Big step!  That is Daughter carefully unloading the stack using the photo printout as a guide.  She let the cat in, who promptly decided the occasion called for a Kitty Quilt Quality Inspection.

The cat was invited to leave.

I had nearly forgotten what the quilt looked like. It has been more than a year, make that two years, since it was last out of the bag.

That is the picture Daughter used to lay it out.

Funny what we forget.  Apparently at one point I was considering a 4-patch border and made many pieces preparing for that.

What will I do for the borders?  I don’t know.  But I am quite sure.  Almost quite sure, that it will not be a four patch.  So, these are being sent to the four-patch pile.  How convenient that they are the right size.

By the end of the weekend the quilt looked like this.

(That orange section worries me. )

Just a few more blocks to go and then it is assembly time.  Why have I put this off for three years?

SIDE NOTE:  Daughter and Young Son are holding the quilt.  Crooked.  You can tell they are really different sizes.  Just look at the feet.

Anyway, I really appreciate all of you who took the time to consider the alternating block options and give your thoughts on the matter.

Unfortunately, I could only use one of the options.  Two things factored into my final decision on this quilt:  1.  I thought the dark, when multiplied, would seem to make the lighter pieced sampler blocks sort of float.  I am not sure I achieved that effect.  It is busier than I anticipated.   2. Husband, who rarely has an opinion, said that he liked the solid sashing more.  We have to take those men into consideration occasionally. Also, I was sort of ready to be done with it and the multiple sashing would have been more time. (But, I suppose that isn’t a very good reason.)

I try very hard to be a real person (flaws, fatigue and failures included) on my blog.  So far, that has attracted very real readers.  People who have opinions and are free to express them.  Perhaps I am just lucky, but all of those very real readers, have been nothing but supportive.  Not gushy, thank goodness.  That would not suit me. But very helpful, encouraging (AND HONEST!). Thank you again for taking the time to read and share your ideas.

So, here it is.  For what it is.  I will set it aside for a month or so before quilting it.  It was intended as a Christmas 2012 present.  We’ll see.

In the meantime, on to the next project…

So, here it is:

SEW SMALL SAMPLER QUILT

13-inches x 17-inches

NOTES

MATERIALS

A good handful of scraps that you absolutely love.  They can be as small as 1″ x 1″, but you do need at least a few around 4″.

1 Quarter yard of background fabric–straight or fat

1 Fat quarter or large scrap for backing

batting scrap

1/8 yard for binding

CONSTRUCTION

1. Build your blocks.

Block 1: Four Patch

Cut 2 2″ squares of Fabric A

Cut 2 2″ squares of Fabric B.

Sew one A square to one B square.  Repeat. Lay out in 4-patch design using picture of the block as a guide. Sew the center seam together to form block.

Block 2: Square in a Square

Cut 1 2-5/8″ square from Fabric A.

Cut 2 2-1/2″ squares from Fabric B.  Cut along the diagonal.  You should have 4 triangles.  These are your corners.

Lay out according to the picture.  Sew the long side of the triangles to the center square.  Opposite sides first. Press.  Now do the other two sides. Trim/square up your block to 3-1/2″.

Block 3: Bowtie

Cut 2 2″ squares from Fabric A.

Cut 2 2″ squares from Fabric B.

Cut 2 1-1/4″ squares from Fabric B.

Sew a 1-1/4″ Fabric B square to the corner of a 2″ Fabric A square along the diagonal.  Trim off the corner 1/4″ from the seam.  Press open.  Lay out pieces and sew together like a four patch using photo as a guide.

Block 4: Pinwheel 

Cut 2 2-1/2″ squares from Fabric A.

Cut 2 2-1/2″ squares from Fabric B.

Draw diagonal lines on back of both squares of your lighter fabric.

Lay one each of fabrics A and B right sides together and sew 1/4″ on each side of the line. Cut on the line. Press open. Square up half square triangle units to 2″.  Yes, squaring up is no one’s favorite pasttime, but on very small blocks like this, it is worth it.

