Toward the end of 2009, I joined a second quilting bee, the 2010 Round Robin Quilt Bee. At the time, I didn't have so much "real" work on my calender, so it sounded like a great opportunity to learn more quilting skills with the pieced block designs that were coming my way.
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However, have things changed! My work calendar has filled up since the late spring, and my bee work fell a bit behind. There was a bit of a glitch with the round robin schedule, and I ended up with five blocks to piece in May and June. I'm new at this traditional piecing, and the prospect of sewing each block -- five! -- with the members waiting on me was quite worrisome.
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Along with figuring out each bee member's instructions, I must coordinate fabrics, and you know how I worry over getting fabrics just right. So, all my free creative time the last six weeks has been spent bee block piecing. The one at the top of the post was my May block for the One Block Over bee. Carol's batik block above turned out stunning! I don't think I could do that again.
You might notice a common theme among several of these blocks -- half quarter squares -- triangles! I've got my game on now, though, especially since noticing a lovely little stitch option on my machine called "1/4-inch."
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My goodness, I've been tediously marking out 1/4" lines to guide me for the last six months and not quite getting a perfect block. How long have I had my machine?? Well, things are looking up on that seam requirement now, as it's an automatic function for me. The snail's trail block came out exactly right.
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This Christmas star block finished up the backlog but had me in fits, even with the new found stitch option. Two of the corner blocks were cut and sewn three times! Things were so bad, I nearly ran out of the neutral color and had only small strips. I sewed a couple pieces together to create a 3" block just so I could have new triangles for the "bear claw (?)" corners. Please see the lovely closeup below for a sweet ending to my mad summer of piecing! Next up: A paper pieced block for Doris. The skills building continues!
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6 comments:
A quarter inch is a wonderful thing. Pretty blocks.
You are so talented. When do you have time to do all of your wonderful quilting and jewlery and work too?
Loved all of the quilt squares.
Michele,
These are all awesome, love the batik block and Autumn's Christmas block is great!
Beautiful work!
When I was little, I always wanted to make a quilt. Considering I can't make a stocking from a kit, I doubt that dream will happen!
Is that tree block for ME? I am in love! Thank you so much. It's so cute and creative. Great job. ;o)
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