A Great Big Red Block

This block is 21 inches square. That’s big! For Sew.Quilt.Give. last month, we were asked to make one block following these instructions from Dining Room Empire. If I ever do something like this block again, I’ll do the math ahead of time and make a 4-patch out of it. Twenty-one inches is almost bigger than my cutting mat – this block may not be properly squared up as a result. Everyone was supposed to make their block one color, out of lots of scraps. We’ll see if my red selections turn out to be more saturated than everyone elses. If …

Shattered Glass Blocks

I didn’t really want to but I had to take a break from Sew.Quilt.Give. in July, despite the call for any star block I might want to make. I love star blocks and star fabric and stars in general. One secret ambition: to make a starry night quilt, something that’s sort of a mash up of Van Gogh’s painting and those deep space nebulae photos. Yeah, someday… Anyway, August blocks! These Shattered Glass blocks come from this tutorial from the Undercover Crafter. These are a lot like theses blocks I made for the Craftsy 2012 BOM (which I’m still working …

Tardy Bee Blocks

Ah, summer! That time of year when we manically swing between “It’s lovely and gorgeous, let’s be outside!” and “It’s hot and miserable, when will it rain?” The season for overcommiting and taking on just one more thing, trying to shove ever more activities in the every shrinking temporal space. I finished and got the June blocks for Sew.Quilt.Give. into the mail at literally the last minute. We used this tutorial from Film in the Fridge. Easy blocks, which is good since I apparently am overbooked this season. The fabrics all came out of the scrap bin. I see the …

How is it the End of May?

Sure, I know I’ve been busy, but gee whiz already, surely Father Time could slow down a little bit? Well after KCW wrapped up, I finished this pair of shorts for Caitlyn. I used up some stashed denim of unknown vintage and a fat quarter in red, so it’s definitely stashbusting even if I’m not on theme for May. I used the pants portion of McCall’s 6389, changing the waistband, shortening them up and adding the cuff detail. No pockets, though, which I might regret if Caitlyn keeps collecting rocks when she wears these. Guess who gets to carry the …

Collecting Blocks

These beautiful things have been sneaking into my mail box for the last 6 weeks or so as the ladies of Sew.Quilt.Give. finish their block assignments for March. I’m waiting on a few more, but I’ve already collected 24 blocks. With my current layout plan, this is either going to be a redonkulously huge quilt or potentially two quilts. No way is this project going to be done by the end of June! In the meantime, I’ve finished the April blocks. These are super easy and quick! We’re doing a version of the Lemon Squares quilt, which isn’t that far …

Tutorial: Square in Square Block

Welcome to March! For us northerly types, the days are visibly longer already, and the buds are swelling on the trees. One of these days, the sun will stop teasing us, and we’ll all squint and complain about how bright it is. March is my month to lead Sew.Quilt.Give. It’s probably unnecessary for the bee participants, but I’m taking the opportunity to write a tutorial for my chosen block, the Square in Square block. It’s a first for me (the tutorial writing, not the block), so if you have any constructive feedback, please share! This block is a variation on …