretty quickly that I had selected the wrong color for the QSTs required and pivoted to a blue-green (Carousel by Melody Miller). The combo is fantastic, if I do say so myself.
I am still concerned that the black will be too dark, but it feels right compared to the whites I felt ‘meh’ about. I do like the pink and black combination.
So, I am working on QSTs and, of course, am already behind. I am also cutting for Clue 2 and will need to start on Clue 3. I spent the day yesterday piecing, so I won’t get too much farther behind.
I have kept up with the Patchwork Palooza Project while I was away and since I got back. I did have to make two of the most recent blocks at the same time, they are done and here we are with a few blocks to show. I haven’t had a chance to investigate whether there are historic names for these blocks.
Apparently, I have blocks 17, 19 and 20 to show. I also finished the last of the alternate blocks, which all look the same.
Palooza Block 17: Starlight Path
Patchwork Palooza 19: Market Day
Patchwork Palooza 20: Crosswalk
Patchwork Palooza Alternate block
Patchwork Palooza Alternate block
Friend Julie posted all of her blocks to date a few days ago, which makes me want to do that as well. Sadly, I don’t think I have the design wall space, but may need to make some so I can see what I have.
Patchwork Palooza mini view
I do have a mini version of the layout crammed above my strip donation blocks. Looking at this picture I think I might have to remake #20. I’ll wait until I can look at them all at once. I have others without the white backgrounds, so this might be a skewed view.
My donation block making has stalled a bit. I am working feverishly on other projects, some in preparation for the holidays and some just because. Still, I have a few to show.
Guiding Star came out on November 7, while I was away. It reminded me of Come Together, which I posted about earlier. This is the third, I think, Sawtooth Star type block.
Fortunately, I brought my fabrics and was able to get started. I know there are only a few more weeks left of this project, then I can put all of the blocks together. I am looking forward to that.
I really liked the way this block went together. It came out really well in terms of the piecing.
I found the color suggestions to be confusing and more so since I was working without a design wall. I am pretty happy with the way the block came out, however.
I am finding my fabric choices to be an unusual combination. They are good work with because the fabric is high quality. However, I am not sure I would have picked them had I really thought about it.
I was reading Around the Block** and found a block that was similar to this one, Crockett Cabin (pg.47). It has a few fewer HSTs than Starlight Path. In Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Quilt Patterns**, there is a section (pg.137) with blocks of the same structure, though with different layouts and numbers of HSTs.
**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this website.
