More Block Talk in February

Back to some block-making!

Lately ,I have been so busy , that I didn't have time to keep up with my weekly blocks.
So it was fun to get some blocks  completed from my books.

 First block:  Modern Blocks Quilt A Long

And Sew We Craft.com

February's  Block :    Parisian Star      designed by Leanne Cohen (p 128 )
                         Book:  Modern Blocks   compiled by Susanne Woods
 The Crafty Mummy is host for the tutorial this month.   This star is simple to make... a kind of wonky star.  I like this pattern.  It didn't take long to whip up!

The Parisian Star block    design by Leanne Cohen  (p 128 )
Susie's Sunroom

We have 10 blocks finished now!  We're on the home stretch....

10 blocks completed                              Susie's Sunroom

The Second Block: The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt Block

Block # 12:  Broken Sugar Bowl

FWSQ block # 12  Broken Sugar Bowl    Susie's Sunroom

I like how my Broken Sugar Bowl block came out, using the paper pieced pattern. However,  I did have to rip out a few seams ... after it was all done.   I told myself I would just let it go, but when I ironed it,  I couldn't "just let it go."     I had the wrong fabric in the center, in  one of the small blocks.  It was worth fixing it up!
Next time, I'll show some photos of the blocks all together.  

My Completed FWSQ Blocks so far    Susie's Sunroom

I'm off to my sewing room!

January Blocks

Block Talking in January

                                        

 January is slowly settling back into a routine at our house.  That means I have been fitting  "fun things" (translation: SEWING ) in between regular weekly chores and putting away the holiday decorations.

I got to test some patterns  for a truly cute purse and a paper pieced pattern...  and will tell you all about them soon.  And I got to make some blocks....
  
First Block:                            

Modern Blocks Quilt A Long at  And Sew We Craft.com

For January, our block is called, " Everything Equal"     designed by Louise Papas
                             (page 60 in the book)


Everything Equal is hosted by Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts this month.

Everything Equal block    photo by Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts   

I really love the fabrics in Alyce's block.  She's made such  a pretty scrappy look!

I decided to make my block look scrappy, too.  I tried to bring in all of the colors that I have been using.

Everything Equal block    made by Susie's Sunroom

This is an excellent block to use for 2 1/2 inch scraps, and goes together easily.

Only 3 more blocks left to make in the sew along! 

Second block:

Block # 11   Broken Dishes,      in the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt  page 138

#11  Broken Dishes            Susie's Sunroom

This was a fun block.  I cut out the triangles (32 of them), before paper piecing them together , into  4 rows.  

My pile of Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt blocks so far.....

If you are making the FWSQ blocks,  make sure you add your blocks to my FWSQ Flicker Group!

I'm off to my sewing room!

I am linked up to :  After Christmas Sew Along @ Sew Much 2  Luv    and
                          Modern Quilts Sew Along @ And Sew We Craft

A Modern Block

Our family had a busy,  happy and blessed time together over the holidays, and I hope that your family did as well!

Somebody in my family (I am not mentioning any names)....
got a little tuckered out after opening all of our presents....

I just need a wee little rest before we put our gifts away, Mom.....

I have been able to add a few more blocks to my growing pile of blocks, which always brings a smile to my face

December's  And Sew We Craft   Modern Blocks  Quilt Along block

December- Modern Blocks Quilt Along block :
Crosswalk    designed by Angela Pingel
Blogged by Actually Amy 

Block by Amy @ Actually Amy.com 

I used my yellow and orange fabrics, to get more of these colors  into the quilt.  After all, it is block number 8 already!

Block 8    Crosswalk      Susie's Sunroom

Ok , Whiskers, let's leave it laying there!

Eight blocks along in the Sew Along already!

The next block:  a Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt block
# 10  Bowtie    (I used the paper pieced pattern in the yahoo FWSQ group)

#10  Bowtie      a FWSQ block  page 137 in the book

This block was fun and simple to put together.  

Hey, I finished the top row now!

If you love looking at  FWSQ blocks, you can see the blocks added to my Share your  FWSQ Flickr Group , and view the beautiful blocks being made by Elaine , the Summercrafter ,  and by Amanda, The Patchsmith .

I'm off to my sewing room!

Snowball Time

We have just experienced our second winter storm  this year.  It made traveling to church for some special services a bit tricky, and even  led to a cancellation of a night time concert.

However, the extra time at home turned out to be a great time for me to catch up on making two more Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt blocks!

See photos at  Flickr

Block # 81: 

I whipped out the first one, "lickety split!"  It was even  appropriately name #81 Snowball  (variation):  I was on a roll...

#81  Snowball  page 208 

I pulled off the foundation paper backing, as I made it by the paper pieced pattern, and while I was ironing it,  I realized that something was not quite right with my Snowball block....

#81  Snowball             by Susie's Sunroom

Then it hit me.... are you ready for this....like a snowball in the face! ( sorry for the bad pun)  
I realized that I had mixed up two  of my Sew Alongs... I  made this Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt pattern with the  fabrics from my other sew along, The Patchique Quilt Project !

 Luckily, it is an easy block to put together. ( I knew that I had been running around busily for almost a week, but didn't think I could become that distracted!)

#81 Snowball  ...this one is made in some turqouise DS Quilts
 fabric!

 The other "non-quilters"in the family didn't think it was as funny as I thought it was....

** Note to self:  keep "mistake" blocks for a "mistake pillow or wallhanging" (hopefully there won't be enough "mistake"  blocks to make a queen size quilt! )

Block #8:

I double checked that I had the right fabrics,  when I started sewing the pieces together on this block!

