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.

Not an 'official' block

This block is called Rose Park and is designed by Amy Smart.  It hasn't been designed for the Splendid Sampler QAL but I found it on the Babylock site where Pat Sloan has posted a bonus block.  As I was at a loose end this morning I thought I would make it to go in with my other blocks.  It was really easy and went together quite quickly.

#13 Scrap Star

This is my version of #13 Scrap Star by Corey Yoder for the Splendid Sampler QAL.  The original has a scrappy pinwheel centre and scrappy star points but I like a more regular, less busy design so I've simplified it by using just one print in the centre and using one solid for all the star points.  It does change the character of the original somewhat but it is more in keeping with my personal tastes.

Bonus Block

It was just by chance that I found this bonus block last night.  It's called Inside Out and is designed by Pat Sloan, but she didn't design it for the Splendid Sampler but for Babylock and it can be found on their website.

Finding myself with a spare hour this morning I thought I'd make a start on it.  It was very easy cutting and piecing this one and it went together quite quickly.  I really like symmetrical blocks and this one ticks all the boxes for me.

#11 Crocheted Thoughts

This is #11 of the Splendid Sampler QAL.  The designer is Alyssa Thomas of Penguin and Fish and is a representation of a crocheted doily.  I started this one before #12 but the embroidery has taken me ages to complete. The designer used chain stitch but I've done mine in backstitch and I rather like it.  I've also done slightly different borders and used snowball corners.  This was an enjoyable block to do.

#12 Checkerboard

I just knew that somewhere in this QAL there would be a square that was made up of 1" squares, so I've been saving every little scrap.  Made this one without cutting into my bigger pieces of fabric.  It's turned out perfect too, but I did make it the 'cheats' way.

When I went to the Festival of Quilts a couple of years ago I bought a piece of Pellon Quilter's Grid because I had seen a tutorial for making a Postage Stamp quilt using the grid.  It's been sat in the drawer ever since but as soon as I saw this block I looked it out to give it a try.

Oh my goodness, it is so easy to use.  Just cut out 1 1/2" squares, arrange them on the Pellon, cover with a damp cloth and then press.  then you just have to fold it along the joins and stitch a scant 1/4" seam from top to bottom  of each row, and then turn and stitch the rows across.  No matching up of seams, it just matches perfectly. Once stitched the first way I sliver trimmed the seams and pressed them open to help it lay flat and did the same for the across rows.  Start to finish less than one hour, and I spent the majority of the time cutting the squares to begin with.

Nine completed

Now that I've completed nine of the ten squares published I'd thought I'd group them together to see how they interplayed with each other.

I'm pleasantly surprised at how good they all look together.  Of course, working with fabrics from the one designer helps a lot.  These are all made French General by Moda but from different lines, and I'm only using the red ones with a couple of the neutral solids.  I've probably got enough to make the runner I want but I'll wait a bit longer and see what other blocks come along.  I've no idea how I'm going to set them or quilt them yet, either.

#10 Iowa renamed Winchester

We're up to #10 of the Splendid Sampler QAL today. This block is a modified Snowball block and was designed by Sherri McConnell. On her blog, Sherri tells the story behind her design and has called it Iowa as that is where she grew up with her family.  I've renamed it Winchester because that is where I grew up and my elderly father still lives there.  I live five miles away.

I think I spent more time choosing which of my glorious French General reds I should use than I did actually sewing the block.

I've been debating with myself whether it needs something in the middle, perhaps a little heart as a couple of the other blocks have hearts in them.  I haven't any red thread at the moment so when I've bought some more I'll have another think.

#9 Local Quilt Shop

This is #9 Local Quilt Shop and is designed by Jane Davison for the Splendid Sampler QAL.

All of the fabric I'm using for my blocks are reds from the French General by Moda ranges.  I love the little printed selvedge that is cut off and often just thrown away, so when I saw this block with it's little title above the door I knew that I had found a use for one of my saved selvedges.  This selvedge has the line name printed on it with a little fancy border printed above it.  I wanted the the fancy border under the name as well so I had to piece a tiny bit underneath to match the top edge.  It wasn't quite long enough so had to piece an extra 1/4" each side.  On the original block the designer had made the door only 1" high, the same size as the window, but this seemed out of proportion to me so I added an extra 1/2" and I think it looks better.  

After my success with adding embroidery touches to the last block I couldn't resist a little bit on here too, just to fancy it up a bit. I still think it needs something on the roof, maybe some shingles, and what about a little flower box under the window. If I've got time this week I might take another look at this one, but for now I think I should just leave it as it is.

#7 Revisited

Remember last time I said I'd missed out the little feet peeking out from under the blanket?  Well, when I had a minute I threaded up my needle again and stitched the little feet.  Looking at my block with fresh eyes on the screen in front of me I realised that I had room to fit in the frame of running stitches as well, so as the needle was already threaded I stitched the frame. I was quite enjoying myself and remembered seeing other blocks where each little block on the tiny quilt had a different pattern stitched onto them, so I merrily went ahead and did some more stitching.

It was at this point that I thought that I better put my needle away before I filled in every inch of bare fabric left showing.  I didn't want to get too carried away with myself.  After all, I'm the person who "doesn't do embroidery!"