Shoo Flys & Snowballs

I don't normally sew Bonnie Hunter mystery quilts or sew along with her leader & ender project. I was curious though to see what she had planned for this year. This year's Bonnie Hunter's Leader and Ender project for the next year involves piecing shoo fly blocks. 

I've been wanting to start a shoo fly project ever since Jayne posted about her project back in December 2017. 

My shoo fly blocks are going to finish at 4 1/2". I pieced 5 blocks so far, just wanted to see how they look.

And I made a couple snowball blocks, just to see what they look like with the shoo fly blocks.

For now I'm going to concentrate on sewing HST's before I piece anymore blocks.

A year from now Bonnie is going to have a bright bold colorful scrappy quilt. My quilt won't look like hers. My quilt will have the quiet gentle dignified beauty that comes with a two color quilt. The important thing is that we'll both be happy with our own quilt.

After I took this picture, I remember another 2 block quilt from Kathy's Quilts that I bookmarked. I see that this quilt involves churn dash blocks and 9 patches, not shoo fly blocks. 

But still I wonder, what would shoo fly blocks look with 9 patch blocks? So of course I made some 9 patches to see.

First 9 patches with dark corners.

Interesting but I don't like the big light center blocks next to each other but I do like the corners. Can you envision a dark chain running through the quilt? 

Next the 9 patches with light corners.

I like that the center light blocks aren't next to each other but I'm not sure about all the light fabric in the corners. 

Both these settings have potential but I think I'll stick with the original alternate snowball block.

I even purchased a special stencil that fits perfectly in the snowball block, because, as you know, hand quilting is what I do.

Since I took the picture, I did peel the lower left sticker off since it was covering up part of the marking line.

If sewing shoo fly blocks isn't your thing, Kevin the Quilter is hosting a Simply Sensational Summer Scrap Quilt mystery this summer.

Meadow Mist also has Mosaic Mystery in progress. Her mystery runs through April 2020.

In the mood to piece a Christmas quilt? Check out Sarah and her Christmas in July sew along.

And then there's the Disappearing 9 Patch Quilt Along that Julie is hosting. It's happened in June - July, so they're at the end of the quilt along but the pattern is still available. Here's a link to week 5 where the participants are displaying their quilts.

Linking to Let's Bee Social,  WIP's on Wednesday, Needle & Thread Thursday, Peacock Party, TGIFF!, Brag About Your Beauties, Finished Or Not Friday