Even More 3030 Blocks

 I'm slowly getting caught up on the blocks for the 3030 quilt. In the center of the quilt is a lovely applique medallion. I am slow at hand applique and I've decided not to add the center medallion, I can piece the blocks much faster than I can applique. This decision means I'm going to need more blocks. I've started making double blocks of each block, unless it calls for multiple blocks already. As of now, I am still planning on making the individual applique blocks but that plan may change too.

These are the most recent completed blocks. I've never pieced a card trick block before. It was very easy using the foundation paper pieceing method.

I've been binge watching the Great British Baking Show while I'm sewing. The programs put me in the mood to bake, fortunately without Paul Hollywood to critique my results.

First are 4 loaves of whole wheat sour dough bread. My bread recipe is based on this recipe from King Arthur but of course I've made some changes to my recipe and also made a larger quantity. This is a soft bread with sourdough starter as an ingredient. 

I also made two loaves of pumpkin quick bread and a new recipe called orange yogurt quick bread. Both recipes are from the Best of Country Breads published by Reiman Publications in 2000. I cut open the orange yogurt bread first since it was a new recipe. It was delicious! My glaze didn't drizzle very well but that's fine with my family, the grandsons don't care.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Clever Chameleon, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday

Vintage Boston Commons Finished

 My vintage Boston Commons quilt is completely finished. The binding and label are on. The best news is the red/pink bleeds washed out. I first blogged about this quilt in the July 12th post this summer, three months of quilting are reasonable.

Remember, I bought this quilt top for $20 off the resale table at the retreat. I can't wait until the next retreat to show everyone about this bargain. If you are wondering about the little blue dot, I wrote about it in this post.

I took a bunch of pictures of the back of the quilt inside the house, you can see more detail.

I had some solid turquoise fabric which worked perfectly for the binding.

One of the corners was really short, it curved in. I tried to straighten it a little by cutting my binding 3" wide. The binding on the back of the quilt is 3/8" while on the front it is 1". This covered a lot of the uneven edge of the quilt and it really helped this spot.

Across the center the quilt measures 71-1/2" by 72-1/2" but when I fold it, the corners don't match.

This white center sashing was the section that was puckered the worst.

For now the quilt is draped over the Grace quilting frame, I love looking at the texture. 

I need to replace the cloth leaders on the quilting frame with real ticking. The fabric I had on there isn't ticking and I have a problem with it pulling out of the rod. Ticking is a heavier  fabric and should be more stable.

I had hoped blue Stars in the Garden would be the next quilt in the frame but it will take me awhile to applique those borders. A crib quilt will be next in the frame.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching,  Oh Scrap, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Yellow Circles of Squares

 Two yellow circle of squares blocks have been pieced.

The softer yellow squares would have been completely lost using the circle fabric for background so I dug around and found this lovely blue and white fabric for background.

Each block measures 12-1/2". Here is a link to the circle of squares pattern.

Linking to Scrap Happy Saturday

More 3030 Blocks

More 3030 blocks have been pieced. The 3030 quilt is a BOW from Sentimental Stitches.

I'm piecing my 3030 blocks using the foundation paper piecing patterns Gay has included with the pattern instructions. You can use whichever method you prefer, paper piecing or regular piecing.

I prefer paper piecing because I know the points aren't going to get cut off. Some people think you waste fabric paper piecing. Yes, some fabric is wasted but I have plenty of fabric. I'd rather have the block be perfect the first time, as long as I get the correct fabrics in the block.

This isn't a good project to learn to paper piece with. For some easy beginner foundation paper piecing patterns, check out this link or this link or maybe this link. Just google free foundation paper piecing patterns and a whole list will appear.

Earlier this week I took some time to take pictures of the trees around the house and down the driveway. It's supposed to rain soon and the leaves will start to drop. Enjoy the colors!

Linking to Peacock Party, Put Your Foot  Down, Whoop Whoop Party, TGIFF!, Finished Or Not Friday, Brag About Your Beauties, UFO Busting

3030 Blocks

 I've come late to starting the 3030 BOW project. This isn't a mystery, Gay has revealed how the blocks will be set so I've decided to join in.

I'm a boring person, it seems the background fabric of my projects are always a light color, usually white. I've decided to be daring with this quilt and my background fabric is a dark royal blue. It's the same blue I used in the border of blue Stars Around the Garden.

I wasn't 100% sold on this idea but block 1 has been pieced. I was disappointed, the fabrics didn't work together. So I made another block, scroll down for that one.

I've included pictures of the back of the block because people often ask what the back looks like when you foundation paper piece, the second photo has the papers removed.

I like this block a lot better. 😊 

Here is block 2. The orange and green are brighter, I guess I just don't have a good enough camera to pick up the true colors. 

Block 3 is an applique block, so it, and all the other applique blocks, will have to wait until after I finish the applique for the borders for Stars Around the Garden.

Block 4 is a T block. It was fun so I made a second block in two colors this time. I know what the blocks are through block 19. There is one block I didn't like so the second block 4 is the replacement block. 

Block 5 is also completed.  I don't know how long it will take me to get caught up on the blocks but I'm going to keep piecing and I'm going to keep using the blue background fabric.

These blocks finish at 6".

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Clever Chameleon, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday

Finished Hand Quilting Vintage Bostons Commons

 I finished hand quilting the vintage Boston Commons quilt this week and I am very, very happy with how she looks!

She hasn't been trimmed but I wanted to see how she looked hanging from the porch. The original puckers quilted out.

And a close up of the center section.

Did you see the little bandaid on the quilt? I had a whoops one evening. I went to clip my thread after I had knotted off and slipped it in between the layers of the quilt. I accidentally snipped a little V in the fabric! I can't believe I did this, after all these years of hand quilting, this is the first time this has happened!

As I was quilting I kept thinking about how I was going to fix it. I certainly wasn't going to just whip stitch it in place and add a smidge of fray check. I decided I would make a small hexie flower using 1/2" hexies but the quilt said no way, just one little hexie. So that's what I did, just one little hexie. 

Some of those red blocks did bleed through to the backing. I'm hoping the red washes out.

I hadn't been out on the porch long at all when this stink bug had to get into the picture. I see other quilters displaying quilts with their cats or dogs, I get stink bugs!

A picture of the back of the quilt.

Once the binding is finished, into the washer she'll go. I'll show you next Sunday the results.

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Daisy, Connie, Monica 

and Sherrie

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching,  Oh Scrap, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Scrappy Sprouts

 I've made two scrappy sprouts blocks with yellow. I decided this month to give them a green stem.

Aren't you proud of me, I have actually participated for five months and haven't gotten impatient and finished the quilt!

Linking to Scrap Happy Saturday.