A2Z Challenge: Block S

Sawtooth Star and Snail's Trail

Happy Monday!!  Only 8 more posts to go ... can you believe we are almost done with April?  Being at the end of April for me means only 5 more weeks before final exams and I'm on summer vacation.  As a teacher, I am usually doing some sort of professional development over the summer, but this year is wide open.  I see a lot of sewing in my near future.

So my "S" blocks are two classics.  The Sawtooth Star that I made is not technically correct (I used half-square triangles instead of flying geese) and I have been playing around with remaking it.  It wouldn't take that much effort and it would give me a chance to fix some points.  I'm also not sure about that gold plaid in the center.

But since I made this Snail's Trail block I have been in love with it.  These pink and purple plaids are so awesome together and the lighter colors are such a good contrast with the rest of the blocks ... they break up all the darker colors really 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 R

Rail Fence and Right Hand of Friendship

First off ... Happy Easter!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!  We aren't doing anything special here, just relaxing and trying to get our kitchen back in order.  We have new cabinets in place and a working sink (YAY), floors are being installed tomorrow and our new appliances arrive Thursday!  I'm so thankful we are almost done!

So, I think I have a problem with Saturday's and getting my post done.  Hubby and I had an event to go to last night and I just didn't think about doing my post early.

Rail Fence was again one of the first blocks I did, and surprisingly is not in either book that I used for my patterns (see my teaser post for books).  Most Rail Fence quilts I have seen have been set in a stair pattern.  Because I was only doing one block I set mine like a pinwheel instead.  Right Hand of Friendship came a little later but it is not a new block.  This block marks the end of Row 5!  Pictures of rows 4 and 5 are below!!

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 Q

Quatrifoils

Of course there are certain letters of the alphabet which are going to cause problems for most people participating in the A to Z Challenge ... "Q" being the first for me.  There was one "Q" block pattern in each of the two books I was trying to use for this project.  One of them was very similar to Churn Dash and Prairie Queen.  While it would have been so easy to do, it would have been placed right next to Prairie Queen, and it would have bothered my self-diagnosed OCD when it comes to my quilts.  The other "Q" block was rather quite boring compared to the rest of the blocks in the quilt.

So Mom went online to help find something else.  Quilter's Cache had a 9" "Q" block pattern called Quartrifoils.  To me it has kind of a floral look to it, so I made it this dark burgundy and gold.  Thanks Mom!!

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 P

Pennsylvania and Prairie Queen

Being off of school for the week, I have been working hard on finishing by blocks.  After this afternoon I have one more to do and then I will be putting more rows together.  YAY!

I completed my "P" blocks a couple days ago.  I don't really have anything special to say about these two blocks.  I have been trying to use that turquoise blue material for a while.  I think Prairie Queen was a great block choice.

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 O

Ohio Star, Ocean Waves, and One More Block

I originally had Ohio Star and Ocean Waves done and thought that was it for "O".  Instead I had to make One More Block ... and I made this decision today.  I actually just got it done a few hours ago.  Nothing like working with a deadline!  Yikes!

A lot of my blocks are nine-patch style.  I really felt that, at this point, the quilt needed a break.  The setup for this block is a bit different and I chose colors to make it stand out.

My sampler wouldn't be complete without an Ohio Start block.  The Ohio Star block I originally made was all one color (solid neutral squares in the corners).  This was the only block made this way in the quilt so far, and it was really out of place.  I added the dark corners to the block not knowing that by doing that also changed it's name.  The way my block is made now is called "Swamp Angel" but to me it will always be Ohio Star.

Up until about two weeks ago, Ocean Waves was not going to be included in the quilt.  I didn't like how it blended with the other blocks.  But now with so many other blocks, you cannot tell how different it is.  I had this awesome blue, red, and gold plaid that was a bigger pattern.  I knew it would get lost if I cut it up into 2-inch squares and looked for a pattern with big pieces.  I actually really like this block, and have reinstated it into the quilt top.

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 N

Nonsense

So, not much to say about "N".  I wanted a block that had more color than neutral, so I reversed the actually shading for this pattern.  As usual, I really thought about the colors in reference to the other blocks around this one.  I hadn't used this pretty rose solid yet and thought it the perfect addition.

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 M

Maple Star and Mosaic #10 (Variation)

Happy Monday all!  I had a wonderful first day of spring break ... spent most of it in my jammies and in the sewing room!  Yesterday Mom and I went to a friend's house to do some long-arm quilting.  We were talking about how I plan on quilting my homespun sampler and Mom suggested that I "quilt-as-I-go".  I know that I don't want to put this on a long-arm, but I have a bit of time to make that decision.

For my "M" blocks, I chose Maple Star and a variation on Mosaic #10 (from 501 Quilt Blocks book).  I hadn't done a block in mostly brown yet, and I thought that the Maple Star was a good  choice for these colors.  I was originally going back and forth with the Missouri Star block ...but I'm glad I made this choice.

I made the second block a while ago and the funny thing is I can't find this pattern anywhere.  I have no idea where this block came from.  As I was looking for this block I made note of others that were similar.  In the 501 Quilt Blocks book, there are a handful of Mosaic blocks, and this block mostly resembles Mosaic #10.  In the pattern though, instead of a nine-patch center, there is a square-in-a-square.  What would a quilt of mine be without a little mystery?

Hope you had a great Monday!  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.