Blockapalooza

It’s been a busy piecing weekend.  Between these four blocks, I’ve used three machines, two of them my two-spool machines.

These are the blocks I’ve made from my paper pieced pattern. 

I drafted this pattern so I could teach it at a workshop.  Yesterday, I showed up at bee with my sewing supplies and a set of fabrics, a copy of the pattern, and four squares of freezer paper.  I did everything else while I was there to prep the fabrics.  I pieced one quarter of a block in two hours, including cutting all the pieces for the other three quarters.  I pieced the other three quarters in just over an hour.   

These are the fabrics I picked for my test block.  Donna suggested that I use the same fabrics in my class sample that I use in the actual class work, so I wanted fabrics I like, and have enough of to make a four block quilt.  Why not end up with something I can use when it’s done, right?  These are the colors in my sewing room.  Well, with the addition of a nice olive green that will likely show up in some sashing. 

I also needed to make two bright blocks for a feel better quilt for a friend.  Ohio Stars, 12 inch finished. 

And, boy, did I go wild on the bright colors!  These are those brights that I love to have, but so rarely find a chance to just go hog wild playing with. One is batiks and hand dyes.  The other is from my regular stash.  

They make me smile.  Maybe they will make her smile, too.

Everybody have a great Sunday.  I plan to cook and clean and I have some guild business to attend to and two baby quilts to pin baste…and then, maybe there will be time to make one more block.  I’ll write the instructions while I piece the next block.  And, then one more block to test them. Each of these first four blocks will be made from a different fabric “category” to show the versatility of the block.  The next one will be from my Civil War repros.  Maybe I’ll make one out of Christmas fabrics, too.

See ya.  Lane