Sampler Quilt.

This is the layout I settled on for Drunkards Path.

I did the whole block by hand.

It needs a bit more pressing.  However, I will let that wait till I am ready to consider putting all the design blocks together and make arrangement and stashing decision.

Drunkards Path variation

So that is six different blocks done (well almost done some of then need borders adding to bring them up to size and again I am waiting till all the blocks are done as that might make a difference in the colours I chose to use).

The next block is back to strips joined, cut into triangles and rearranged.  

Sampler Quilt Drunkards path

So after the stall on the Split rail I expected progress on the next block with curves to be slow.

The book has this as a hand sewn block, for the curves at least and described the pining as looking like a hedgehog.

I can see the correlation....

my BFF asked how do you sew that, the answer...carefully.

Sixteen blocks later and much quicker than I had anticipated there is the fun part of looking at the layout to see if I prefer an alternative to the version heading the chapter in the book.

So some options 

There are two that call to me more than others.  One is the chapter picture, one a variation.  I may not need to choose one or the other.  I had a little miscount and made 4 more blocks of the blue and pink than I needed.  So I can make another twelve and try both if I feel like it.

Click here

for an update on the end result and to see what happened to the extra 4 squares.

Eat the Frog and the sampler quilt's progress.

 Well there was a big time gap in the progress on the last block.

The strips of material having been sewn together on  19 November 2017

The next stage of that block and in deed finishing the block waited till September 2018.

Why and what has that got to do with consuming a frog?

Well I have been reading a book about time management and planning, getting more done with your time called Eat that Frog by Brian Tracy (and yes like the old joke I have not finished it yet as I need to find the time to do so).

The theory being that if the worst thing you have to do in a day is eat a live frog you ought to do that first and get it out of the way rather than put it off.

So how does that link to crafting?

Well, I have generally applied the theory that if something has gone wrong in either a cross stitch or a patchwork or a section of quilting that it is better to grit my teeth and  apply the Frog as soon as I see the problem.  Rather than put it away in frustration till I feel like getting it out and fixing it.

Why?

Well the block in the Sampler quilt is a good example.  Just a little bit of unpicking , or as it has become known, frogging was required.  Had I stuck to my normal practice, done it as soon as I realised it was needed I am sure it would have stayed small.  However, as I put it away, it became a bigger issue in my mind and each time I thought about picking the project up again  the thought of starting with a negative action, frogging, which always feels like going backward put me off and I focused my time on something else instead. 

It stalled the whole project, and it was not until the date on my blog brought home to me just how long I had been procrastinating that little bit of unpicking that I made myself "Eat this particular Frog" and it was so easy and quickly done!

So whilst others bemoan the arrival of the Frog, as it is referenced on many a sewing Facebook group I think it is a positive thing that there is the option to put something right.

Sampler quilt..been a long time

since I worked on this, the last update I thought I had the strips done.  But when it came to the next stage, well they just did not measure up.  Literally, they did not make the required measurement and a bit of unpicking was required.

So re sewn, and the two panels of strips cut into squares and triangles and sewn back together and this patch is done.

Strip Rail

It fits beautifuly with my blog ethos..

Well the seams and the points are unique!

It is not giving me much confidence for the block after next which has even more seams and points to tackle.









Who would have thought that I would approach a block with curves as being a buffer between me and a scary scary one with straight edges.

Lawn Bowls Season over

and my dad is packing away his gear for another year.  I have previously shared a humorous piece I stitched for him bowls-season-openfire.

That was not the only bit of stitching I have done for him.  Much earlier I hand stitched his club crest and attached it to white towelling making a neck scarf for those rainy matches as he hated drops or rain getting down his neck.

It is about three inches square.

I took a picture of it before it went away till next April when the season starts again next year.

I remember stitching it on the weeks my dad was doing a 3 - 11 shift and keeping hidden till Christmas.  I was very pleased with the way it turned out...I still am as it has worn well I made it well over 30 years ago...