Using photo as a guide, lay out your block  and sew pinwheel together

Block 5: Double Four Patch

Cut 2 2″ squares from Fabric A.

Cut 4 1-1/4″ squares from Fabric B.

Cut 4 1-1/4″ squares from Fabric C.

Sew fabrics B and C together to form small four patches.  Attach one each to a square of fabric A.  Sew the pairs together to form a larger four patch. Use photo to help determine layout.

Block 6: Cross

 Cut 2 1-5/8″ squares from Fabric A.

Cut 1 1-5/8″x3-7/8″ rectangle from Fabric A.

Cut 2 1-5/8″ squares, make one diagnonal cut, from Fabric B (corners).

Cut 1 2-3/4″ square, made two diagonal cuts, from Fabric B (setting triangles).

Sew setting triangles to 1-5/8″ fabric A squares.  Sew assembly to the 1-5/8″ x 3-7/8″ rectangle.  Sew one small triangle to each corner. Use photo to help determine layout.

Block 7: Rail Fence

Block 8: Log Cabin

1 1″ square from Fabric A.

Six strips 1″ by up to 3-1/2″ from Fabric B.

Five strips 1″ by up to 3-1/2″ from Fabric C.

I found it easiest to trim as I went on this somewhat fiddly block.  So, start with your center square from Fabric A.  Attach a strip of Fabric C.  Press open and trim. Now, attach a strip of Fabric B.  Press open and trim.  Now, attach a second strip of Fabric B.  Then, two strips of C. Continue until your block measures at least 3-1/2″.  Trim/square up to 3-1/2″.

 Block 9: Nine Patch

 Cut 5 1-1/2″ squares of Fabric A

Cut 4 1-1/2″ squares of Fabric B

Lay out and sew together in 9-patch shape using photo as a guide.

Block 10: Churn Dash

Cut 1 1-1/2″ square from Fabric A.

Cut 2 1-7/8″ squares from Fabric A.

Cut 4 1″x1-1/2″ rectangles from Fabric A.

Cut 2 1-7/8″ squares from Fabric B.

Cut 4 1″x1-1/2″ rectangles from Fabric B.

Using the 1-7/8″ squares of Fabrics A and B, create half-square triangles.  Draw a diagonal line across the lighter fabric, stitch 1/4″ away from the line on both sides, cut, press open, square up to 1-1/2″.  Again, squaring up is worth it.

Sew each rectangle of Fabric A to a rectangle of Fabric B.

Lay out using photo as a guide.  Assemble similar to a 9-patch block.

 Block 11: Friendship Star

Cut 4 1-1/2″ squares from Fabric A.

Cut 2 1-7/8″ squares from Fabric A.

Cut 1 1-1/2″ square from Fabric B.

Cut 2 1-7/8″  squares from Fabric B.

Using the 1-7/8″ squares of Fabrics A and B, create half-square triangles.  Draw a diagonal line across the lighter fabric, stitch 1/4″ away from the line on both sides, cut, press open, square up to 1-1/2″.  Lay out using photo as a guide.  Assemble similar to a 9-patch block.

Block 12:  Sawtooth Star

Cut 1 2″ square from Fabric A.

Cut 8 1-1/4″ squares from Fabric A.

Cut 4 1-1/4″ squares from Fabric B.

Cut 4 1-1/4″ x 2″ rectangles from Fabric B.

Attach the 1-1/4″ squares of Fabric A to two of the corners of each Rectangle of Fabric B by sewing across the diagonal.  Trim off the excess 1/4″ from the outside of the stitch line. Press open.  The photo shows several steps in this process.

Lay out the block using photo as guide and assemble similar to a 9-patch.

YAY YOU!  Your blocks are complete!

2. Background.  Cut from background fabric 6 3-1/2″ squares.  These are your alternating squares. Cut 2 3″ squares and cut once on the diagonal.  These are your corners. Cut 3 5-1/2″ squares and cut twice on the diagonal.  These are your setting triangles. You will use only 10 of the 12 pieces.

