How Small Can You Go?

The tiny green triangles in the corners of this block are so small that I managed to cut them from leftover pieces of fabric after I trimmed the paper-pieced sections. Those triangles are 1/2-inch triangles, people! Even smaller than the pieces I blogged about back in May.

This is "L-12, Sally's Pride", an intermediate-level block that I paper pieced and then added the itty-bitty triangles using the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch applique method. The stitching almost covers the entire triangle -- in this case, perhaps monofilament thread would have been a better choice, but frankly, I didn't feel like changing the thread on my machine.

More Than One Way To Skin A Cat

...and more than one way to make a DJ block.

When I first saw this block in Jane Stickle's quilt, it looked a bit tough, but I thought there was a chance that it could be paper pieced. When I looked at the directions in the DJ software, it said "My recommendation is to hand-piece Fireweed Flower. However, the foundation pattern is excellent." Sounded promising...

However, when I opened up the alleged foundation pattern in the software, this is what it looked like. (Sorry for the bad photo, but it's just a quick shot of my screen.)



Huh?


Granted, many of the paper piecing patterns in this software sometimes look like this, but there is an easy way to move all the pieces to fit on one page. However, even if I moved all these pieces onto one page, ONLY THREE OF THEM are suitable for paper piecing! What's with that? Am I missing something here? I don't think so. I'm afraid this doesn't meet my definition of "excellent foundation pattern".

So, after a bit of studying, I decided to use the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch applique method for this one. No, it doesn't have all the seams that Jane's has, but if I plan it right, I can quilt some faux seam lines in later.

Can you spot a peculiarity of this block (other than my weird construction method)? The outer four diamonds are not exact diamonds -- the sides pointing in toward the center are a touch longer than the sides pointing out.

This is "M-3, Fireweed Flower", an advanced (!)-level block.

P.S. If anyone knows anyone who works for the company making the software...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ask them to come out with a new version correcting all the bugs! It may not do me any good, but anyone new to this quilt would benefit greatly (and would be a very happy customer).

I Vote For Efficiency

In Jane Stickle's original quilt, this block has 13 pieces -- four curved pieces for the background, one center and eight melons. I don't have the time or patience to deal with that, so mine is made with just two pieces of fabric. One for the background and one for the entire dark green part. The dark green part was sewn on using the same method that I explained recently in this post.

This is "F-9, Autumn Aster", an intermediate-level block. Again, because of the method that I used, this was about an hour's worth of work.

Are You Tired Of These Yet?

I'm still on a roll this week...the colors on this one look really washed out. It's much more intense in real life...

This is "F-5, Parcheesi", an intermediate-level block made using the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method (again). The squares and melons were all cut out as one piece, just like I explained in this post. This one was a little tougher because I had to also cut out the center, but it wasn't bad. One hour's work, tops.

How Small Is Too Small?

This is "E-6, Michelle's Medley", an intermediate-level paper-pieced and appliqued block. The four small squares were the appliqued pieces, again with the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method.

For those who wonder what small scraps of fabric can be used for, this is a perfect example. The squares were cut 1/2 inch! They were a bit tough to sew down by machine, but they would have been a lot tougher (at least for me!) to sew down by hand.

Who Said I Was A Quilter?

Before you look at today's block, step back from your computer about 10 feet, squint, and take a sip of wine...wait for the wine to kick in...


I wonder how many excuses I can come up with as to why this block is soooo bad...

1. My regular sewing machine is being serviced, so I had to make this on my travel machine.

2. The software has no instructions.

3. I have no quarter-inch foot on this machine.

4. I made it on a Monday morning.

5. My husband spiked my coffee.

6. I'm a sad excuse for a quilter.

This is the perfect example of how being off by even just 1/16th of an inch in every seam can add up to problems in blocks this small. Most of this block was made using rotary cutting...that was the biggest mistake.

At first glance, I thought I would need to sew some Y-seams, but after studying how my friend Tropical Screamer made her block, I realized that I could avoid them by cutting the pieces a bit differently and still get the same look. Yes, I managed to avoid the Y-seams, but I did a bad job with the piecing.

