We had a “bye” month at Build A Quilt/BAQ, which means no May block, but I do have layout options to show you. I’ve chosen Layout 1.
Here’s my May block for the Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Patterns by Jen. The food is potatoes and the color is, you guessed it, brown! Surprisingly, I’m still going strong w/the 6″ blocks.
And last by not least are the blocks from the sew along I’m doing w/Madonna (@sunnybunnyquilts).
And my 15″ Cross Plus blocks. I made quite a bit this month in order to get “caught up”. My goal is to have 36 blocks by October, which will give me ample time to get the top pieced & quilted for my daughter’s January birthday. Now I just have to make 4 a month.
Until next time, God bless & happy stitchin’!
A Thread for Life
Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:34-36
First up is my Build A Quilt block. After making it, I kinda wished I had used the marigold on these smaller squares, but it will stay as is.
Next up is my Monthly Color Challenge block. March’s color is Red Orange for Yams. This fabric combo brings to mind candied yams.
These first two X Plus blocks are 10.5″. It’s an okay size but I wanted to make a block that uses a lot of 3.5″ squares.
I don’t like quilty math but I actually did it and came up with these 15.5″ blocks. I plan to make my daughter a queen size quilt out of these scrappy blocks and if I use this size, I’ll only need 36 of them! I’m not super thrilled w/either of these blocks but I think when I mix them up w/some really gorgeous ones, I won’t dislike them so much. I felt the same way about some of my Scrappy Trips blocks but when they were all put together, it was total WOW factor!
And last but not least, the 9.5″ Criss Cross Stars blocks. This is a Lori Holt pattern/tutorial. This block is a my 2nd favorite to make after Scrappy Trips.
So that’s all the quilty sew & tell I have for you today. Until next time, God bless and Happy Stitchin’!
A Thread for Life
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2Cor.6:1-2NIV
This year I decided to participate in several Block of the Month (BOM) type Quilt-a-longs (QALs). One of them you already know about, Build A Quilt, hosted by Angela Walters of Quilting is My Therapy or possibly more popularly known as The Midnight Quilter on YouTube. Her Build A Quilt started in November so we’re already 3 blocks in. You can see my first two blocks in this post. Here is January’s block.
Wendy, from Pieceful Thoughts encouraged me to join the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Patterns by Jen. You can read more about this challenge by clicking on either link in the previous sentence and FYI this challenge comes w/chances to win prizes! January’s color is purple, inspired by Eggplant. I usually opt to make larger blocks but for whatever reason, I went w/the 6″ version. I may change my mind depending on how “challenging” these 6″ blocks end up being. =) Here is my purple, 2021 Monthly Color Challenge block.
The next couple of BOMs/QALs are just an impromptu idea I pushed on a couple of friends in an attempt to reduce my scraps. The rules are to make one block a month and “sew/show & tell” on the 4th Saturday of each month. I adore scrappy quilts and I think making a couple of scrappy blocks a month is low pressure but at the same time extremely gratifying. This will also force me to use my fabric cutter to tame this ridiculousness into some semblance of order, which I already started on this past weekend.
My 1st impromptu, Scrap Bustin’ BOM/QAL is the Japanese X+ Block. I used this tutorial for these first couple of 8″ blocks. Of course I made 2 blocks; one light version and one dark version. I will continue to make two a month but I plan to try this tutorial next month which makes a 12.5″ block.
My 2nd, impromptu, Scrap Bustin’ BOM/QAL is Criss-Cross Stars by Lori Holt. These blocks are so much fun that I made 4 of them! Two with dark backgrounds and two with light backgrounds. My faves are the ones w/the dark backgrounds.
I’m making the block that finishes at 9″ because it calls for 2.5″ and 3.5″ squares. And I have these two handy dandy dies that cut multiples of each. If I turn the 2.5″ strips perpendicular, I can cut multiple 2.5″ squares.
A long time ago I used to strip my “leftover” fabric into 1″, 1.5″, 2″, and 2.5″ strips. I really should’ve continued doing that. I also should’ve started cutting squares, rectangles, HSTS, triangles, tumblers, etc., after I got this amazing fabric cutter and dies, but with this scrap bustin’ mission ahead of me, I’m finally starting to cut and organize my scraps and will continue to do so in the between times.
Since the 3rd Saturday of every month is the day I pick up the monthly Build A Quilt block pattern, this is the day I have reserved for making my BOM/QAL blocks.
How are y’all starting off your quilty year?
Thanks for stopping by. Until next time, God Bless You and Happy Stitchin’!
A Thread for Life
To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 1:24-25 NIV
A Quilted Passion 