#8  Bouquet    page 135 in the FWSQ Book

This block was a simple and fun block to make , using a paper pieced pattern.

Here's my progress on the completed blocks so far: 

Completed FWSQ Blocks     by   Susie's Sunroom

Click here to hop on over to the  Share your FWSQ  Block Flickr group to see beautiful  blocks being shared by Amanda and Elaine!  We'd love to see yours, too.  

I'm off to my sewing room!

FWSQ Block 6, 7 and 9 Block Talk

I've had time to work on  three Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt blocks.

Block #6  Big Dipper    page 133

First attempt on this block , I made with  half square triangle blocks.  I want to figure out how to make my block piecing more consistent, and so I  printed out some sheets, from a  program I bought, called Triangulations.  (Brenda Henning's program.)

available at Bear Paw Productions

For some reason, I have  a few quirky printing and  size issues, using my  new Windows 8 and an  older HP printer.  I  do choose Print at Actual Size (no scaling) and they still did not measure what the pattern calls for a scale.  (And sometimes they get way too big if I choose borderless paper.)   So , when do I get accurate print- outs with the correct size, I am going to save that print out and use it as a template  to copy for new blocks. 

Otherwise, I love this Triangulations program.  You sew along the lines, like paper piecing, and then cut on the 'cut'  lines to make your  HST blocks.  I  think it will enable me make accurate half square triangle blocks. (I know I must not use steam to press the blocks, too.)
{If anyone else has experience with this problem with printing sizes , older HP printers and  Windows 8 , please let me know!}

Practice block #6  Big Dipper using  HST blocks from Triangulations

I think one  or two triangles  are a little smaller than the rest... but the overall size is too big...compared to my  other paper pieced 6 inch  blocks.  

So I printed out the paper pieced pattern,  from the Yahoo FWSQ group, and used that.

FWSQ Block # 6   Big Dipper   Susie's Sunroom

This block turned out to be fun and bright!  (And low stress!)

Block #7 Birds in the Air   page 134

I decided to use the paper pieced pattern from the get-go, for 2 good reasons:

• 1  Amanda, The Patchsmith, told me that this pattern was a bit  tricky to patch work together  
• 2  Elaine,  Summercrafter.com,  said she had a "tight feeling in her chest" after making the block

That's a no- brainer, for me. "Paper piecing it"  went very smoothly.  (I'm all for doing things "smoothly" before the holidays.)

FWSQ Block #7  Birds in the Air   Susie's Sunroom

Block #9  Box   page 136

Block # 9  Box    Susie's Sunroom

This paper pieced pattern was so fast to complete, after having made the more complicated block 7 Birds in the Air.

Finished blocks so far:

FWSQ Blocks Finished    by Susie's Sunroom

If you'd like to see my blocks in more detail, as a group, hop on over to Flickr group      "Share your Farmer's Wife Sampler Blocks with Susie's Sunroom."

This is a  new Flickr group, in which  you  can add any FWSQ block  that you've made.

Amanda, The Patchsmith, is sewing along with me  and has joined the  Flickr group to show off her gorgeous blocks.   Her blocks are so precise and pretty! They just inspire me to keep practicing and try to improve!  Hop on over to see her work!

  #6  Big Dipper  by The Patchsmith  photo courtesy of  Amanda  

#3  Basket   by The Patchsmith    photo courtesy of Amanda

And,
I will be linking these blocks up to Elaine's Friday Night Block Party  linky at Summercrafter.com. This linky group  is for ANY block that you make... not just Farmer's Wife blocks.   When  you enter during November, you will be eligible for a giveway of TWO charm packs from Elaine!! 
   Friday Night Block Party is how I got started making blocks from my book.  Sometimes it just takes that nudge, to  get started making  a project along with a  few friends...    

Don't forget to enter the Thank You Blog Hop giveway here on my blog...  you have until Tuesday Nov. 26, 2013  11:00 pm EST to enter!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Block Talk

Block Talk

Post your block  over at Summercrafter.com    

Well,  technically, it is Saturday , but I got to sew some blocks. 

First block:  The  Friday Night Block Party, over at Elaine's Summercrafter.com blog.
I started sewing the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt blocks , along with Elaine and Amanda, The Patchsmith.  I enjoy making one block at a time, and seeing my pile of blocks grow.

Farmers Wife Sampler Quilt Block ~  #5  Bat Wing

#5  Bat Wing

I decided to paper piece my block, after Amanda told me that she had a special way to make her block. (Then I saw "flying geese", and I know that I have issues with the triangles being the same size in my flying geese!)

#5  Bat Wing

Completed Farmers Wife Sampler Quilt blocks    by Susie's Sunroom

Second block:   Modern Blocks  

November's  Modern Blocks Quilt A Long at www. AndSewWeCraft.com

November  block:  the Pogo Stick block   designed by Jessica Brown
   (page 142 in Modern Blocks book     compiled by Susanne Woods  )
Roslyn has a tutorial for the Pogo Stick block  over at Sew Delicious.com

Pogo Stick block     made by Susie's Sunroom

This turned out to be a fun block to make!  It has more pieces than I thought it would have , but comes together easily.  I chose to feature the brown fabric, and accent it with the turquoise blue.  I could have fun making a quilt with this block.

7 blocks made in the Modern Blocks Quilt A Long  by  Susie's Sunroom

I will be making some Patchique blocks next... I love working with those browns and blues ...  Amanda will be sharing the newest blocks on Sunday.

I'm off to my sewing room!

I'll be linking up at 
           Friday Night Block Party @ Summercrafter.com
and
            Modern Blocks Quilt A Long @ And Sew We Craft.com