Project Quilt Continues

 And why would anyone make a four patch if they could have an hourglass block instead? As a reminder, one can lay two four patches on top of each other (dark to light and vice versa), sew a quarter inch seam around the periphery, then cut the diagonals. Press and clean away the dog ears and weird bits. In theory, these hourglass blocks are 4 inches square.

And that's when everything when sideways. Buddy stepped in for Tim Gunn (formerly of Project Runway) and gave me an evaluation...BORING! Then Buddy said that I had to make a quilt from the scraps of the first version...

As I made the four patches, I had extra slices. If I sewed these together as before, the colors got scrambled.  Let's call these fractured shards. 

Combining Colors

Today I began converting the 3.25 inch strips into four patches for the "All the Colors" challenge for Project Quilting. Buddy thinks this is a team project, but it is not.

Catching Up and Keeping Up

I am catching up on step five of Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Challenge. I'm one step behind. As a reminder, I am using an "opposite" color way where her neutrals are my black and her pinks are my purples. 

And I am working on the first Project Quilt challenge that I mentioned in yesterday's post. The first challenge has very simple requirements...use at least five colors and finish it by next Sunday noon central time. I cut many 3.25 inch strips so I think I have met the first part of the challenge. I just have that "finish the quilt" part to do. Also, Molly is playing her part in this reality show by being the diva, saboteur and drama queen.  Buddy is playing the role of the emotional sinkhole who is traumatized by the drama queen. He hopes he is helping me out by nipping at the drama queen's ears, but he certainly is not.

And speaking of drama...my sister noted that yesterday's picture shows us dressed up for her junior high graduation. But this just begs the question of where are our twin brothers? 

Happy Birthday

Today is my sister's birthday. Here is a picture of us dressed up for a reason that I don't remember. At first, you might think it is sweet that we are holding hands...but you should look closer to see that my sister is firmly holding my wrist. To be fair, she may have been trying to protect her dress from whatever sticky mess I might have had on my hand. Or maybe I kept running away. 

Meanwhile, I made no noteworthy progress with quilting except for getting revved up for Project Quilting which began today. (This is the quilt version of Project Runway). The last time I attempted this, I started quilts that I had no hope of finishing within the one week timeframe. Given that there are typically no size constraints, my defeat was due to serious conceptual flaws. If you are interested, here is the link that explains the challenge: https://kimlapacek.com/project-quilting. And here is the link to the first challenge: https://kimlapacek.com/2022/01/13-1-all-the-colors-challenge-1-of-project-quilting-season-13.html.

Seeing Red

 The Rainbow Scrappy Challenge is starting the new year with red scraps. And I am starting the year without a plan. Then I made a decision to make bowties...but what size. How about 3 inches finished? But larger scale fabrics like more room to show off...so how about 4 inches finished? How about both?

Cutting 2.5 inch squares will make the 4 inch finished bowties. They also need 1.5 inch squares for the tie part. I estimate I need roughly twenty 4 inch bowties and forty 3 inch bowties. Excellent. There is not better way to start the new year than setting oneself up for failure.

I have the 40 small bowties cut and have finished seventeen. 

And if you are wondering about the microspools, they are being sewn in pairs. In quilting parlance, this is the terrible twos.

Shards Up Against the Wall

The clown blocks are all set up next to the sewing machine to be sewn in pairs. This left the design wall open for the Shards quilt. If you want to see Kaffe Fassett's Shards quilt, you can find it in "Quilts in an English Village." Also, given the quilt is available as a kit, you can easily find it with your favorite search engine. Or you can watch this Free Spirit video of Kaffe presenting the quilts from the book. The Shards quilt is presented at 30:15. 

I'm seeing that when I made blocks using favorite fabrics, I matched fabrics too closely so that they don't have enough contrast. I've already decided to make ten more blocks...and if they have more contrast maybe I can still capture the shimmering look. And given I like making these blocks so much, I could always make two quilts.

Meanwhile, Buddy is hoping that everyone's new year's resolution will be giving up fireworks.

Shard Ending

 Before I began the Clown quilt, I had cut lots of 2.5 inch strips to make the hourglass blocks for this variation of Kaffe Fassett's shards quilt. I was sewing these as I was sewing the clown quilt. Not as organized as leaders and enders. More like two commingled piles.

At this point, I almost have enough blocks for the whole quilt. I want to get it up on the design wall to see how well the various blocks blend together. This will also help me decide what size to make it.

Okay, some of the Shards blocks may have gotten Clown Cooties.

And speaking of clowns...I had to drape Buddy's favorite "Mouse on a Wand" toy over my forehead to get him to look up.