More Paper Piecing

A little delayed in the making, but the next paper pieced block has been done.

This is call Starry Night.  The paper piecing was a little easier after the practise the other day, but for me, the other block went together better.  There is still one more paper pieced block for me to do.

Minnesota Block

I had been wondering if I was going to continue with the blocks in the "We can do it" sampler quilt, I'd lost a bit of enthusiasm along the way, getting distracted with other things.  However, I thought I had done so many of them, and they had been good for using up fabric left over in my stash, it might be as well to continue.  Maybe the paper piecing will grow on me.

I had three blocks to catch up on, this is the first, Minnesota.

It took a little while to get the hang of the placement of the fabric for the diamonds, but by the third one, I had got it into my brain.  The hourglass blocks were just normal piecing, so not a problem. 

If I get the time, it's another paper pieced block today.

Skill |Builder Sampler-Blocks 14 and 15

I finally finished catching up with the blocks for the skill builder sampler, with these two blocks

 Block 14 a crazy quilt block with fabric foundation and improvisational piecing.  A lot are from scraps left over from other blocks made, so should tie in with the quilt as a whole.

Block 15-diamond dash with paper piecing.  This is the first time I've used this particular method, so it was good to have something fairly simple to try.

All being well, I shall be able to keep up with the other blocks as they come out, now I need to decide what project is next.

You Can Do It- Skill Builder Sampler

Slowly, I'm beginning to catch up with a few neglected projects.  The next ones on the list were the blocks for the Skill Builder Sampler.  I needed to catch up on five blocks.  Three got done yesterday.

 Block 12-House and tree-improvisational piecing, quite a challenge when you like things to be neatly set out and explained, but I am getting better.

 Bonus Block-my take on a waverunner block.  Now it didn't matter on this one that there was no pattern, I was quite happy going with the flow.

 Block 13-my favourite, a string block using paper foundation.  I think I would love to do a whole quilt like this, great way to use scraps.

And, not to be forgotten, another Dorset button, this one with a buttonhole lace edging.

Skill Builder Sampler-Beacon Light

A perfect block for using up more of my crumb fabric, but spot the not so deliberate mistake at the bottom!

Skill Builder Sampler-Ohio Star and September heart

This week, I managed to get all the pieces facing the right way, so I do have a star.

Actually, this went together quite easily and quickly, so even though, there are triangles, I quite enjoyed doing this block.

As it was done so quickly, I transferred the September heart to fabric and now have that stitched as well.

I need to get up to date with Stitched Sunday and the crochet blocks.

Skill Builder Sampler-Double Star

Or should I say, in my case, one and a half star.  I realised after I'd got the outer borders on, that I'd  put two pieces in the wrong way.

As the object of the lesson was to make flying geese, and I'd successfully made those, I decided to leave the block as it was, As there are quite a few pieces involved, I thought it could end up getting a bit messy and going back together may not be so simple. As it won't affect the overall pattern of the quilt, being a sampler quilt, it can stay. Maybe sewing after a sleepless night isn't such a good idea.

Skill Builder Sampler Catch Up

I had two blocks to catch up on, the first Virginia Star, 

 the second, Breaking Out

Both of the blocks used two different methods of making flying geese units.  The first had every piece cut to size and stitched, the second, the magic method.  The second was quicker, but I found the first was more accurate for me.  We shall see what the next block brings.

Skill Builder Sampler-Bow Ties

This was the first time I've done bow ties, and although triangles were involved, it wasn't too complicated to do.

I did play around with the blocks for a few minutes to test out the different combinations, but this was what I preferred for a single block.

When I first started out piecing blocks, I wouldn't have get the little triangles from the corners, but I double sewed those seams and have eight one inch HST's.  What I am going to do with them, I don't know yet, but I am sure I will find something eventually.

Skill Builder Sampler-Arizona

Triangles are definitely not my most favourite part of piecing, so you can imagine my dismay when I saw the block for this weeks Skill Builder Sampler, Arizona.

Not easily put off, I got out my fabric and got started.  Bit by bit, I made it to the end of the block, and I must say, it's turned out a lot better than the last time I attempted a block like this.

Fortunately, we are moving away from triangles for a little while, so I can look forward to next weeks block.

Skill Builder Sampler-Week 4

This week's block was pinwheels, and I am so pleased that my piecing of pinwheel blocks is so much better than it used to be.

I had wanted to do this with the colours reversed, but didn't have enough of the green, so, as this was the colour combination I wanted, I made do.

It was an interesting exercise in seeing how colours affect the look of the block.

Skill Builder Sampler-Rest Week

It was a rest week on the Skill Builder Sampler this week, but she set a challenge for those that wanted to take it up.  It was to design a 12" block.

My inspiration came from a photo on Chris and Barbara Quilts.  It was a picture from what looks like a tiled frieze.

This was definitely a bit of a challenge for me which involved lots of pieces of paper to check on sizes before cutting fabric.

It was worth it in the end, and my admiration for quilt designers has grown immeasurably.  Back to something simple I think.

Skill Builder Sampler-Week 3

This weeks block is another I have done before, a churn dash block, so the only challenge was to pick the fabrics.  I'm still trying to use fabrics that have appeared in other blocks and introducing new ones.

I am liking the way the seams are meeting up compared to earlier attempts and the block only needed minimal trimming. 

Wonder what block we will have to do next week?

Skill Builder Sampler-Week 2

I wouldn't get too used to me doing these so soon after release, but it's nice to keep up once in a while.

The next block was a nine patch block using strip piecing, so it was something I was familiar with.  I've used some of the same fabrics as in the previous block, but have brought in some more.

One thing that did please me, was the way all the joints met up in the right places, a definite improvement on how things used to be.

Now, I have almost a whole week to wait in anticipation of the next block.

Skill Builder Sampler

Leila is hosting a Skill Builder Sampler and I thought it would be a useful way to try new blocks and methods of piecing.  However, I didn't really have the money at the moment to splash out on new fabric, so I thought, being a sampler quilt, I'd just use what I had and it would be a scrappy sampler quilt.
I am using fabric leftover from some quilt tops I've just finished, and a few fat quarters that I have left, though there aren't many of those at the moment.
The first block last week, was a log cabin block.

This is my first ever log cabin block, such a simple block, yet, I've not done one up until now.  I was quite happy with how it turned out too, it was the perfect size after minimal trimming.

The next block was released yesterday, so I hope to work on it today.  This is one I've done before, a nine patch block.