Jingle Bell Square {Blocks Are Done!}

I have finished up all of my Jingle Bell Square blocks! I needed to make 6 additional green blocks and 4 additional red blocks to bring me to the 49 total blocks that I needed for the quilt.

My next task is getting fabric to sash the blocks. I had bought some fabric on clearance online when I was ordering other fabric and unfortunately it is NOT going to work -- it is too large scale of a print and takes away from the blocks. I will definitely need something smaller in scale and with less color contrast.

So for now, this project is back on the shelf, but ready to go whenever I get sashing fabric. I have all or nearly all of the QSTs for the pieced borders made (they are the same as the QSTs in the center of each block!) so that won't be a delay in finishing the quilt top. 

I'm also thinking about replacing one of the skinny scrappy borders with a single fabric border since I have some larger pieces of Christmas fabrics left over from some quilt backs that might be big enough to use for some of the borders and binding on this quilt. 

Have you started on any holiday sewing? Or are you like me and have random Christmas projects going all the time?

Daisy Chain Baby -- Part II {Star Blocks}

The best thing about baby quilt is how quickly they start coming together! This week I have been working on the star blocks of my Daisy Chain baby quilt.

For the stars, I am using the pink large scale floral print.

The star points are all "ribbon blocks" as I like to call them.

Now my five star blocks are all finished and the top of my quilt is ready to be assembled!

I'll need to start thinking about ordering a backing for this as I know I don't have anything on hand at the moment that will work.

Happy Wednesday! What works-in-progress are you working on today?

Update 8/11/2020 -- This pattern is now available in our Etsy and Payhip shops. Please visit one of those sites to purchase the full pattern.

Block Progress {Frolic Mystery Quilt}

I am so excited today to show some real, tangible progress on my blocks for Frolic!

To refresh, I am planning to make all of the block sets into full blocks to make a bigger quilt and not make the half blocks. I have all of the units made for over half of the full blocks (these are featuring my navy fabrics) but I will need to go back and make flying geese and HSTs for my dark teal fabric blocks.

I now have 9 blocks completed! And of course, now that I am posting this picture, I am realizing that one of my corner units is turned 180 degrees -- oops! I will have some time with the seam ripper tonight!

I have been making my block parts in batches before making my blocks -- sewing together the flying geese as well as sewing together the four patch corner units for a set of blocks.

I've been using the coral and navy pinhweels as my leaders-and-enders. Since these are the same for all of my navy blocks, this seemed like the best choice.

I have only been making one block at a time to make sure that I am keeping all of my parts straight. This is slightly slower than working on multiple blocks at a time, but I haven't had to rip anything out yet (knock on wood).

I also realize that my plan to enlarge my quilt will require a LOT more sashings. I will have to do some math and figure out if I have enough coral fabric to cover a slightly larger quilt. I should have enough, but I want to make sure before I go boldly into this plan.

Happy Friday! Today I am teaching a class on foundation paper piecing! I am so excited!

Back Home {C2C 2019}

My big blocks have returned to me, and now I have the very tough decision of how to finish this quilt.

Here are all four of my blocks together:

Top row: Stephanie's block, Audrey's block

Bottom row: my block, Karen's block

As a reminder, my blocks are 18.5" unfinished. My original thought was that I would just add navy solid as the sashing and borders so that the quilt blocks would float.

Now I'm wondering about doing something a little more spiffy. I need to do some math and see how much fabric I have left. Adding 2.5" sashings would result in a 42" finished quilt. I could also do a simple sashing and some sort of pieced border, too.

What are your thoughts? Do you like big block quilts?

Audrey's Quilt {C2C 2019}

These blocks wrap up my commitment to the Coast to Coast traveling bee for 2019!

Audrey requested that we make blocks for a row quilt using white solid and Bonnie and Camille fabrics from the Happy-Go-Lucky line. She also asked that we pick blocks that remind us of our grandmothers.

Audrey made Granny Squares, Karen made Grandmother's fans, and Stephanie made Hungarian Posy blocks (a block she designed herself based on her grandmother's embroidery!)

For my blocks, I decided to go with -- baskets! The pattern I used was technically for an 8" block but I scaled it up to make 12" blocks.

Here's the first block that I used as my test block:

Since she requested enough blocks for a 72" row of blocks, I made six basket blocks.

This is (finally) on its way to Audrey and I will be showing off my blocks on Friday!

Sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

Good Fortune {Clue #7 and Making Blocks}

Moving has (understandably) put me slightly behind schedule for my Good Fortune quilt. However, I now have a mostly operable sewing space (hooray) and managed to squeak in Clue #7 and some block construction.

For Clue #7, we made some of the units we needed for block construction. I made the 16 patch units first.

Next up were the four-HST chains. These will be used in the border and I made each of these units the same.

At this point, I realized that I needed to make a few more HSTs for my spinning star blocks. I picked a fabric that I hadn't used yet for HSTs and made about a dozen more HSTs.

These were added in with the rest of my HSTs to make the HST pairs for the spinning star units.

