April Stash Bee Blocks

This month in the Stash Bee our Queen Bee is Rhonda who requested high contrast scrappy log cabin blocks. She plans to slice each block in half diagonally and then combine the halves with other halves to make even scrappier blocks. It'll be interesting to see how it all comes together!

I sorted all of my scrap bag into pieces that I thought were usable for centers and log rings and got to work! I found that I had to use yardage (or at least, larger scraps) for the outermost rings of the blocks, but I still made a sizable dent in my scrap bag! I made four blocks because they were so much fun!

All of my blocks are larger than she requested by an inch or so -- that way she can trim them down as she chooses.

This also most definitely counts as scrap progress for multi-colored fabrics for April in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge! I was able to make a sizable dent in my bag full of small scraps and strings narrower than 2 inches wide and used quite a few multi colored fabrics in these blocks. Any scrap busting-progress is worth celebrating in my book.

Sharing at Scrap Happy Saturday, Oh Scrap, and Scraptastic Tuesday!

Christine's Kitchen QAL {Week 3}

We're back with Week 3 of the Christine's Kitchen QAL! This week is a quick and easy week -- one block with a little bit of sashing!

Update: The QAL Is now over and the entire pattern is now available for purchase.

Since it's a quick and easy block, I'll keep my tip short and simple this week: It never hurts to double check your work before you trim or press -- this week I had to take part of my block apart because I had added the wrong color fabric! Oops! I'm also guilty of sewing my fabric backwards to my foundation -- so it never hurts to double check!

On to this week's block!

This is a slightly different teacup from two weeks ago, but with more sashing! This will eventually become part of Row 2 and your applique flowers.

I'm using my medium paisley print and my light leafy print this week.

Happy block sections!

And lots of sashing!

Here's Amanda's block:

Now its time for me to share our winner of our Row 1 fat quarter giveaway! Congrats to Tracy! Here's her version of Row #1 -- isn't it just darling? I'll be messaging you shortly to get your address!

March 20th: Blocks 1 and 2; sashing

March 27th: Blocks 3 and 4; building Row #1
April 3rd: Block 5; sashing (you are here!)
April 10th: Blocks 6 and 7; sashing
April 17th: Blocks 8 and 9; sashing
April 24th: Blocks 10 and 11; sashing
May 1st: Block 12; sashing
May 8th: Applique blocks
May 15th: Setting 
May 22nd: Border and finishing
May 29th: Memorial Day break
June 5th: Show off your quilt!

Scarlet Street {RSC 2017}

I managed to squeak in three red house blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this month. I spent a whole evening just ironing the fabrics and cutting out all of the red pieces for my blocks.

I found just enough solid light blue fabric in my stash to make these three blocks. I tried to use some older scraps for my windows, doors, and grass.

I think I'm actually out of light blue sky fabrics now. I will have to add a little to my stash to keep making blocks. :)

Sharing at Scrap Happy Saturday and Oh Scrap!

Don't forget to join the Christine's Kitchen QAL and share your progress on Instagram to win prizes!

Meadow Mystery {Finished Quilt Top}

Before we moved I finished up all of my blocks for my Meadow Mystery quilt and over a month later, I finally sat down and put the quilt top together. Here's a quick shot of all of my individual blocks as I put them together:

Here is my absolutely lovely finished quilt! 

I am just squeaking in at the deadline to get this quilt entered into the quilt parade in April! Now to decide how to quilt it -- any suggestions?

Sharing at Let's Bee Social and NTT!

Christine's Kitchen QAL {Week 2}

It's time for Week 2 of the Christine's Kitchen quilt along!

Update: The QAL Is now over and the entire pattern is now available for purchase.

This week we are making blocks #3 and #4 -- the teapot and coffee kettle from row #1! We'll make these blocks and attach them to the section we made in week #1 and our first row will be completely done! Hooray! Below are also the notes to win PRIZES!

Last week I talked about general paper piecing tips, and this week I am going to talk about pattern and fabric prep.

• As I noted last week, I like to cut around my pattern pieces and leave at least some extra paper space between the dotted edge of the 1/4 inch seam and the edge of the paper. Too much paper flopping around gets in the way so I find that an extra 1/4 inch of paper around the template is a happy medium.
• If you find it helpful, shorten your stitch length. I find that my standard stitch length is usually sufficient, but a shorter stitch length does make paper removal slightly easier.
• While not necessary, I paper piece with my 1/4 inch foot on my sewing machine because I find it more convenient. I am used to lining up my line to sew on with my foot and that way when I switch gears from paper piecing sections to joining sections, my quarter inch foot is already on my machine and the needle is in the correct position.
• When working with yardage for a paper piecing project, I like to work from WOF strips. I cut my strips about a half inch wider than the widest piece that I would need in a section. An extra half inch gives you more than sufficient wiggle room for whatever piecing you might be doing. You can do the same with fat quarters as well, your strips will just start shorter (which can sometimes be easier).
• After adding a piece with from a WOF strip, I often times cut it off right away as shown in the example last week. This means that fabric isn't flopping around but it also means that you can control the angle you cut (ie, cut a square edge) which isn't possible if you don't trim again until your next seam trim.
• I save all of my fabric cut-offs throughout my paper piecing larger than an inch wide. In this project, there are lots and lots of small and narrow pieces, so it saves to save them! After I'm done with an entire section (for this project, after I complete an individual week's blocks) I will sort through and get rid of the smallest pieces in each color and save only the bigger pieces for future weeks' blocks.

Now on to this week's blocks!

Here are my prepped pieces, finished units, and blocks:

Here is my finished Row #1!

Here is Amanda's Row #1!

Now on to what you've all been waiting for...PRIZES!

This week our prize will be a bundle of four Island Batik fat quarters! To be entered to win, post a picture of your finished Row #1 on Instagram and include the hashtag #ChristinesKitchenQuilt! If you're not on Instagram you can share a picture in the Flickr group OR email me a picture at littlebunnyquilts@gmail.com! I will share the winner and their finished row next week!

March 20th: Blocks 1 and 2; sashing
March 27th: Blocks 3 and 4; building Row #1 and GIVEAWAY! (you are here!)
April 3rd: Block 5; sashing 
April 10th: Blocks 6 and 7
April 17th: Blocks 8 and 9; sashing
April 24th: Blocks 10 and 11; sashing 
May 1st: Block 12; sashing
May 8th: Applique blocks
May 15th: Setting 
May 22nd: Border and finishing
May 29th: Memorial Day break
June 5th: Show off your quilt! (And grand finale prizes!)

Sharing at Tips and Tutorials Tuesday and Linky Tuesday! Also, hop on over to Quilting Mod to enter to win a set of 10 Clover brand sewing and quilting tools!