Hospital visit!

I haven't been able to sew for a over a week as I've had to take my sewing machine in for a service.  I was stitching on slow speed and I noticed that the usual purr had changed to a distinct 'clonk' so immediately stopped.  It is now in the 'hospital' until I get a phone call to say it is well enough to come home.

I also have my father in hospital at the moment (a different one) so I don't have much time for sewing anyway.  I have managed to cut out two more blocks though, so they are ready and waiting for when my machine returns.

Meanwhile, here are all the blocks I have made so far.

#16 Pieces of Friendship

This is the sixteenth block for the Splendid Sampler Quilt A-Long and is called Pieces of Friendship designed by Lindsay Mayland. A fairly simple block to put together, but I had to be mindful of the bias edges to the triangles.  There's a little bit of a wavy edge that I've tried to tame with starch.

#15 Family Affair

This block for my Splendid Sampler QAL is called Family Affair and was designed by Janice Ryan.  I wasn't going to make this one as it is paper-pieced and I've never attempted that, but being at a loose end yesterday I read through several tutorials and had a go.

My first difficulty was choosing my fabrics.  As I'm only using red and neutral fabrics I wanted to make sure that each shape was distinct and stood out against the others.   Also, these shapes are very small and so a large pattern would be lost.  It must have taken me about an hour just to choose the right combination.  

The paper-piecing was easy to pick up once I got into a rhythm, but I didn't like the amount of scraps it made. Also, because of the method used I wan't able to press the seams open and so it's quite bulky in places, especially where the points taper.  

I'm pleased that I've learnt a new technique and I know now that I can use it again when it's called for.