I also sewed up the chain blocks that use the 16 patch units, more four patches, and the scrappy string rectangles. These were quick and easy with minimal matching. I'm very happy with my choice to substitute aqua for orange in my quilt!

My plan for this week is to get my spinning star blocks put together and then put the center of the quilt together. After that, I will have to measure, count, and perhaps make additional border units, depending on how many I actually need. Making half of what Bonnie directs has put me pretty close for what I need but hopefully I won't have to make too many more of those tiny green triangles!

Tomorrow is my day for the Getaway Blog hop! I am so excited to show you my new version of our Dashing to the Chapel pattern!

Radiant Jewel {Starry Night}

When last I posted about my Radiant Jewel quilt, I was in the midst of making all of the four patches for the star blocks and pieced border.

Once I was able to finish all of the four patches, I started working on my eighteen star blocks. These went together relatively quickly and were easy to work on for a few minutes here and there. I think these came out really lovely and I am happy I decided to make all of the large center four patches the same for these blocks.

I also have all of the pieced border units to put together. My next task is to do the background fabric cutting necessary to complete the pieced borders and to make the 20 or so HSTs for the pieced border units. 

This will be set aside momentarily to work on some baby quilts and finish my Island Batik project for October. I have quite a bit of quilting to do over the next few weeks -- I quilted some secret sewing this weekend for the test baby quilt I made while on retreat. Here's the backing:

Happy Monday! Don't forget to enter to win some Island Batik fabric -- the giveaway will close on Friday!

Sharing at Main Crush Monday and Linky Tuesday!

Block Party {Double Delight}

I've been having so much fun on this project, it's been hard to stop and work on other projects! The fact that I had to do very little pinning for both sets of blocks has made it quick and easy.

The double nine patch blocks are interspersed with cream squares that use the same fabrics in the square-in-a-square and little nine patch units. Since I needed 20 blocks, I stacked up the units in piles of 20 and just zipped away at chain piecing the blocks together. For variety, every few blocks, I rotated the piles nine patches 90 degrees.

I was a little concerned when I started the Rolling Star blocks that I would have to do a lot of pinning to get the points of the square in a square units to line up. However, after pinning the first couple, I found that I didn't actually need to pin each unit! I think my careful trimming (and the time it consumed!) paid off!

I have finished 12 or so of the 30 Rolling Star blocks for the quilt. I also made sure to press these blocks so that the seams will interlock with the 9 patch blocks for easy matching and top construction. I also have been occasionally rotating the piles of mulberry and chartreuse square in a square units so that the same fabrics aren't in the same locations for every block.

I've been thinking about what I'll use for the setting triangles and I will need more than a half yard. I have a few full yards hanging out in my stash that I'll audition. I don't think I want to do pink setting triangles like the original, and I'm leaning toward navy or mulberry, but ultimately it will be dependent on what I find in my stash.

What are your suggestions the setting triangles? Pink, navy, mulberry, chartreuse, or cream?

Happy Wednesday! Linking up with Let's Bee Social and Needle and Thread Thursday!

Magnolia Mystery Quilt {Blocks and Layout}

While the final directions for the Magnolia mystery quilt came out in early December, deadlines and On Ringo Lake have delayed me from getting these blocks put together!

My blocks for my throw sized quilt came together very quickly and easily.

We also had to make four half blocks. These will need to be trimmed but I'm not planning to do that until final assembly.

Here are all of my blocks laid out together in Cheryl's design.

I'm very happy with the block layout and orientation of the original design, but I'm considering adding a skinny sashing between my rows so that the individual blocks stand out. That disrupts the secondary pattern of the stars created where the "leaves" come together, so I'm not sure what to do. What do you think?

Sharing at Let's Bee Social and NTT!

Ps. We now have a Honey, Bunny, and Doll FACEBOOK GROUP! Join in to see an early preview of our upcoming quilt along!

On My Pinboard

Now I am sure that most of you are all on Pinterest yourselves, but I thought that I would share a few of my recent favorites today in case you might have missed them (I hope not!!)

Improv Trees via Stash Bee by TwinkleToes

I was never interested in modern/improvisational piecing until more recently and I am in LOVE with these trees! 

Bumblebee by Bee In My Bonnet

I also LOVE bumblebees. This pattern was designed as the label for a row along quilt, but I would love to make a baby quilt of all bumblebees!

Round Cut Birthstone Pattern from No Hats In The House

How cool is this block? WAY COOL. I already got a copy of this one and I can't wait to start making some beauties!

And here's my quilt board if you need more quilty inspiration. Happy Sunday!

Slow Goings

It's been a busy week for me between Park Ranger boyfriend visiting for nearly 4 days (4 DAYS!!!), work, volunteer schtuff, and just regular life. So sewing has been a little bit on the back burner. I started and finished another New York beauty block, one of the more complicated ones, so it ended up taking two days to just get the paper piecing done. Oh geez oh man.

Here's the finished product:

The October/November Nubees hives were also assigned and I got three of my four blocks done! I used the Card Basket block via Quilter's Cache (modified slightly for simplification).

