Butterflies

I had thought last Sunday was the only handwork for Wildflower Woods but I was wrong. Block 9 was a doozy. I don't mind set in seams but this block finishes at 6" and those were small pieces to be inset!

I decided the way to go was hand piecing the block. I hand pieced 2 butterfly blocks then carefully pressed them. Guess what, they were too small!

I had 3 choices of what to do next, 1 - piece 2 more butterflies which I was not going to do. 2 - piece 2 more windmill blocks since the butterflies will be set beside them or 3 - sash them.

Number 3 was an easy winner so that is what I did.The sashing isn't very wide but it works.

I made a change in the fabric used for the top part of the wings. The piece in the baggie was from the border panel which would have worked great if there would have been a whole piece of a flower but there wasn't. I didn't like the way I thought it would look. This piece of pink vine fabric was large enough to cut 4 wings so that is what I used. I liked this fabric than the original fabric.

Block (or month) 9 is the last block to be pieced. I started sewing the quilt together earlier and posted about that last Friday.

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Handmade Monday, Design Wall Monday

Scrappy Sprouts

Three dark blue blocks for scrappy sprouts have been pieced. I want to add dark blocks to the blocks I've accumulated so far.

I've arranged the blocks on the display floor. I didn't have room for the green blocks. I don't have any deep dark green blocks but I think it would work to add some of the darker blocks to the bottom of the green row.

I need to piece deep purple blocks and perhaps some dark grays. I've tried blending some of the colors together like the pink/red row and the yellow/orange row. 

I don't know if I like mixing the orange and  yellow blocks together like I did. Here is another view with the colors separated. I also added a red block to the bottom. I like this arrangement better. I'm going to have to blend more of these blocks together. I don't want my quilt to be wider than it is longer.

I'll keep playing with these blocks, hopefully these blocks will be sewn into a flimsy by the end of the year.

The general directions for Scrappy Sprouts are found here.

Linking to Scrap Happy Saturday, Patchwork & Quilts, Oh Scrap

The Center

The very center of Wildflower Woods is sewn together.

I like the way the corners are sewn onto the very center. You make triangles and the narrow border is sewn onto the top. Two of the triangles were sewn onto the inside center while the red triangles were sewn onto the other block triangles. Then you sew a long seam attaching them.

It looks complicated but it isn't.

The narrow border doesn't completely surround the inside center, the red triangle fits into the corners. I really like that idea, I'll have to remember that for the future.

I did make a change to the Forest Path blocks (pinwheel blocks) in the corners of the center triangles. I changed the border on those blocks to fabric I liked better. I had made a mistake when I cut the original print and had to go with a different one. The floral border was left over from cutting the narrow borders from the striped fabric.

This center measures 58.5" which is my own unique measurement, not the same size as the pattern. I've had a few challenges along the way.

I know it has been rather boring viewing the individual blocks as they were sewn but they look so much better all sewn together.

Linking to Put Your Foot Down, Needle & Thread Thursday, Peacock Party, TGIFF!, Finished Or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts

Windmills

The blocks for month 8 of the Wildflower Woods BOM were 8 windmill blocks.

I should have left more room between the blocks in the above photo.

Ordinarily I avoid directional fabric as much as possible but since Wildflower Woods is a kit, I have to use the fabrics provided.

The background fabric and the pink fabric were both directional fabrics. I was extremely careful sewing these blocks together and I'm pleased to say, all the background fabric is the same direction! There were two directions the pink stripe fabric ended up but I was careful to make sure the stripe in each block was the same direction.

These blocks will all be trimmed and sewn into a single row eventually. I'm waiting to do that step until the center blocks are sewn together.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Stitch Sew & Show, Put Your Foot Down,  Needle & Thread Thursday 

Garden Baskets

I have something else to show you today instead of Hearts & Wreath blocks or Welsh Beauty. I was recently informed by an out of state friend that they thought most of my quilting journey was with hand work. They only read my blog on Sundays which is when I highlight the handwork I've done throughout the week.

During weekdays, I blog about progress made sewing whatever quilt I'm working on. Right now, that quilt in progress is a BOM called Wildflower Woods. I'm sharing with you today because month 7 is appliqueing Garden Baskets.

Ten baskets have been appliqued. These blocks will finish at 6" and all be sewn into a row. I haven't trimmed them because I haven't sewn the center of the quilt together. I want to make sure everything fits together before I go trimming any edges.

Last Sunday I told you I changed the settings since some people were having problems commenting. Now I have the problem I can't respond to the individual questions on my blog or to you by email. I'll see what I can figure out.

Thanks to everyone who does leave comments.

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Oh Scrap, Stitching Stuff, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Handmade Monday, Design Wall Monday

Forest Paths

Month 6 of the Wildflower Woods BOM are 4 pinwheel blocks which have been named Forests Paths. 

The border fabric had several designs and I decided to go with a partial design for my border. I thought it gave a lacy effect and I liked the way it looked.

When I was piecing the HST blocks for my Blue Ridge Beauty, I mentioned that I didn't cut the HST's the way the pattern said. I used my half/quarter ruler. Several people asked me what I was talking about. I took pictures as I cut the HST's for the pinwheels.

There are other brands of this ruler, I was in my Fons & Porter stage when I purchased this ruler many many years ago.

First you need to cut your length of fabric to the width you want. you can cut in half inch increments. I wanted my HST's to be 3.75" so I cut my width of fabric 4". This will give me plenty to trim them to the 3.75" size after sewing. You need to make sure the edge of he fabric on the left side is a straight cut.

Line up the left edge of the ruler then cut your diagonal line. By placing the light fabric on top of the darker fabric, you can cut both layers at the same time and they'll be ready to sew.

For the 2nd cut, turn the ruler, line up and cut.

Linking to Put Your Foot Down, Needle & Thread Thursday, Peacock Party, TGIFF!, Finished Or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts

Dove in the Window

Month 5 of the Wildflower Woods BOM was Dove in the Window, 4 blocks.

Normally when I'm piecing a new quilt, I cut the fabrics each step at a time but now I'm only making 1 block at a time so I cut all the fabrics for the block. 

See the sashing in between the blocks? The instructions said to cut it at 4.75", so I did. Unfortunately, after I pieced the dove blocks, I realized the sashing should have been cut at 5". 

This kit is several years old so I can't run to Carolines to pick up more fabric. What else could I do, I just pieced the sashing. Fortunately there was enough extra fabric to cut enough pieces to piece. I made sure I had the design in the fabric pieces going the same direction. 

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Stitch Sew & Show, Put Your Foot Down,  Needle & Thread Thursday