One Monthly goal in May:

For May, my goal is to finish assembling my improv log cabins into a table runner.

First I have to make a few more blocks.

I didn't post to the April finishes link up, so what happened to April's goal? A lot of thinking, but not much action. Last time I published this photo:

Then I rearranged the blocks several times:

measurements in this layout: 60" x 48"

but each time it just wasn't working! (I'll spare you the other attempts!)

The reason hit me! Laid out like this each block is an individual, not playing with the others. My original plan to use narrow sashing wouldn't change this. It's like the Academy Awards Ceremony: too many stars jostling for the limelight! The blocks need space to show off! The original suggested layout for the Summer Sampler foresaw this and added neutrally coloured alternate blocks, resulting in an enormous quilt of  92" x 80". Much too big for my purposes.

Does anyone have an idea for using these blocks? I don't need 20 more cushion covers, nor 5 more table runners! I don't think I'll be ready to finish this in the next month; I have to order more fabric for alternate blocks or wider sashing once I've decided how to proceed.

I learnt a lot from making these blocks and enjoyed all the challenges along the way. I want to be able to see them; not leave them in a box!

I'm linking to

Click on the button to see more goals for May.

Happy sewing

Marly.

Summer Sampler 2019: One Monthly Goal for April

At the beginning of each month Patty at Elm Street Quilts holds a link up for projected goals, not necessarily finishes.
This month I'm going to try to assemble my Summer Sampler 2019.

I finished making all 21 blocks about a month ago, and as one finished smaller than the rest (how did I manage that?)  

it will get borders and become a cushion and the rest a 4x5 block quilt with narrow sashing and no borders. At least that's what I think now!

Come back here at the end of April to see how far I've got.

In the meantime visit Patty's blog:

to see what other crafters are aiming to do.

Happy sewing

Marly.

My last two Summer Sampler blocks finished

My goal for February was to make the two remaining blocks of the 2019 Summer Sampler and to remake my "disaster" block. 

Here are the last two blocks I made: numbers 7, "Sparkler", and 21, "Summertime Star".

Sparkler

The focus in Sparkler was on creating transparency, but with my chosen fabrics it was difficult to really create a transparent effect; the fabrics were chosen for contrast rather than blending. I deliberately left this block until last, until I knew what was left to potentially work with.

Summertime Star

The focus in Summertime Star was on Y-seams, which weren't a problem. However the problem here for me was getting all the points to come together in the middle. After unpicking the last seam three times I decided that right or wrong the fourth attempt would be the final one. Those bias edges were not getting any better. Finished is better than perfect.

And then block number 9, Oasis: it's still as it was at the beginning of the month.



I've decided not to remake it, but to square it down to remove the wavy edges and then add a border.

I didn't fully achieve my goal, but at least I opened the project box and took stock of the situation. Trimming Oasis down to make it square and adding a border shouldn't take too much time, but then I have to think how I'm going to use the blocks. The projected layouts would result in a quilt that is far too big for my purposes. So what next? Two lap quilts? cushions? table runners? shopping bags? - not a good idea.

I'm linking up to 

 

Click on the button to see other spectacular February finishes.

Happy sewing

Marly.