MONTH 1 — Show Your Progress Here

[Marilyn M.]

256 little fan blades stitched into groups of four .....and a photo of them nestling in a tin for safe-keeping! Now it's time to get back to completing last year's "Homeward Bound". Maybe in the evenings, when watching TV, I can trace and cut out the 256 little centres for the fans?

[Sheridan D.]

So pretty.

[Laurie F.]

Love your round tin to store the fan blades!
Rather than make 64 centers for the fans, why not make a double template and have just 32? Larger arcs are easier to sew, too!

[soniasimone]

So adorable in the tin.

[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.

[Annette M.]

This is my month 1 block. It is 16.25” square. I have been reading the others’ solutions and will think about what to do. I’m leaning towards the ribbon idea.

[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