A2Z Challenge: Block L

Louisiana

Okay ... I know that it's Sunday!  Let's just call it an "ooops" and move on, shall we.  I'm just going to blame my mom by saying she had me thinking yesterday was Sunday, for part of the day anyway.  When I realized it was Saturday, completing a blog post has already left my mind.

Anyway, Louisiana is block "L".  This was another redo ... but this time it was because the first one was too small.  I have no idea what happened.  The second one is just right.  I love the rose colored homespun material and the simplicity of this block helps balance the quilt a bit.

I have two more rows put together, for a total of three!  Louisiana will be the first block in row 4.

I am not a photographer ... using an older phone and whatever light happens to be in the sewing room at the time ... but seeing both rows together is getting me excited to see the entire top finished!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  See you tomorrow!  Happy sewing!

Cat

Note:  If you are new to "Blogging from A to Z", check out their website here.  This is my second year participating, but my first on this blog.  For an introduction to my A to Z project, read my preview blog post for this year posted here.

A2Z Challenge: Block K

King's Crown

In the 501 Blocks book, this block is actually called "Crown", but I first got this pattern from a Fons & Porter sampler pamphlet that my mom had.  We have no idea where it came from, but I used this pamphlet for a couple blocks.  Fons & Porter called this block the "King's Crown" so I kept it.  Again, as with a lot of my older blocks, I lost a couple points.  I'm okay with it.  I love the black and tan homespun and don't really think I need to redo it.

On a side note ... I am officially on Spring Break!  I am looking forward to spending most of the next week in the sewing room!  Yay!

Thanks for stopping by!  See you tomorrow!  Happy sewing!

Cat

Note:  If you are new to "Blogging from A to Z", check out their website here.  This is my second year participating, but my first on this blog.  For an introduction to my A to Z project, read my preview blog post for this year posted here.

A2Z Challenge: Block J

Jefferson City

I'm coming to realize that with every sewing project (at least for me), there will be a time somewhere in the middle of the project which totally tries my patience, where everything that can go wrong does go wrong, and that will make me evaluate my choice of hobbies.  From the beginning, block "J" was a pain the <insert bad word here>.

There wasn't many "J" choices in the two books I am trying to use, and what was there I didn't really like.  I picked Jefferson City first, then changed my mind, then changed it back a few times over.  I am trying to use as many different homespun colors and patterns as possible.  So I picked material from my box of homespun for this block and realized it wasn't homespun.  I don't even know where that fat-quarter came from, but having to change material also caused another change in block choice. 

Finally, I settled on Jefferson City, a green theme, and got the pieces cut out without mishap.  This block is sewn together diagonally (on point) ... I'm not a fan of on-point set quilts.  I had to rip out seams three times.  My sewing machine also picked this block to fight me every time I had to sew over seams.  I had the block half done and just stopped, left the sewing room, not to return for a couple days.

At last, I finally got the block done.  I got the borders attached and set it on the cutting table to trim to size.  It was sitting right next to the book, page open to this pattern ... OMG I sewed it together wrong!!  Normally  I wouldn't own up to this.  The block still looks good, even with the colors in the wrong places, but I felt that this whole experience needed to be documented!!  LOL!

This is it ... no more problems ... I got them all out of the way with "J".  Smooth sailing from here on out!  Fingers crossed anyway.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you tomorrow!  Happy sewing!

Cat

Note:  If you are new to "Blogging from A to Z", check out their website here.  This is my second year participating, but my first on this blog.  For an introduction to my A to Z project, read my preview blog post for this year posted here.

A2Z Challenge: Block I

Irish Chain

My mom, a while back, found some solid homespun material for me.  I used some of the darker colors (like the turquoise in Alabama and blue in Clay's Choice), but there was this bright red that I was just itching to put in a block.  Wait til' you see this Irish Chain block in the middle of the quilt ... the red stands out so much it's hard to see what's around it ... LOL!

Row two is almost done and will be posted at the end of this week!  Moving right along ...

Thanks for stopping by!  See you tomorrow!  Happy sewing!

Cat

Note:  If you are new to "Blogging from A to Z", check out their website here.  This is my second year participating, but my first on this blog.  For an introduction to my A to Z project, read my preview blog post for this year posted here.

A2Z Challenge: Block H

Hourglass and Hearth & Home

 

The first block representing "H" is Hourglass.  There are a few variations in the books, but I did the most basic because visually this looks more like an hourglass than some of the others.  I also decided the hourglass needed to be neutral to make it stand out more.  The picture shown is actually a remake.  The first, made some time ago, was smaller for some reason, and I would have lost points if I put the border on it.  I like the colors of the new one, so I'm glad I remade it.

The second block is called Hearth & Home.  The pattern for this block actually measured 8 3/4 inches.  I was making all 9 inch blocks, but I'm also bordering them.  It wouldn't take much to make the border just a hair bigger to accommodate the smaller block.  I tried it and with all the other blocks you cannot tell the difference.  I love the look of this block ... and it came together well!

Thanks for stopping by!  See you tomorrow!  Happy sewing!

Cat

Note:  If you are new to "Blogging from A to Z", check out their website here.  This is my second year participating, but my first on this blog.  For an introduction to my A to Z project, read my preview blog post for this year posted here.

A2Z Challenge: Block G

Glorified Nine-Patch and Grandmother's Pride

Welcome back!  I hope everyone's Sunday was nice and relaxing. We just started a kitchen remodel and I'm a bit stressed.  Luckily Mom is doing the talking to the contractor!  I had to hide in the sewing room for a while to try not to think about the couple things that are wrong already!!

Anyway ... today's "G" blocks are both new to my project; Glorified Nine-Patch and Grandmother's Pride.  Mom really likes Glorified Nine-Patch and thinks it would make a great quilt on its own.  I agree!

Thanks for stopping by!  See you tomorrow!  Happy sewing!

Cat

Note:  If you are new to "Blogging from A to Z", check out their website here.  This is my second year participating, but my first on this blog.  For an introduction to my A to Z project, read my preview blog post for this year posted here.

A2Z Challenge: Block F

Fifty-Four Forty and Friendship Quilt

The two blocks for "F" are both older-made blocks, but they were probably the last ones made before this project was put away for the last time.  Did you notice that both of them are a nine-patch?  So easy!!

If I had to pick one block as my favorite of all the blocks made so far, it would be Fifty-Four Forty.  My grandmother had created one of these blocks as a sample for some project, and when she passed my mom got a lot of her quilting things.  This block was up on our design wall for a while,  It made me happy every time I looked at it.  When I decided I wanted it in my sampler I immediately looked for the pattern.  I had a really hard time finding it because of the way the colors were arranged ... but finally found a 9" one and made it instantly!  Love, love, love!!

When I first started looking for homespun material, most of it was dark shades of blue, green, red, and brown plaids.  I found this orange homespun and just knew I had to have a block with an orange focus and less neutral.  The Friendship Quilt block is about half orange and makes a real statement in the middle of some of the other blocks.

So, with week 1 of the A to Z Challenge done, I have a total of 11 blocks, which is almost two rows done.  The first row is completely sewn together and is now off the design wall to make room for next weeks blocks.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you on Monday!  Happy sewing!

Cat

Note:  If you are new to "Blogging from A to Z", check out their website here.  This is my second year participating, but my first on this blog.  For an introduction to my A to Z project, read my preview blog post for this year posted here.