Posts tagged: Blocks

Saturday Sampler Q4

Here we are almost two-thirds of the way through Q1 of 2013, but I’ve finally finished my 2012 Saturday Sampler blocks. In my defense, I missed December’s meetup because of our trip to MO, so I didn’t get the block until the end of January.

To recap, this is a monthly block meetup at my LQS. Every year, they choose a theme for the 12 monthly blocks, and 2012’s was “Road Trip.” We meet up the last Sat. of the month, learn how to make the block, and are given precut strips to complete it with. They chose to do this one out of batiks. In April 2012, I showed you my first three Saturday Sampler blocks, in July the second set, and in Octber, the third set. Here are the final three.

In October, we traveled up to Connecticut…

…which was my first experience with flying geese. There are a few points lost in there, though.

In November, we went all the way down to the State of Georgia…

…I’m happy to report that no points or souls were stolen.

And to finish up the year, we traveled back up the east coast in December, landing on the Road to the White House…

…and I only had to unsew one section that I mistakenly chain pieced to the wrong row.

Although I don’t have a photo, I have the rest of my top fabrics (the black texture from P&B’s Downtown collection, a white batik, and a yellow batik) and a layout all planned out, now I need to get to work on it.

I mentioned in July that I have a label planned, but now I’m hesitant, because I’ve seen how the other labels I’ve printed at home have held up (or rather, how they haven’t). I need to make a Spoonflower order soon, though, so I may add that in. We’ll see.

No promises as to when you’ll see the finished quilt. Sometime this year, I hope.

I’m doing the Saturday Sampler again this year. I’m not sure that the theme has a name, but it is very different from 2012. Look for a quarterly report in April!

Foto Freitag

Posted in Quilting

I’m working on a bag in which to cart around my EPP project. I decided it needed something on the front, so I (normal) paper pieced this small (4.5″) Mrs. Bryan’s Choice block variant.

I don’t really know how to paper piece, so I made it up as I went along. I think it turned out okay. I hope to show you the bag next week. The shell is done. I wanted to do the lining tonight, but I’m traveling all weekend, so it will be a while.

Foto Freitag

Posted in Quilting

Two blocks down, 18 to go for the LQS’ block swap. (Actually, I’m about 80% there, I just need to do two seams on each of the remaining blocks).

You know what would make a better Foto Freitag? A photo of my baby niece who was born this morning! Alas, I won’t be able to take her photo until December. But, that’s the latest news in my world this week.

Saturday Sampler Q2

Posted in Quilting

Back in April, I showed you my first three Saturday Sampler blocks. Here are the next three—bringing us to the halfway point.

For those who missed the explanation the first time around, this is a monthly block meetup at my LQS. Every year, they choose a theme for the 12 monthly blocks, and this year’s is “Road Trip.” We meet up the last Sat. of the month, learn how to make the block, and are given precut strips to complete it with. They chose to do this one out of batiks.

At the end of April, we hopped back on the Road (to Oklahoma City)…

…which isn’t quite Road to Oklahoma, and is likely another Jacob’s Ladder variant. This block taught me to measure the pre-cut strips before cutting off the required pieces. Two of mine were about 1⁄8″ short of the length needed for all the pieces. Since I’d started cutting the first one without measuring, I didn’t realize until the last two squares—so I had to be careful sewing with 1⁄8″ seam allowances for those. The other strip, I was able to cut the pieces about 1⁄16″ short–not enough to badly throw off my piecing, and enough to squeeze it all in over the length of the strip.

In May, we jumped over to the East Coast, warming up on the Philadelphia Pavement…

…which is very simple to make.

And June brought us back down to the South for Alabama.

…a block that I can’t seem to get to lay flat. Mine is a bit lumpy, but it can be quilted out. I think I was subconsciously using a scant ¼″ seam, which didn’t work out well.

I’m still thinking about layouts and such. I thought I had a great one (it looks awesome in my head), but when I try to mock it up, it just doesn’t look right. So, who knows. I have plenty of time to mull it over.

I have started a label… but you only get a sneak preview so far.

Stay tuned for the next installment in mid/late–October!

Saturday Sampler Q1

Posted in Quilting

At the beginning of the year, I swore not to start any samplers or bees or whatever, until I finished all the stuff for the 1812 show. Then, not two weeks later, I found myself signing up for my LQS’s (Tiger Lily Quilt Co.) monthly sampler group. I justified it by saying it gets me out of the house and meeting other local quilters, right? (Or would, if I weren’t a wallflower.)