Tuesday Quilt Block Jan. 29

It's Tuesday and time for the next quilt block.  And this one comes with a short tutorial.  Alas, I am under time pressure this week, and the tutorial will be next week on Tuesday Quilt blocks.

This block is Pie sale.

 

I am linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River and with Quilt Story, as I do most weeks I have blocks to share. Both blog hops have of pictures of pretty quilt blocks and other projects.

I am on Facebook too: just search for Viridian61. I post only when I have put up a blog post, and very little else.
Viridian

Tuesday Quilt Block Jan. 22

The next block in my countdown:

 

One of the "elevenses" - really challenging blocks that seem to be in the 11th column, that I left to near the end.  This is Wagon Wheel, E-11.  I followed Anina's method for this block, which avoids the applique of those tiny melons.  Otherwise I don't know what I would have done.  As it was, I had to turn under the seam allowance on the inside edge of those melons, and my fingers felt very clumsy.  Needle turn was a struggle also.

 

I have been to Bennington and studied the Mother quilt but I do not recall looking closely at this block.  I would like to know if Jane appliqued all those tiny melons, or did a layered technique like Anina!

 

Another thought: will more quilts in the style of Jane Stickle get finished, now that Anina has published hints on all the blocks, triangles, and corners?  Hmm.

 

I am linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River and with Quilt Story, as I do most weeks I have blocks to share. Both blog hops have of pictures of pretty quilt blocks and other projects.

I am on Facebook too: just search for Viridian61. I post only when I have put up a blog post, and very little else.
Viridian

Tuesday Quilt block Jan. 15

For the next few weeks I am going to run down the last few quilt blocks I have made, to hit the magical 169 blocks for the center of the Jane Stickle quilt.

This one is Twin Sister and it is not as bad as some others to come.  However, it does have a number of melons that have to be carefully placed on the background. And they do - I had to undo one I had partially appliqued because it had shifted. And all those wonderful corners to turn.  My method for melons is freezer paper underneath, and turn the seam allowances under.  Then I slit the background fabric and take the freezer paper out. I use a neutral gray silk thread.  It is very thin and fine (but strong!) and blends in with the background of most fabrics that I use.

This blue is a new fabric I ordered and I think it looks great.

I am linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River and with Quilt Story, as I do most weeks I have blocks to share. Both blog hops have of pictures of pretty quilt blocks and other projects.

I am on Facebook too: just search for Viridian61. I post only when I have put up a blog post, and very little else.
Viridian

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Jane Stickle quilt: A milestone

I have reached a milestone this morning: I have finished all 169 of the center blocks!!

I should add one note:  I skipped two of the hardest applique blocks and substituted in two paper pieced blocks.  Applique is not my favorite, and attempting Dee Dee's delight (D-8) or Cheiko's Calla Lily (J-10: 16 little melons!) I know would lead to extreme frustration and meltdown.

Here is my last block:

This is K-3 and I deliberately left it to last.  It's fussy but the paper piecing is not too difficult.  I did not want to end my center blocks on a note of frustration.

There are several approaches to completing the center blocks, each of which has its merits.  I started with the easy pieced or paper pieced  blocks, slowly adding in the blocks with easier applique (like two or so larger melons). This gets one's numbers up, and there is a quick sense of accomplishment.  I then followed along with the Block of the Month as posted on the Dear Jane list. This helped me keep going.  I however skipped some really difficult blocks, and those were left to the end.  Were my skills better?  Yes, but those last blocks were really tough.  I'll be sharing those on Tuesdays, in the next few weeks.

There also is merit in starting at A-1 and continuing on row by row.  Or following the Block of the Month assignments.  Then the hard blocks are not all left at the end.  And you quickly pick up new skills. 

And of course, what each person considers 'hard' is different.  For me it is applique of melons, or reverse applique of anything.  My fingers fumble so.  But for others it might be handling really tiny pieces, or complex paper piecing, where one is joining different sections together.  And then there are Y-seams, or inset corners as you may know them.  All can be challenges.  I am a proud member of the "Add a line" club, where I modify the pattern (by adding a seam line or two or three) to get rid of Y-seams and have more straight seams - even if it means more smaller pieces, and more steps.  I do this especially with the triangles - to avoid applique of diamond shapes.

Remember, this is your quilt - use the fabrics you want to use, and approach the blocks the best way you know how.  There is more than one way to sew each block.  Sometimes three or more.  One resource that has proved invaluable to me for the harder blocks has been Anina's blog, That Quilt.  Do check it out.

Viridian


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