Quilt along

This month on the Temecula Quilt Co blog they are having a quilt-along to make a small quilt.  I think the finished size is 18" square and the blocks are 4.5".  Basically they will post the directions for a block/blocks every week in the month and at the end of the month I will have a small quilt. Notice that I optimistically said that "I will have a small quilt" because I've decided to join in. 

For the first block, you only need two fabrics.  I chose this lovely brown floral that was part of my fabric club from Threadbear quilts.  The lighter fabric is actually a light beige with a small spot on it.

I stumbled a bit with the cutting out and wondered why my block wouldn't fit together properly.  I was about to chuck the whole thing out when I rechecked and found that I had made a mistake. Next time I will take a bit more care!

I also stumbled a bit in the construction because the pieces are quite small and when I was clearing up my workbench I accidently threw out one of the pieces. (Cleaning up is not a good thing to do in the middle of a project.)

As well as that, this was (I think) the first time I've ever made a flying geese block by joining together triangle pieces.  I usually make mine with a rectangle and 2 squares. So that was something new I did today.  All good.

Anyway, this is my finished block.  It was quick to come together and I'm looking forward to the next one.

One reason I'm pleased to be doing a quilt with lots of pieceing is because I don't consider myself to be very good at piecing.  I'm a bit haphazard so this will be good practice for me.

 

Stash Busting Update...

Well my Stash Busting Summer is officially over now that we are into Autumn.  I'm proud to say that I stuck to my resolve and didn't buy any fabric (except for some linen to do some stitchery) for the last 3 months.  I've managed to make some lovely projects and rediscover some beautiful fabric that I had forgotten I had.  On top of that I learned a few things:

1. I saved money.  I hadn't realised how much I actually spent on fabric.  A fat quarter here and a fat eighth there, really adds up.

2. Sometimes when I started a new project, I bought 'new' fabric because it was quicker and easier than looking in my stash first. That's going to change - for me it's stash first, shop second.

3. I often bought fabric on a whim.  It was a bit like emotional eating - it made me feel good.  There were times when after I got home, I would wonder what had gotten into me.  I'm going to be a bit more prudent with my purchases and think before I buy.

4. Fabric is better used up rather than sitting in my cupboards. I love scrappy quilts and plan to make more now.  It's nice to see the last piece of a favourite fabric in a quilt and likewise it's nice to find a use for some of those fabrics I bought in 3 above.

5. I think there's an art to building a stash.  My idea of a stash was left over fabric but now I see it's more about having basic fabrics that can be used to supplement new fabrics.  Something for me to work on.

The funny thing is, when I started this stash busting exercise, I thought that I would struggle with not being able to buy fabrics (maybe have a meltdown) and that I would be counting down to when I could go on a fabric spree.  But, none of that happened and today I feel....powerful.

Until next time

Lyn

 

Comments

[Meredith]

Hi Lyn, I have also started Temecula's Quilt-a-long, using up fabric club pieces from Somerset Patchwork..the first little basket block is cute. I will have to try to keep up with you! Best wishes, Meredith

[lyn briggs]

Hi Meredith
I was excited when I read on their blog that they were doing a quilt along. Mine is going to be very scrappy and I will try to use the fabric from my fabric club.
It should be fun to do.

One of my blog readers emailed me after reading my reference to Temecula shop. She lives nearby and passes it every day on her way to work. She said its a lovely shop and the staff are really friendly.
Its a small world isnt it?

Hope you have a nice weekend

Regards
Lyn

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