This is "A-11, Pebble's Protest", an intermediate-level block. I don't know who Pebble is, but I think I'll call it "Anya's Protest" because I protest the way this looks....but I'm moving on to the next block anyway...

P.S. I just thought up another excuse...it's really just my version of free piecing (a la Lazy Gal Quilting). Wonky is in.

Life Is Good

The raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method allowed me to finish this block in half an hour! I also didn't want to deal with making the background out of 4 curved pieces like Jane did, so I cheated by using just one piece of background and I'll quilt in some lines later (maybe).

The melons were cut out as one piece, not four, and the buttonhole stitch around them takes care of making them look like four separate pieces. (More cheating?)

This is "A-3, Hunter's Moon", a beginner-level applique block.

I have now completed the equivalent of 9 complete rows of the Jane Stickle quilt. I have not made the blocks in order, but if you click here, you should be able to see the completed blocks in the order that I've made them. (it also gives you a sneak peek at two blocks that I haven't posted about yet). Picasa coincidentally places photos in rows of 13, so it gives me a good idea of how I'm progressing, even though the blocks are not in the places where they will wind up in in the final quilt.

No More Snow?

The last of the snow in our yard melted just this past weekend (we had a big pile at the end of the driveway that just wouldn't go away), so to celebrate, I made this block.

It's "H-9, Snowflake Melt", an advanced-level block. It wasn't really too hard. Maybe it's the size of the diamonds that made it advanced. I paper pieced most of the block and then used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch applique method for the diamonds. They were the smallest pieces that I've attempted this method with so far, but I worked carefully and am happy with the result. This would have looked horrendous if I had tried needle turn.

Although all the snow has melted, that doesn't mean that there is no chance for any more this spring...April often surprises us in this part of PA...

Back To Regularly Scheduled Programming

It's been way too long since I've posted a photo of a DJ block (one week). I have to stop reading blogs and going to fabric shops and reading quilting magazines and admiring show and tell at guild meetings. There are way too many fun projects that I'd love to do. I keep getting distracted. The problem is that I like to have a completed project once in a while, and since the DJ quilt is not something that I can finish quickly, I interrupt my journey once in a while for a quickie or two (not that kind of a quickie -- get your mind out of the gutter!)... Hmmm... now that I think about it, that kind of a quickie gets in the way of my quilting once in a while as well. Uh oh, I better get back to being a G-rated blog before someone reports me for adult content...

Back to quilting and DJ -- this is "I-6, Viewer's Choice", an intermediate-level applique block. Again, I used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method.

Watch Those Angles

This is "M-11, Rickshaw", an advanced-level paper-pieced block. It's not all that difficult, but you do have to take things slowly and watch all the angles. Be sure to cut your fabric pieces large enough for each section, and then be careful matching the seams when sewing the sections together. Mine isn't perfect, but it's better and took less time than one of the first blocks I made with diamonds.

Mini-Retreat Day!

Today I'm off on a mini-retreat of my guild's DJ group, the Laurel Janes. We're meeting at a member's house overlooking the lake at a state park about a mile from my home. It will be 12 hours of non-stop fun!

I hope to start sewing some of the blocks together today.

This is "G-10, Woven Meadow", an intermediate-level block that I chose to paper piece, but it could also be easily done with rotary-cut pieces. The green is much prettier in person.

Two in a Row

I really enjoy making blocks like this one -- it's just squares and rectangles..no circles or points to applique.

This is "E-8 Mama's Maze", an intermediate-level paper-pieced block. The bottom right corner is actually fairly straight in real life, but I guess it must have been turned up a bit when I took the picture. It will have to do -- I'm too lazy to retake it.

Questions and Answers

Question: What causes dust bunnies?

Answer: Working on blocks like "B-12 Starflower" all week!

Well, I didn't really work on this block continuously, but it did take quite a bit of my free time this week.

It is a beginner-level block that I chose to reverse applique...my current preferred method for applique work.

But no matter how frustrating I find some of these DJ blocks to be, I still prefer working on them to cleaning house! Don't we all?

