Saturday, October 25, 2014

Blocks and blocks…

And more blocks.  Piecing blocks is my favorite part of quilting.  I like doing the actual quilting, too, but the steps in between (sewing the blocks together, piecing the backing) are by far my least favorite parts of making a quilt.

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This block is an installment on another baby quilt being made for an expectant mom in the DC Modern Quilt Guild.  I just LOVE how it turned out!  The request was for blues and greens with plenty of graphic black & white.  Granted, it’s not the most creative quilt block  design I could have come up with, but I was able to use some 2.5” square scraps and I mailed this block the day after the request came out.  So for what I lacked in imagination, I made up for in timeliness!

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I’ve also been slowly working on some other projects over the past few weeks.  These are all the foxes I’ve sewn so far for a quilt made with Elizabeth Hartman’s Fancy Fox pattern.  I don’t have any more pieces cut out, so I need to find some time to cut more fabric for this project.

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And I started a quilt using Anna Maria Horner’s free pattern Spinning Stars.  I have 5 of these blocks finished now and am excited where this is going.  Remember these improv slab blocks I made in the end of the summer?  I am thinking of using them as an  asymmetrical border for the quilt once I have all the blocks made.

Do you use a design wall?  I’ve tried to use one, but it’s always too tantalizing for the kids and the cats to leave alone, a breeze just from opening the door would make blocks fly off, and I can’t stand all the threads stuck on it after  a while.  So after I moved sewing rooms earlier this year, I figured out a good way to make a temporary design wall that can’t be messed up…just use Washi tape to stick your blocks to the wall!

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It’s not quite as easy to use as just sticking a block to batting, but it works for me, plus it’s nice to know I can just take everything down and the wall still looks pristine.

Thanks for stopping by!

5 comments:

  1. I love your Fox blocks! They look so cheeky staring at you from the wall! Great idea with the washi tape too!

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  2. Cute foxes! I've seen them cropping up all around blogland. Are you finished with your Farmer's Wife yet? I'm about ready to get started again, so we'll have to coordinate what we've already done, and where to go from there.

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  3. Those fox blocks are wonderful. I can see a really neat secondary design coming from that Spinning Stars block.

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  4. Yay for the fox blocks! And I like that spinning block too. I haven't ever had room for a design wall, so I've always stuck up my blocks with painter's tape. I think I like the look of the washi better! :)

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  5. I really like your block of squares that lets the fabrics shine. I love your spinning star block too. I know what you mean about batting design walls looking messy but they are so handy for just putting fabric onto.

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Some days the only adult I talk to is my husband...help him keep his sanity by leaving a comment so I have another adult to talk sewing with:) I will make sure to reply!