Splendid Sampler blocks


I'm learning a lot doing these Splendid Sampler blocks . And several things I've discovered go to making these 6 1/2" blocks with success when they have so many pieces as in SS#2, 12 and 17 so far.
Here is what I've learned:

 1. Sew a scant 1/4" by sewing just to the right of the diagonal you have drawn not on the diagonal.
2.  Always sew that scant 1/4" on the side of the diagonal closest to the outside corner you are going to flip your fabric toward.
3. To reduce bulk trim seams to 1/8" on these tiny pieces.
 4. Always true up the units you've made before you sew them together. Even a tiny bit can throw the size off. And press, press, press.
 5. Abut your seams where they intersect and pin them so that the under piece will be sewn correctly to avoid bulk.
That's what works for me. Any other tips you'd like to share? Would love to hear what you do.

PS:  If you'd like to see my SS blocks, you'll find them on the right sidebar.

Some WIPs Be Gone progress and 2nd Giveaway

Our winner of last week's giveaway is Susan of Desertsky Quilting.  Hope to hear from you, Susan, so I can send you the list of books to choose from.  Yes, list - I've been weeding again.  It's interesting how likes  and style change as time passes while I quilt.  I seem to be moving away from the more traditional quilts to new challenges.  Have you seen your project preferences change?

Here's another outer row for that Jubilee quilt which is WIP #3:
It's going slow because I have been spending almost all of my quilting time trying to finish this:
The quilting for WIP #2 is about 90% done.  After the SID on most of the seams I've been concentrating on quilting the motif for the squares and the sides of the squares:
I got the quilt motif from a pattern from Allpeoplequilt found here .  I just modified it by making it simpler.  You have to download the pattern to see the motif on page 6.

That's my WIP progress this week.  How about you?  Link below and you'll have a chance at another book. I'll be sending the winner a list of three titles from which one can be picked. Remember if you don't have a blog, you can always post a photo from a photostream.  Please be sure there is some way for me to contact you.  I'll be linking to several parties - Tab above.

Some of This; Some of That.

Put a back to one of my WIPs - so pulled 2.5 yards for that.  Made two Splendid Sampler blocks means I used another fat 8th, plus the one from last week. So my new YTD total de-stashing is 15.96 yds.

My arthritic hands are a lot better, but I still can't hand sew more than 15 - 20 minutes before they start stinging. So not much progress on my hand quilting my oldest WIP.  I'm sure glad I finished this hexie center while I convalesced and before the hand issue.  I got it done and then didn't like it - the flowers didn't show up with those light teal hexies below them.  Here's the before:
So I ripped them out, added some darker ones and moved some gray ones and got this:
I think this works better.  What do you think?  Don't worry - you won't hurt my feelings.

Leave a comment and I'll go by and see what you're up to.  There are so many of you and one of me - I can't always find you all and thus I miss your eye candy, so you have to remind me - and the giveaway is still on - see previous post.  Blessings during this ongoing Easter season.

WIPs Be Gone & Giveaway

I had hoped to have two finished WIP tops to show you, but at least I have one:
This WIP #2 is from 10 years ago.  Had all the sub units made; just needed to put them into blocks and then into a top.  It will be the next top I quilt.

WIP #3 got another row to its border, two more to go.

I was kept busy quilting that baby top that I started last year -WIP #5.  It goes to St Anne's tomorrow for another member to bind.  Here's the back to show the quilting.
And here's the front:
These blocks were part of the month RSC2015 had orange and pink.  You can see why I showed you the back. The quilting hardly shows on the front.

Now it's your turn. Would love to see what you're working on, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below closes Monday, midnight.

And I have a mystery giveaway - another book for someone who links up. I'll be sending the winner a list of three titles from which one can be picked. Remember if you don't have a blog, you can always post a photo from a photostream.  Please be sure there is some way for me to contact you.  I'll be linking to several parties - Tab above.

Blessings,


Some of This, Some of that

Because of my arthritis, can do very little hand quilting. Can only afford to do about 15 minutes a day before my hands start feeling it.  Now working on next to the last border - a sort of water lily.
One thing I can still do is machine quilt - this can be 15 - 20 minute sessions, so a bit more progress per day. That center motif had to be marked on the back - too dark to be able to see the marked lines otherwise.
I've added another border to my WIP #3 and finished all the rows for WIP #1.  I hope to show you both completed tops at the next WIPs Be Gone which you can still link to here.

Till Friday, blessings,

WIPs Be Gone

Almost no de-stashing as I have been working on projects that need to be finished - or quilted.  I did use about a fat eighth for two SS blocks, but I'll add that to next week's total.  For this year I have another finish - WIP #4 is done. I made the top in September, 2015. Then got sidetracked -trip, broken hip, arthritic hands - life. It's a neonatal quilt 30"square.

I chose my border for WIP#3 and have one outside border done (as seen on my design wall):

Thanks for your input - online and otherwise.  Also got another two rows finished on WIP #2. I'm linking to some parties - see tab above.

Now it's your turn. Would love to see what you're working on, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below closes Monday, midnight.


Blessings,

Applique Tuesday

I've been having an interesting time making the Splendid Sampler blocks. Some have been quite challenging.  For instance, last Sunday's paper piecing one, the crochet one and the 1" checkerboard.  Last Thursday, it was an applique one.  Here's how I made it:

First I cut out a square of fabric an inch bigger than the finished block. I ironed a very thin fusible interfacing on the back to stabilize the block when I applique.
 I next cut out the shapes of the birds carefully (cut through the middle of the black lines) in a puzzle shape from the template page given. Above I show the three pieces put back together again with my templates cut out [right side up].
 I have a big tightly sealing bin of fabric with steam a seam already fused on it (from previous projects) Found a piece of black I could use.  Traced the reversed shapes onto the paper of the fusible. Then with my micro-serrated scissors {which help lessen fraying} cut out the birds. Again along the middle of the pencil line.
 I removed the paper from the shapes and laid the birds in the cutouts.
 Then placing my hand on the pattern I carefully removed the papers.  Here's where I can adjust the shapes to whichever way I want.  I pretty much left it as our designer drew it. Some of you have made fabulous adaptations.
I ironed the birds according to the instructions for the fusible, and my block was prepped.  Appliqued using a very tiny zig-zag stitch on my Bernina using a 70/10 needle and black 50wt thread.

How do you prep your applique?  Leave a comment and I'll come see your block (as time permits). Thanks for sharing your eye candy.  Blessings!

Some of This, Some of That

Used another 1/8th yard to make the Splendid Sampler blocks (2).  Not much else pulled from the stash.  YTD de-stashing is now 13.21 yards. 

Working on WIP #2  - star blocks made - trying to decide on border fabric. 
Here's two ways I'm leaning. Plain or more stripes. This quilt is on my design wall.

Come by and leave a comment of what you're up to.  I'll try to come by and say hello as my limited online time allows.  Blessings!

SAHRR Round 5 and 6

  Ready to show rounds 5 and 6. Actually, the prompt for 5 was make 4 of something. So I chose four patch, and actually since that made my q...