MONTH 1 — Show Your Progress Here

[Janet M.]

[soniasimone]

This will be beautiful! I love brown quilts.

[Helen W.]

I cut a 20 inch block and sewed my bunny ring onto the block. I still need to trim it down to 16 1/2 inches. I don’t have a ruler that size so it’s kind of scary. Is that what you mean?

Lori M. When I have to trim a block and it is bigger than my rulers, I tape pieces of vellum paper that is same size as copier paper.
together, lay it on my cutting mat using the lines of the mat. Cut it to the size I need for my block. Lay that cut piece of
vellum on the block and it is easy to center because you can see thru it. Use a piece scotch tape on each side of the vellum to
the block so it can not shift. Then cut the block using my 6 by 24 inch ruler. Cut thru the tape and then just pull the tape off.
I have found this to be accurate and not scary. HelenW

The picture is not a big block, it is one I took years ago to show someone the process I use. You should be able to get the idea.

[LORI M.]

Thank you! That’s excellent instructions!

[Barbara B.]

Mats are not always accurate so check your paper “ruler” with a real ruler you are sure is accurate, Quilters Select and Creative Grids are the best.

[Helen W.]

Good Advice Barbara, Back when I bought my mats the Olfa company was advertising that
their lines on their mats were always accurate and that was a reason to buy their product.
But I have measured my mats and even my rulers and that gives me peace of mind that I don't
have to worry that one aspect of quilting. I used a metal Stanley tape measure, because even
sewing tape measures can stretch. HelenW

[Paola B.]

I had such a hard time with this block! I had never done a y seam before so it took a while to understand the best way to do it. But my difficulties were with putting the center star on the outer fabric. I found it very difficult and made lots of mistakes. When I finally got it to fit on the out fabric, it was not a 6 1/2 inch block. So I started over again this time I decided to hand stitch it onto the background fabric. I am so much happier that now it is the right size. Phew!

[msunds21]

Block 1 ready for trimming to size. Barbara B., thank you so much for the suggestion of cutting the outside frame larger. I can see how that could have been a problem. Marie

[Sheridan D.]

Started sewing my outer border fans and made the decision to delete the seam in the lower quadrant piece making it a semi circle. Need to concentrate on getting the seam between the semi circle and the fans blades smoother.

[Helen W.]

Sheridan D. I plan to do the same thing. Also plan to eliminate the seam above the fan blades.
For a smoother bottom of the fan blades, could you wait to draw the bottom line until you have the
fan blades together. Then take you semi circle C template and use Jen's idea of making the line
using the template of the adjoining template. Put template C sew line on the edge of the bottom
of the fans and the seam allowance into the bottom of the fan and draw a smooth semi circle.
Just an idea I plan to use. HelenW

[Barbara B.]

Later this year I will provide tips on this process.

[Lucy K.]

My block is done, I used vintage feedsacks in it. Hand and machine stitched.

Beautiful--I love your vintage fabrics!

[soniasimone]

How great to have vintage feedsacks! This will be a real heirloom.

[Sally W.]

Month 1 finished!

[soniasimone]

Such a lovely color combination!

[Ellen J.]

Finished my center block! It is totally hand pieced and I loved the process. Made from my stash with little or no thought of color theory. It finished exactly at 16 1/2”, beginners luck I guess.

[clarkleigh]

Finished my Month 1 block. Using fabrics from my own stash as well as the stash inherited from my Mom. Did all machine piecing, but cut pieces by hand. Karen Kay Buckley scissors were a real blessing!

[LinSt]

Finished block 1

[KayeT]

Just need the outer part and month 1 will be done. Also got 7 border blocks done. Mixture of hand and machine is working for me.

[Cooper10]

Finished the center block Yikes! I think it came out fine. I am using my scrap stash so not paying to much attention to color except to make it colorful. Love seeing everyone's blocks.

[Annette M.]

This is my month 1 square. It is 16.25" square. I have been reading others' solutions to decide what to do. I am leaning towards the suggestion of ribbon as coping strips. I regret not following Barbara's advice to make the outer sections larger!

[Annette M.]

Thank you for that suggestion. I'll let you know how it works!

[Annette M.]

That worked like a charm. I taped off a 16.5" square on my design wall (foam insulation beneath grey flannel) and pinned the wet square to it.

[Helen W.]

Annette, Thanks for posting the picture of the blocking you block. I think it might help others
who also come out a little short. I always try to add a little extra on outside borders if a block has
circles or curves, because they tend to pull in a little extra fabric and seam allowances come out short. HelenW

[Lori M.]

This was a great challenge, using skills I haven’t used in a long time and trying new skills. Glue basting was an absolute must for me

[Monique G.]

So I completed month one with a few differences. I feel like I'm totally out of my element. After watching Alex's live you tube with Freddy Moran, she inspired me to just work with your ugly fabrics and enjoy the process . . . .put it together and learn. Once I felt I had freedom to just do it, this is what I came up with. I added a 4 inch border on each side because I would like to surround the block with 5- 8" squares to enlarge the quilt. Not sure about the colours for the next round by I will take it as I go. A big thank you to 'Freddy, Barbara, and Helen for all you encouragement and help

[Helen W.]

Monique, Loving where your natural instincts are taking you. Smart math to make a 4 inch border since it works well
with this quilt being 8 inch squares. Most quilters grow their quilt size by adding borders at the end of the pattern
so they don't have to adjust everything after the center until they get done. If your goal was to just make a bigger
quilt you could still do that. If you like the intrigue of just winging it, that is not a bad thing to do. I do it all the time.
Your block looks elegant with that dark inner border and the mitered corner with that pattern in it. Good Job!!!
HelenW

[Marilyn M.]

Monique.......Your so-called "ugly" fabrics are looking quite splendid in your different and very clever arrangement.