Sugar Blocks = Favorite Blocks

Whoa, where did summer go? We start school next week and I am far from ready. My lengthy "to do" list is yet to be "to done." There are about 10 sewing projects that I told myself I would have finished before summer was over.  Jokes on me.

**As all you parents out there read that last part, you let out a sigh of relief that you can have your sewing time back soon.**

One thing on that list was my Sugar Blocks. This weekend I was able to get the last six blocks done. I know it's only August but I have veered off course. Way off course. Here are my final additions. 

Over the year I have been making my favorite blocks to fill in the rest of the quilt and got carried away. Now, I have 30 blocks and they are all favorites. Some are from the 2016 and the 2014 Sugar Block Club, others from a variety of places. 

30 done, 0 pending. Now it's time to assemble the top, which is the actual goal for end of summer! Wish me luck.

July Sugar Blocks

This has officially become "All My Favorite Blocks" quilt along as I have stepped away from following the Sugar Block of the Month Club. 

But, not too far!

These are my favorite blocks from the 2014 edition. Throughout the year I have been creating some of my favorite blocks to go along with the blocks from the club skipping those I do not love.

Thus far, I am in LOVE with how this quilt is turning out. 

Count: 24 blocks out of 30

This is the same color palette from my quote top, so these should become an awesome pair of quilts one day!

My next goal is to stop making huge quilts!  They take so much more effort to finish.

Down on the Farm

The NEW camera is here, in my hands. You are looking at my first post using my new toy. Nothing crazy, but a newer version of my ten year old DSLR. (Whew, times flies.) The weather around here has been dismal in the last week. I finally lost my patience for real daylight, I decided to take out the flash to see what this camera could do at night. There might be a learning curve but not horrible.

Now onto the meat and potatoes of this post. Last year I signed on for the 1930's Farmer's Wife Quilt Along hosted by Gnome Angel and friends. It was a good ambition. Between holiday sewing and other craziness the project was forgotten with only five blocks done. Now, things have settled around here and it's time to get going again. The goal is to get caught up, hahaha. I laugh while writing this. So far, I have made an honorable attempt but not caught up. I did get 9 block finished.

Yes, the corners got sewn on wrong in my attempt to mass produce these blocks.

I must admit these shots would have come out so much better had I used natural light, but I just couldn't wait! Dear sun come out so I can play.

Sew Your Scraps: Part I

Ah, Fall. The leaves are in full display, the pumpkin flavored everything is out, and the crisp air has moved in for the season.  Last night my sister and I showed two little girls how to make pillow cases. It was so much fun. The oldest was able to make hers all by herself, 8 years. Both to her Mom's and my surprise! She had asked about making a quilt.  Any pointers? I was thinking it would be another fun project for us all to do together. I shamefully forgot to take pictures of the experience they were so stinking cute too!

Ok, away from soliciting free information, and onto giving free information! Are you like me with too many scraps you don't know what to do with them all? It got me thinking about a quilt pattern that uses a lot of small scraps.  Typically I cut down scraps to 2.5 inch squares for easy use later so the bulk of this design uses 2.5 inch squares. Over last couple of months I have also been cutting scraps down to 6.5 inch x 2.5 inch rectangles.

Here is what I came up with ...

Piecing Tip: When sewing your blocks together always grab different colors to place next to one another, so you have a good variety of colors in each blocks. Don't worry about matching or if the colors "go" together. Make sure you include a good variety of lights, mediums and darks in each block as well so there is always something bold in each block. This will spread out the colors so the quilt will look balance when all the block are sewn together. I never lay out a scrappy quilt I just go for it :)

The Blocks:

Materials: 
640 - 2.5" squares
128 - 6.5" x 2.5" rectangles

Layout: 
Each row will have the following block layout, make 8 rows in total.

A   -   C   -   B   -   C   -   B   -   C   -   B   -   C   -   A

Sew each of the rows together to create the quilt top, should finish about 64" by 64" inches. 

The "Sew Your Scraps" series will have a total of 3 parts over the next week, well because I had cut too many 6.5" x 2.5" rectangles and the whole point of scraps is to not be wasteful. So, there was actually enough to make 2 separate quilts. The tutorial for the right quilt will be coming out later this week!  Check back for another scrap de-stash idea.

- Patch & Chels

True Blue ... and A Lot of Pink

A while ago I pulled a bunch of pink charm squares out my scrap bin to start working on a couple projects.  The goal here was to deplete my growing scrap box.  Not sure I really made that big of dent, or one at all after pulling fabric for two different quilts.  So far I have only been able to get the True Blue top completed, although it's more like True Pink!

Once the blocks were laid out I decided that order doesn't matter.  Usually I  control everything about the quilts layout.  I just divided everything into piles and went to town.  The only time I changed things around when sewing was if two of the same pattern touched.  This definitely sped up the process!  Each block finishes at 12 inches square, and the quilt is 5 blocks by 5 blocks or 60 inches by 60 inches, approximately.

Top finished.  Just waiting to get basted.  So far so good :).

The folded fabric will be the backing, and strips will become binding.  I also pieced three too many blocks, so there will also be some orphan blocks on the back side.  I really dislike having orphan blocks laying around.  After the work to put them together, I can never bring myself to toss them out. Then I have these guilt quilt blocks with no project.  Personally I like a pieced background, I can put in any extra blocks or use up fabric I purchased for a specific quilt, and can never picture myself using again.  For me it's a win win.  What are your preferences on backing?  Orphan blocks?

Public Service Announcement: tomorrow is Mother's Day!!  Love you MOM.

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

Fireworks

Earlier in the month my Aunt Bonnie and I went fabric shopping, click here to see what we got!  So far all the fabric has been cut and two of the blocks have been sewn together.  This quilt doesn't go together quickly, but I love the drama in each of the blocks.  I guess it's a compromise.  Good thing I am not on a deadline!  

More to come hopefully soon.  

Sew long for now, 

CHELS  

Be ... Merciful

This months theme for the Sugar Block Club is 'Be ... Merciful.'  

Mercy is one quality of a good teacher.  I have so many students in my classroom throughout the day and each and every one of them is experiencing a personal crisis.  I do teach middle school, so students can change from minute to minute, it could be social drama, or home drama.  Either way I never know how student's lives are going to effect their performance and behavior in my class.  That is were having a merciful attitude is helpful.  Many students don't tell me how they are doing so I always approach situations with caution knowing that most of the time it is so much more.  This is one quality I try to have each and every day, as I never know what is going on in the lives of others.   

As for the block, here are my February color choices.  

Ok, this one wasn't the easiest to piece, I had some difficulty with the points.  Although I really like the block and I am considering doing a whole quilt with this block.  That would force me to master those points!

Sew long for now, 

CHELS

Churn Dash

This summer my Grandmother gave me three 6 inch charm packs.  They are not my typical color pallet and they are not the standard size.  So I was unsure what they would become at the time.  Although I have to admit, it was love a first sight.  All those bold colors play nice together.  ** If anyone knows what this line is can you help me out?  I have no idea!

I cut down the blocks into 3 inch squares, these are going to become the churn dash blocks. The finished block is 7 inches square so that will lead to some design challenges ... 

Each of the prints is getting matched with a solid for the churn dash block.

Now that I have a plan its time to start churning out those block!  To the sewing machine I go.  

Sew long for now, 

CHELS