(1) unexpected kindness
(2) a baby's laugh
(3) clear directions
Has anybody else had problems with your blog not posting? Have you ever scheduled it to post automatically and it doesn't, then when you look at the Dashboard, it's reverted to a "draft" version? Wierd.
Well, I've been a real cut-up lately! I'm sticking to my self-promise to move through my scraps, and I've been cutting up 2" and 3-1/2" strips to make the Japanese x and + blocks. Julie asked what makes them Japanese? I think someone dubbed them that because the original quilt we've been copying was photographed at a show in Japan?
In between other things I've cut up a few squares and rectangles, and my next step will be to make them into sets. Lots of different colors in that scrap bin!
I haven't been over-thinking the fabric, I just cut what I pull from the bin. I made a test block after I had cut just a few pieces, but I can see that I definitely like the pattern!
The block on the left was my first test. My color choices weren't the best on that one, I have to be aware about contrast on the corners of the 3-1/2" squares and I want to make the overall colors more balanced. It's a keeper though; by the time I get a lot of these put together, you won't see the two dark squares sitting right together on the block. I did a better job on the second one, on the right.
Large-scale patterns won't work so good on the little "plus" squares, see the pinkish areas on the left? They were cut from a piece of African fabric that I had a suit made from... years ago! But I can use them on the 3-1/2" blocks.
The x and + block is very easy to put together and it's a good one for using up scraps, since each block calls for 7 different fabrics. The most you'll need of any one fabric is eight 2" squares.
So that's two down, who-knows-how-many to go! If it takes me the rest of the year to do this one, it's okay. I consider this a "whenever" project just to use my scraps.
If you decide to make one, I'd love to see your take on it - meanwhile, Orca Bay is calling my name! Have a great Saturday...
Sew forth and sew on
My blocks are only five inches and though some look better than others, I think when they are all together thhey will be OK. I have hardly noticed a dent in my scrap box. I am sewing by hand but I got two done today while riding the trains.
ReplyDeleteInteresting block - but I have several scrap projects going already. I will watch yours.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had that problem with Blogger. But I will keep an eye on it.
ReplyDeleteI love the x+ square. I may make a few samples of that and sew it on the back of my "in progress" (but stalled) quilt.
It's happened a couple of times but I think once it was my fault for going in and correcting someting and it threw it out of wack.
ReplyDeleteInteresting block. I like.