Resolution -- Don't Be A Chicken

I hope everyone is off to a good start with 2009!

Before I forget, I want to thank everyone who has visited my blog from the Whirl Into Winter Quilt Blog Giveaway...and those who commented for a chance to win my giveaway. If you missed it, see my post from January 1st. You have until early morning on January 15th to enter.

This is "J-7 Chicken Tracks", a beginner-level block that I chose to paper piece. I'm trying hard not to chicken out of working on an applique block...I hope to get one finished during my monthly Laurel Janes gathering on Monday.

This is #86.

Two Days in a Row

I guess you could say I'm on a roll. This is the second DJ block in two days. No promises for tomorrow... This is "C-13 Lakota Sioux", an intermediate-level paper-pieced block. Those triangles are really, really teeny.

No Snow Yet

Although this is "L-2 Stephanie's Snowflake", it certainly didn't feel like snow when I was working on it. I think the temperature was in the low 70s yesterday and today is supposed to be warm as well. The fall colors in this part of Pennsylvania are especially brilliant this year due to the great weather we've had -- bright sunny days with cool nights. We do need some more rain, so I hope we'll get it once the leaves come down.

If you look closely, you'll see that I sewed the outside triangle sections in the wrong order -- that's why the strips are a tad too short in the center of all four edges. That will easily be taken care of once I sew the block to the sashing.

The software labeled this as an advanced-level block, but I didn't think it was too hard. So far I think I've finished 7 of the 26 advanced-level center blocks. I suspect a good number of the rest are applique blocks...bummer.
P.S. I want to thank quilt designer Patrick Lose for leaving a comment on yesterday's post. It's nice to see that designers are interested in how quilters use their patterns.

Boiling Point And A Wish For The Youngest Generation

After hearing this ... (among other things)

-- Pressed about what insights into recent Russian actions she gained by living in Alaska, Palin told Charles Gibson of ABC News, "They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska."...

...my blood pressure was so high, that I had to go and sew to relax...

I made "K-13 Brandon's Star", another intermediate-level paper-pieced block that wasn't too tough. This is made in honor of my extended family's youngest member, my cousin's 6-month-old son Brandon, whose Russian grandfather's childhood was interrupted by the horrors of war (the real horrors of having bombs dropping out of the sky and having to flee a homeland with almost nothing but the clothing on your back, things that most living Americans have never experienced).

Brandon, I hope you have a chance to grow up in a safer world than we have today and that the leaders of our precious country (the one that welcomed your grandfather with open arms) realize what they are doing when they talk about war as easily as if it was just another hockey tournament....

P.S. I'm afraid it's going to take a lot more sewing...

I'm On A Roll...

Next week will be extremely busy as my guild prepares for September's exhibit, so I'm trying to do a few DJ blocks now while I have some time...

This is "I-8 Pete's Paintbox", an intermediate-level paper-pieced block.

Meetings, Meetings, and More Meetings

I'm in the middle of a couple of weeks that are packed with meetings, many having to do with quilting or the MLQG's exhibit; if I really must go to meetings, I'd much rather they be about quilting than anything else, so I'm not complaining.


So, in honor of all those meetings, here is "D-7 Meeting Place", a beginner-level paper-pieced block.

Competition

In honor of the two photographers who reside in my house (my husband and my son), I've made "G-4 Shutterbug", an advanced-level paper-pieced block. Although it has 29 pieces, it wasn't too hard to make. Very easy to square up to 5 inches. However, if you're new to paper piecing, don't start with this one...

The Tioga County Fair is coming up soon and my son plans to enter a photo again this year. This will be the first year in which he has to compete in the adult division, so the competition will probably be tougher than he's had to deal with in the past. He has won several ribbons in the Junior division, so he's hoping to continue the tradition.

My husband usually enters a photo or two in the fair as well, but has decided not to this year. Good thing, because life in my house might have been difficult if they both had entered and only one won a ribbon...

Gary has had one of his photos win a contest in Wild Bird Magazine (his is the Eastern Bluebird) and he also provides a lot of photos to the Tiadaghton Audubon Society's website. Check them out if you're into birds...