Week Four in Purple and Almost Ready for a New Colour

I have a few more stitches to take on my tumbling blocks to be finished my purple RSC projects for January.

Four lined up all in a now and only two more to add on.

I attended a beading workshop yesterday and now have a repertoire of  a few more stitches and this fun little bag which I started last year just might see a finish.

It will need a corded handle and should be perfect for an evening  out when I don't need to carry too, too much with me.

Hope you have been more productive than I have this week.  I'll be checking in with Angela to see what you have been up to.

A Perfect Sidekick

I struggled with getting the size just right for doing some tumbling block English paper piecing.  The pieces just didn't come together properly with my first effort.  A friend suggested downloading paper piecing patterns from the internet but I guess I didn't know how to use them properly because it didn't make things any easier and then I found this in among my rulers.

If I increased the size of the tumbling blocks to 1.5 inches from the 1 inch finish in the pattern. Sure my mini quilt would be bigger but still small enough to count as a mini.  So I used the Sidekick to cut my freezer paper diamonds.  I cut a 1.5 inch strip and cut out the 18 diamonds I needed for the purple tumbling blocks.

I cut the fabric strips 2.5 inches in width and  placed my ruler 3/8 of an inch from the bottom of the strip.  I used the ruler to line up the bottom of my templates.  I left a 3/4 inch space between templates and ended up with diamonds all ready to stitch into lovely purple tumbling blocks.

Linking up with RSC and checking in to see what other purple fun has been happening this week.

A Passion for Purple

Happy New Year to all!  I am hoping for a calmer 2017.  I had so many distractions and calls for my assistance with a number of different groups that my quilting time was greatly affected  in 2016.  To get off to a better start I decided to set a goal for myself so I could measure my success:  "Quilt every day for at least half an hour.  This could be looking for a pattern or fabric; planning a quilt, cutting or sewing.  Have a handwork project ready at all times - embroidery, beading or other embellishment, applique, binding, knitting."  I also looked at all the quilt tops hanging on hangers waiting to become a quilt sandwich and have identified twelve that I would like to finish this year.  

For the RSC I will work on two quilts I found in Quick and Easy Scrap Quilts compiled and edited by Patricia Wilens.  The first is called Cracker.  Here are the cracker blocks I finished in the RSC colour for January.

There's a lesson or two I learned when making these blocks. 

 #1 Always have good lighting when reading the instructions. 

 #2 If you're not sure if it's 1/4 or 3/4 wait until morning before trimming.

 

Yup, the trimming size was to 3/4 not 1/4.  I wondered after trimming and actually basted the blocks together  before realizing the 1/4 had to be wrong.  Thank goodness I only made 3 blocks and not all 12 purple blocks.  I've definitely been away from the machine too long to make such an error.

The second is Nine-Patch and Hourglass.

Here are the cute little nine patches for it.  I've made the hour glass blocks for this month too but didn't get a photo.

For my handwork project I've opted to make a mini from A Few of My Favourite Miniature Quilts  by Christine Meunier.  I'll have to cut our the diamonds to piece the tumbling blocks and hope to have something to share next week.

One of my quilt groups presented a challenge.  We were to show what happened when colours were mixed.  Here is my attempt to meet the challenge.  This miniature is an adaptation of the calendar quilt that was to serve as inspiration.  It measures about 24 inches square.  I enjoyed the process and if time allows I would like to try to make a smaller original one.

Now this has to be a finish so now it's time to think about how to quilt it.  This is another goal of mine this year - practicing my machine quilting.


So many plans and I'm keeping track of my commitment on a calendar in my sewing area - yes, old fashioned paper calendar so I can see.