And then there were 13

13 blocks down, soon to be set on point and given wide borders of some yet to be determined fabric.

Comedy

Photo credits unknown.

This is so me!

Paper Piecing

I’ve had copies at the ready to make this block for almost a year.

{You can find the pattern here.}

 Just needed the right project for it.

I figured my own personal Sunshine Quilt was an occasion.

 So, with a little trepidation, I set out to paper piece.

There are 36 individual pieces to this little block, but man is it cute.

Paper piecing, who knew?

I give you, Block 11 of 13…..

Pinwheels and A Jelly Roll Race Entrance

Along with stichin’ up two more pinwheel blocks, and deciding how to set them,  

I visited my LQS and officially enrolled in a Jelly Roll Race. Doesn’t that sound like fun?

 {The grand prize is free classes for a year, definitely an awesome incentive!}

 From what I understand, it’s based on this pattern, and it’s a race from jelly roll to quilt.

 The Bernina 830 will stitch at 1100 stitches per minute. Maybe that gives me an advantage?

 My clumsiness might balance out that advantage, though!

 It would have to be easier than running the Peachtree Road Race in 2008!

 ’Kay bye!

Pinwheel Sampler Blocks

Here’s a couple more blocks to add to my Pinwheel Block Sampler Quilt.

WIP Wednesday

A while back, I gathered all the scrap batting and put them into a pillowform.

Which sat there waiting on me.

 Today, as a treat, I made my own string blocks and put them together with this little pillow form.

Voila! The perfect pillow for this spot!

Home Again, Home Again

Baby was quite useful during my time without my Bernina 830, but I clapped like a child when I got the phone call to come pick up the big machine. Now that it’s back, and I’m piecing the rest of the string blocks, I notice how quiet, fast, and precisely accurate it is. A Bernina 830 sews like a dream, so if you ever get the chance to use one, don’t pass it up!! I can’t wait to embroider something or use one of the thousands of built in decorative stitches. For now, I’m content to complete my humble string quilt. 25 blocks left, which should take me either one marathon sewing session or three normal sessions of sitting down with it. Strings, if you’ve never tried them are so simple to do, and therefore very relaxing. There’s no “measure and cut this fabric at EXACTLY xyz”. You’ll find a fabulous tutorial here at Film in the Fridge. You’ll also find many, many other amazing things there, so be forewarned! You’ll be there a while, I bet! =}

‘Kay bye!

Scraps for a Dog Bed

Allpeoplequilt has come up with an idea about using your scraps to make into a dog bed, usually a little slouchier than a normal pillow. I have to go on the record as objecting to this concept. Oh my goodness, have they forgotten that the fabric is expensive? With quality quilt shop fabric creeping into the $12 range per yard, none of my scraps are going towards the inside of a pillow of any form. I will allow that my batting scraps are put to that use, but people pillows for us. The whole idea of the many scrap quilt ideas and systems out there on the market is that the 5″ strip of fabric you have left still cost you $12 per yard, even though it’s left over from another project. Quilt backings are one of your greatest sources of strings for string quilts. Or, odd and end fat quarters make good strings.

Speaking of strings, I’ve been quiet this week, sewing up string blocks for Quilts of Valor, one of my favorite charity quilt ideas. If you read back a very long way, you’ll learn I once awarded for them. That was a fun time, but eventually the need here waned, which coincided with me needing a break from that work. I’m still sewing for them when I find time between projects or with scraps. {See? They are useful for quilt tops, not dog beds.} So, I’m about halfway through with this 99 block string quilt. At least it’s not a tiny string quilt. It could be far smaller and more complicated, so glad it isn’t. Baby {my featherweight} and I are plugging along, making those simple blocks and enjoying the process.

100 Days of Modern Quilt Guild

The Modern Quilt Guild blog is doing 100 days of modern quilting. They’re including example quilts and tutorials. It’s been fun seeing some of my Flickr favorites used as examples. This week they’re exploring different shapes. What a cool idea!

String Block Progress

Baby and I are making quick progress on these string pieced blocks for a Quilt of Valor.