And now I get to listen to whatever party my neighbors across the hall party it up and resist going to bed at 8 PM today.

Don't forget to sign up for the Jelly Roll strip swap...my blog readers will have the chance to win free shipping!

Weekend Productiveness

Because I had a little major meltdown about my lab stuff, I ended up spending most of my weekend at home sewing on my argyle quilt. And I made homemade chicken noodle soup! It is delicious.

I did finish up another New York Beauty Block:

I made a lot of progress on my argyle quilt. I made more than 30 blocks!

Here's all the ones I made this weekend as well as the growing stack of all of them living on my kitchen chair.

Hope your weekends were also productive! Sign up for the jelly roll strip swap that I'm hosting!

Box Quilt Block: How I Made It (simpler!)

For this month for my NuBees swap, I decided that I wanted to do the "Box Quilt" Block from Quilter's Cache.

After finishing one block as the directions instruct, I figured that there were also some other ways to put this block together, while also avoiding set in seams. Here is my take on how to do this:

Start with the original directions and sew your 3.5 by 2 inch and 5 by 2 inch strips onto your starting 3.5 inch square.

Instead of piecing your "box" strips with triangles, I used the stitch and flip method to add the background triangles to the strips. These strips should be 5 by 2 inches and 6.5 by 2 inches.

Your finished quarter will look like this:

And finish like this:

Have you figured out easier ways to make things?

September Bee Blocks (and more argyle)

My crazy two weeks are finally over and I have more time to sew, finally!

This month for the NuBees swap I decided to do the Box Quilt block from Quilter's Cache. I got three of the four done yesterday!

I altered the way that I made the blocks from the directions and I'll be talking about that tomorrow.

I also got 7 more argyle blocks done, bringing my total up to 55:

Lots more to go!

Received August Bee Blocks

Happy Friday! I am off to visit Park Ranger Boyfriend this weekend but I wanted to show off my August Nubees blocks!

Here are all of my blocks thus far (the one I made for myself this month is in the upper right hand corner):

And if you're not too busy go vote for your favorite scrappy quilts in this week's Quilting Gallery contest! My Teacup Quilt is in the running this week!

Bit by Bit

After 5 days of being home from my whirlwind trip out to Colorado for a friend's wedding, I am finally back in the sewing swing of things. It didn't help much that I took a red eye flight back on Monday morning and got back to my town at 9 AM. I went home and slept until 4 PM.

This week and into this morning, I finished up my Nubees blocks for August.

I really liked this pattern a lot when I found it on Quilter's Cache, but I did have some hesitations about picking a rather intricate block. The first time I tried to make the angled blocks that end up looking like chevrons, it was a complete disaster. But, of course, by the time I got the last ones done, I can churn them out rather quickly and much more accurately.

Now I need to make one of my own!

Recieved July Bee Blocks

These are the three Nubees swap blocks that I have recieved so far, as well as the one that I made.

The tutorial for the Broken Herringbone block is here (upper right hand corner). Happy Friday!

Tackling paper piecing

This weekend, I started and completed a paper pieced block!

Of course, I had to pick the flying geese in a circle that everyone has been doing lately! And I did it in a rainbow as well. 

Ta da!

Although, silly me didn't think to double check the scale marker on the paper after it was printed and it ended up 11.75 (approximately) instead of 12.5 inches. Oops. I'll have to remember that next time. I think it might get made into a pillow. Or a gigantic hot pad.

I also made a block for myself in the same pattern that I used for my hive mates over at the NuBees swap. 

What are you working on today?

July Bee Blocks

Last night I was able to get two more of my NuBees blocks done.

And I finished this one up tonight, after having taken it entirely apart yesterday and having a heck of a time getting the corners on some of the seams to match up:

What kind of bees and swaps are you guys involved in? This is my first one and I definitely like it so far!

A little bit side-tracked

I can't believe that it is Wednesday already. I actually spent a lot of the day Sunday working on my black, green, and white quilt, and intended to post about it Monday when I got home from school. But then I had to cook dinner for Park Ranger Boyfriend who came to visit and so things got pushed back until today.

I didn't get any stitching done on the binding of my mystery quilt (rats!) but hopefully I can start on that tonight while I watch some TV.

When last I posted, I had just paired up all of the sets of three squares for the 9 patch part of my courthouse steps. They now have all of their "steps" completed, except for the last "rung" of the black for most of the blocks. Here are all 18 chillin' on my living room floor with the first set of rungs:

I had to stop because I didn't have enough black fabric to finish them entirely. Whoops. But I started on this anyways because I was so excited but I did get the rest of the black fabric in the mail today!

Here are the two courthouse steps blocks that are completely finished:

The other blocks for this quilt are swirly star blocks that you make by a (what I would describe as a) stack, cut, and swap method.  Here are the three that I have done:

Kind of wild! But I definitely like it. I also got the charm pack that I won from Marcia today in the mail! It is so pretty!

I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced to share my progress!