3. Lay out your blocks.  Rearrange them several times.  That is OK.  It may take a few tries to get the look you want.  I find that walking away and doing something else for a while, like the dishes, then walking suddenly back in gives me a new perspective.  Also, taking pictures.  Or asking Husband.  He always seems to notice that I have a huge blotch of one color in a corner.

4. Sew together by assembling the rows along the diagonal.  I don’t have pictures of this step but, as with all others, will be happy to answer questions.  Here, too, is a link to a nice tutorial on the subject: http://reannalilydesigns.blogspot.com/2008/09/set-on-point-tutorial.html

5. Sandwich, quilt and bind.  I did find that reducing my stitch length helped me quilt on such a small scale.  There is so much for me to learn about this process, but short stitches seemed to give me more control.

6. And, now that I am not a hypocrite when I say it, Label It!  Just a simple name-and-date is certainly better than nothing.

6. Ta-dah!  You have a great quilt.  Please, share yours when it is done.  I can’t wait to see what you create.

How do you say thank you for that?

With a quilt, of course.

Machine pieced and hand quilted.  It was delivered with love and a few tears washing it ready for use.

Even though this was only a few years ago, my quilting style has changed.  It probably wouldn’t have poly batting in it now, but that was what I had at the time.  Also, I would possibly put a bright binding on it, perhaps from one of the pinwheel fabrics, to give it a stronger frame.  I don’t remember for sure, but I think the back was the same fabric as the wide border.  The quilting and the colors–I love them still!

Husband saw our librarian around town a while back and she mentioned the quilt–still loved and appreciated.  That is great to hear.

She designs, cuts, pieces, sandwiches, quilts and stitches down the binding her self.  And, in this case, pieces the back.

When you look at the label you can tell she is 11.

I think it is sweet.  Almost bitter-sweet. Someday very soon we will all look at this and say that it went by so fast.

 You can see more of her work in the DOLL QUILTS FOR SALE tab above.

This weekend it finally snowed.

What a relief.  Now life can get back to normal.  Or something like it.

They are DONE! 

And laid out on my design wall bed.

Along the way, there were a few more four patches finished and tucked away with their friends.  I have 147 so far (not counting the ones mailed off to Regina).  It will take between 400 and 500 for the project I have in mind, so no one should hold their breath waiting to see something happen.

I also laid out the 1951 Hazel Ilene top to relax after being folded for a while.  Hopefully it will be the next top quilted.

So, that is my report.  What all did you get done?

That is what I want need to do.

It has been a long week, and some quality time with fabric would do me good.

So, I laid out my favorite 42 blocks in a 6×7 on point arrangement.  And have decided to create alternating blocks of four patches from my scraps and sashing.

You can see one of the alternating blocks in the picture.  I am not so sure about it.  Very dark green sashing.  It seemed like a good idea at the time.

But there was also the idea of making two sashings, one light and the outer one dark green.

Here they are side by side.  What do you think? Which do you prefer?

So, I am letting the idea sit (on my “design floor”) while I sew the four patches together because I am more confident about them.

Sew Small Sampler Quilt

 Pardon me while I smile.  Such happy colors. That, along with the small size, makes it fun to look at. 

But, don’t look too close or you will see my less-than-perfect piecing.  And stitching. Working on such a small scale has its challenges.  But, it also has rewards.  Cuteness is one of them.

And, true to my resolve, it is labeled.

The pattern/tutorial is coming.  Twelve blocks makes for a lot of writing. Thank you for being patient.

And it doesn’t help that Monday night involved a mechanical failure (as yet undiagnosed) on our car, Algebra homework on graphing absolute value equations, and a lost flute (Daughter found it under her bed).  The joys of family life are numerous, but sometimes interfere with sewing. And blogging. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything!  Life is a struggle, and there are no people I would rather struggle along with than the ones I am blessed to have in my life.