Just In Time!

I typically review my day and think about tomorrow as I am drifting off to sleep each night.  So it was that Sunday night I was admonishing myself to not even look at Round 5 of the SAHRR until I had finished  Rounds 3/4.

But, alas, I couldn't resist.  So while I was thinking about what I would do for Round 5, I quickly assembled and attached the final strip of 3/4. The inset strips for the Round 4 blocks were cut from the eight leftover star points like the center square.

It's about 30" square at this point.  I don't think my holder's arms will be wide enough after the next round.  Time to clear off the design wall!

A Do-Nothing Week

 Actually, it's been more like two do-nothing weeks.  

I was rolling along, making good progress on a number of things, then I hit a creative wall.  Part of the problem is trying to regain momentum after being out of the house for several hours.  Last week it was PT on Monday and Wednesday (30 minutes into town) with a trip to Nashville (2+ hour drive) for doctor/dentist visits stuffed in between on Tuesday.  I did manage to get one piece near the finish line

I originally had five rows of blocks but it was out of proportion.  Not sure what I will do with it -- maybe a wheelchair quilt or a baby quilt.  I think it needs a border, but I'll need to shop my stash for something to go with it.  The remaining blocks will become a table runner.

Not only am I not yet driving, but we are down to one car after a pick-up recently smashed into the rear side of Alex's car (just a few feet behind my seat!)  So on Friday I asked a friend to get me out of the house to get a Valentine for Alex.  We incorporated lunch into the trip.  I forgot to text Alex that I had been invited out and he returned home from his charity work to an empty house!  Oops.

As I reported earlier, I had a plan for Round 3 of the SAHRR and was hoping that Round 4 could be blended into it.    I'm still cogitating on what should be a simple "extemporaneous" block; I'm having trouble fitting it into an otherwise "formal" setting.  So this is where I stand after Round 3 ...

I credit Diann/Little Penguin with the inspiration to incorporate Round 3 into the corners.  I can't attach the corners until I make Round 4.  I'm hopeful that I will have a solution before the end of today!

(Apologies for the poor quality of photos lately.  I'm learning a new phone and most of my photos have to be made while I'm sitting.)

Around A Round Robin

Things were going so smoothly through the first two rounds.  At that point I had two sides on my center square.

I held off adding the other two sides, waiting to see what the third round prompt would be.  Anticipating it might be a block that I could add to the sides I decided to put the remaining strips of HSTs on the top and bottom to help the math work for a strip of 5- or 6-inch blocks.

Ehh, the look of flying geese just didn't do anything for me. So I ripped them off and put them where they were originally intended to go, adding background fabric cornerstones.

Stars is the prompt for round 3.  My favorite star is the Ohio Star (Go Buckeyes!) but it's not an easy one to do at a small scale and I'm afraid a whole round of large blocks will overpower the rest of the project.  I have a plan ... stick around and hopefully I'll have something to show soon.

But look at what else I found in a box of blue and brown scraps ...

... a SAHRR I started during Covid!  I think it's time I finish it.

SAHRR Update and a Diversion

The prompt for Round 3 was half-square triangles (HSTs).  I was fortunate to have a goodly supply on hand in the appropriate colors so completing this round was a quick fix.

I have not attached the side strips because I want to see what Prompt 4 will bring.  I might be able to incorporate it into the cornerstones.

While I had time on my hands -- and loose ends on the table -- I decided to see what I could do with some 9-patches before I put them in the Parts Department. 

 I love the colors and even ordered extra of the pink faux linen fabric from Connecting Threads.  They were piled with a nice coordinating brown fabric so I am putting the 9-Ps on point in the brown. I'm thinking some kind of sashing will result in a fairly nice throw size.

Check this link at Anja Quilts to see other's progress

Correcting an Error and Answering a Question

I incorrectly identified a little project in my Loose Ends post a few days ago.  

This little piece was made of leftover blocks from the second "real" quilt I ever made in 2002!  (First was an Eleanor Burns baby quilt for GS-3 in 2001).  The pattern is Honeycomb Waffle designed by Sara Nephew.  It first appeared in her book Big Book of Building Block Quilts in 2001.  That book was republished in association with Marci Baker in 2014 as Not Your Grandmother's Log Cabin.  Marci Baker is the author of ABC 3D published in 2010.  All of these books have fun and attractive projects using strip piecing with both the 60-degree triangle and other odd angles.

*  *  *  * *  

Nann/With Strings Attaached asked  "How did you become an instructor for a particular ruler/technique?" I thought I would answer here.

Frankly, I don't remember!

Not long after I started quilting in the early 2000s, I took the Honeycomb Waffle class from Sara at the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show (I think) around 2001-2.  I was enchanted by the 3-dimensional effect and thrilled with the strip-piecing technique; I wanted my fellow quilters to learn.  I'm assuming I asked permission to teach from her patterns, using her ruler, and that she invited me to a training session in Bellingham, WA for certification.  I learned a lot about using the ruler, but lots of other things like the value of value, and teaching techniques.  I taught at many local guilds and  retreats and even traveled a couple of times until I "retired" about 8 years ago.  

Needless to say, I highly recommend the Clearview 60-degree ruler (comes in various sizes with lots of options).  No gimmicks or oversizing in either Sara's or Marci's patterns.

SAHRR Jackpot!

I posted earlier that I have been working my way through many VERY old unfinished projects.  Two that I have been wrangling in the last few days have LOTS of  half-square triangles (can't wait to share one of them with you soon).  

As I was falling asleep last night I was thinking about what Round 2 would entail, anticipating some round would probably incorporate HSTs.  So imagine my delight when I saw the week's prompt this morning.  Mine are already made! (pre-2018)

I hit the SAHRR Jackpot!

Tying Up Loose Ends

In between mysteries and round robins and waiting for my Connecting Threads order, I've been trying to finish up some old projects.  By "finish up" I mean get them to the flimsy stage.  I have a nice stack of things waiting for backs and batting until I can manage the basement stairs again.  I have a scheme to invite some friends to "shop my stash" for me in exchange for lunch and choosing a stash treat for themselves. 

This week I added borders to this class sample from ABC 3D by Sara Nephew and Marci Baker.

I was a certified instructor for Clearview Triangle (60 degree) for about 5 years (around 2014).  With the borders it only measures 31 inches.  I'm thinking of backing it with flannel for a wheelchair quilt.

Then I pulled out another golden oldie - Moroccan Tile, a Jewel Box pattern that uses the Gem 5 and Gem 10 rulers.   I know I started it well before we moved here in 2018.  

Not sure what I will do with it.  It is about 45 inches at the widest part.  I do have a round coffee table; otherwise no place to use it.  So I'm thinking maybe I should add extensions to square it up.  What say you?

You may recognize the fabric in this last project.

The pattern is Liberty Stars from Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting magazine.  I had made four stars and diamond points for a fifth star.  I don't remember if I intended to make a five-star runner or to make a three-star like the pattern and one with two stars.  Nevertheless, one star became the center for my SAHRR and I added the extra star points to my potential fabrics on that project, so I decided to make the three-star runner like the pattern.  You can see I still have the inset rectangles to add.  When quilted I think it will make a nice gift to have on hand.

FYI, the CT fabric arrived yesterday so I can get back to the 4-patch project tomorrow.  Wait till you see what's up after that!