As things have progressed along, my interests have become more diversified. With that thought in mind and a wish for shorter posts, I have begun spliting out certain disciplines from my quilting diary posts. The newest idea was to split out my English Paper Piecing projects.
I only have five active projects using four different patterns. Of course, I have a number waiting to happen.
Farmer’s Wife 1920 Quilt
This was my beginning. I joined a sew-a-long and decided to paper piece this one. While it is an amazingly large quilt with 111 blocks, I am beyond happy that I started with this one. Putting together the blocks just made sense.
I have not really done anything at all since travel and hockey were both shut down at the same time and this is an activity that I really only do during those times. The last block I finished was Block 42 – Fruit Basket. I was under the mistaken impression that I had prepped blocks 43 and 44 already so when I went to Florida I took them (and two other projects). Imagine my surprise (and disappointment) when I realized they needed to be basted. So this past week, I have been glue basting both blocks.
Lost and Found Quilt SAL with Paper Pieces
Since hockey started back up at end of June, this is the one project that I have consistently worked on. Even though I am working on these blocks, I am still behind a few months. I have to laugh, because now, I can’t imitate the monthly instructions for the blocks because I have begun running out of certain colors for the one inch hexies.
I have only two more units to finish in the last row of block 12 and it will be done. I should be able to do that this weekend since we have hockey. That means that I will be exactly half way done with the blocks. I will have to do sashing too and should probably start thing about that.
I finished basting July blocks 13 & 14 this week so there will be no down time with this quilt!
Ruby’s Double Diamond Garden Quilt (a replica of my wedding quilt made by my Grandma Ruby)
Lucky for me, the bag I threw in my backpack with these blocks were basted! Yipee!! While I had planned to EPP in the evenings while in Florida, that never happened as I only was in my room long enough to sleep and shower.
On the flight home, I was able to almost complete one whole double diamond block with sashing. I think I must be quicker. The flight was only 6 hours and some of that time I was eating or reading. This block has Lori Holt fabric (country rose) and Liberty of London (flower) fabric. My sashing is a blender that I picked up somewhere to imitate the turquoise my grandmother used in my quilt.
I am using mainly Lori Holt fabric. At the time I picked up the fabric, I did not know her. During this pandemic, I have become well acquainted with her style. I picked it because it seemed more like the fabric my grandmother used. The fat quarter bundle was not going to be enough to finish the 83 blocks needed.
The pattern I have from Paper Pieces have things filled in with the background fabric while my grandmother did half hexies in many places and had a uneven finish in others. Her quilt top was not appliqued onto another piece of fabric, so I do not plan to do that either. I hope by the time I get to the finishing part, I will be more experience in finishing EPP projects.
Hexie Swaps
I participated in my second hexie swap. My first hexie swap was the rainbow swap in May. Those hexies are still sitting around while I try to figure out what to do with them. The hostess sent her set of 10 unbasted which I guess should be considered a plus. I also found it interestting that I received a number of my own hexies back which was unexpected.
September 15th was the deadline for the Halloween hexie swap. I sent mine off before heading to Florida. The host confirmed she received the hexies. These swaps take so long to do that you can’t really plan on them. Both my hostesses post that they are too busy to sort and send out. And that is after them being pretty strict about deadlines. I actually have a plan for the Halloween hexies which I hope works out. We shall see.
New Hexagon Book Projects
As you may recall, I am not making the quilt from the New Hexagon book but hope to work my way through them for small items that I can finish.
My first project will be mug rugs in the Walkabout fabric line to coordinate with my May table runner. I have been pondering how best to finish them. I have settled on appliqueing them to a black wool hexie shape. Maybe this weekend I can finish them up…..
My second project with two other blocks will be potholders with fabric from the same fabric line. I wonder how I deal with all those tails…. Definitely good to practice with these small projects.
Wrap Up
I have collected a few other EPP projects along the way that I have not started. After I finish these mug rugs and pot holders, then I might try a pillow with my halloween hexies. Wouldn’t that be fun!
Peggy