5

6

I managed to get these blocks done this morning after a two week break from sewing (and pretty much everything else) due to a problem shoulder. Both used paper piecing and went fairly quickly, thankfully, as I'm still a little achy. I'm finding that I have very little yellow in my stash and resorted to using some light orange/aqua prints from Joel Dewberry's new Heirloom collection. I think they make a nice addition to the mix.

Block 4. Phew.

My dad has a saying: "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades." I think it should be revised to add "and quilting". My seam ripper got some serious action on this one. I finally had to say "close enough" or it would have never gotten finished.

I need one more project like I need, well, more fabric. (Which, by the way, is both not at all and definitely!) But after successfully resisting the temptation to join the Farmer's Wife Quilt-along, I succumbed to the Summer Sampler Quilt Along.  12 blocks in 4 weeks.  Seems reasonable, right?  I thought so.  (Although Block 4 might just do me in - I'm still working on it.)  I was also hoping the law of inertia might kick in and once at my sewing machine, I'd tend to stay at my sewing machine.  Thus far, it's held and I've managed to make significant progress on my remaining solid log cabin blocks!

As for the Summer Sampler Blocks, I'm using all fabrics from my stash, including some of my most coveted scraps - like the aqua turtle print.  I have no idea who the manufacturer or designer of this print was, but I do love it so!  I've also raided a bin of aqua and red prints that I've been collecting for a pinwheel quilt.  I don't think they'll be too terribly missed and I'm just not feeling the aqua/red love right now.  My plan is to keep the predominant colors aqua and light green with splashes of color here and there.

So far, so good, I think.  It's looking very summer-ish!

I will say that the precise patchwork is testing my patience a bit, and my seam ripper had to make an appearance on Block 3, but overall I'm having fun, and learning a few new skills.

And now, to finish up block 4!

Block 3

Block 1

LOOK! I can sew. Part 2.
half square triangles.
I realize it’s not a completed project, but it is sewing nonetheless. The fabric is from a charm pack of the upcoming Modern Workshop collection from Oliver + S (due in April), and paired with a white Bella solid. Beautiful bright colors and a good balance of large and small scale prints.
They were made using the full square method shown here. Basically, stack your two squares RST and sew ¼ inch around all sides. Cut in half diagonally, keep fabric in place, and cut again on the opposite diagonal. Press open and VOILA! Four half square triangles. Much easier in my opinion than marking the diagonal and sewing to either side, or (gasp!) cutting first on the diagonal and sewing on the bias. Especially great because I can use my quarter inch guide foot which means as close to perfect seams as I could ever hope to get. I also used my rotating cutting mat, which makes cutting the diagonals a breeze. I would lay three to four squares out at once, cut one direction, rotate the mat, cut the other direction. In the video, it shows sewing one complete square at a time, but I made mine by chain piecing, sewing one seam of the whole batch, then the next, and so on.  (Can you tell that I'm all about stream-lining the process?)


Now that they’re done, I just need to figure out what to do with them! So many options…

Which one is your favorite?