Block #5

Making progress. This is the next block in the Sampler quilt. This one is called Clay's Choice.Here are the sections sewn together. Had to watch which way the HST were going. I had to stop and rip out or "Frog Stitch" one of them.

Here is the pressed block. Looks good to me.

The points match which is pretty good for me. Sometimes I have to try twice to get it right.

This is a kit as I have mentioned before and must be die cut. Some of the edges are frayed and others just are destorted a little. But it is turning out pretty good. Chris

Block #4

Here is the new block. I can see after making this one that the hand quilting would be really nice looking with this quilt. The Rail Fence parts were easy to do, but putting the Triangles on the ends prove difficult if you don't match the centers on the Rail Fence and the Triangles.

Here is the finished block. As you can see with larger areas of plain areas the hand quilting would accent the quilt. Have to think this over.

Tomorrow there will be another one. I am down to 5 blocks from finishing the Christmas gift for my son. Then assembling the top. Maybe today. Yesterday they said only 71 days meaning 70 days today until Christmas. That is carry. Chris

Block #3

Well here is the start of the next block. There are four rows of mini blocks or half square triangles in this block so I stitched them together in chain piecing. After stitching them I pressed to the darker side on each of the HST.

Set the blocks in the rows into which they were sewn and ready to be assembled. Here each row is assembled and ready for pressing again. No wonder my electric bill is high. I have the iron on for days at my house.

I placed the pressed rows together to see that I have the right order to the block.

This is the finished block after sewing the rows together and the pressing is done. It was tricky to get everything going in the right direction, but the block is very colorful.

I am getting anxious to see the finished quilt now. The colors are bright and it will make a nice throw. Off to the sewing room to see what the next one is. Chris

Block Number 2

Here are the pieces already to be pressed. Already thinking about how this one is going to be quilted. This is a Sampler quilt the potential for different quilting with each block is making my mind wander.

This is the center pieced part of the block. The color stand out and are drawing you to the center of the block. Color and Value play a big role in the overall look of the quilt. This is the finished look of the second block. This reminds me of a signature or album block. It is called Cobblestone block.

You will have to check in tomorrow for the next block. Slowly this will come together and be a quilt. Chris

New Blocks

Here is the start of a new quilt. Yes I started another one. Shame on me. LOL. This is a kit that was given to me. Here are the colors of the quilt shown in this picture. This is the first block I constructed and this is two parts of the block laying beside each other.

This is the finished block. This quilt is a sampler quilt with a medallion in the middle of a vase with appliqued flowers I pressed the middle seams opposing and the center turned out great.

This is the back of the piece with the seams all pressed to the side.

As you can see the opposing seams make for a better seam when sewing two sections together.

I haven't ever made a sampler quilt before so this should be fun to make. More to come stay tuned. Chris

Cold Day

We hit 32*F this morning. Windchill is about 28*F. I knew it was coming, but not ready for it. The sewing room is screaming at me. I really need to get more sewing done. Granddaughter is growing and she needs shirts. She isn't a little girl anymore and she doesn't want big girl looks. She is a tween and some of the things that for her are to old for her age. Garment sewing is where I began sewing. Many of you started with quilting and that is a fine, but I have the garment background and it makes you look at sewing different. We learned a 5/8inch seam allowance and you learned a 1/4inch seam allowance. We open the seams to press and you press to the side. In looking for fabric for her tops I ran across a lot of flannel. Guess I need to make pj bottoms and also some flannel rag quilts. Well I am off to the sewing room to see what kind of trouble I can get into. I will give you a sneak peak tomorrow. Chris

Been a cut up again

I have been working on the quilt for my son's Christmas present. I have all but 20 blocks made. I need enough for two more rows. I am down to cutting just enough pieces to finish the top. Variety at this point is important to finish the row. I sew a few and press a few to make sure I have enough to get the rows done without repeats.

This quilt has 120 9.75 inch blocks in it. He wants it more like a bedspread than a quilt. so it is longer to go over the pillow when the bed is made. I have to piece the backing on the back of the quilt. I have several pieces all in the same color value of a cranberry so it will be pieced to make it big enough. The weather has been beautiful but warm. I think we are in to be fooled over the Winter and have lots of snow. Another reason to get this quilt done for warmth. Chris