Block # 39

This is as far as I had gotten last time.

 



I printed off two more foundation strips for the top and bottom rows.

 

 

 

I use a postcard to fold the foundation paper over and crease before cutting.

I used to use the add-an-eighth  ruler

but found the seam allowance was too narrow. 

 



 

And the add-a-quarter was too wide.

So I now use a ruler and cut at a bit less than a quarter inch.

I often use my scissors because the pressure on the ruler hurts my hands. 

 

 

Line up the next fabric.

 



 



Stitch using very short stitches

 

 

This is what happened when I made a mistake and had to unstitch.

Sigh.

The stitches were too close together

So I removed the torn piece and did it over.

 



And finally I tear away the paper.

Oops.

Next time I will not use regular copy paper.

 

 

Not all of my points came together. But that's okay.

  



Block # 39

Most of them did and majority rules.

 

Blessings,

Chris 

Working on My Morrell Again

I joined in on the 17 ufos in 2017 challenge earlier this year.
The plan is to revisit 17 unfinished projects and move them forward and if a finish happens then it is a bonus.
This is as far as I have gotten on my Morrell Sampler.
So much for good intentions.

 I drafted out all the blocks with the saw toothed borders on EQ7.

 This is the first block I started while at a retreat. I had not printed off all the foundation patterns so it ended up in a project box until I got around to doing it.

The plan is to work on this one block. Then maybe another.

Blessings,
Chris

Stay Tuned

I have been busy with family and travel for the past few months and plan to pick up where I stopped on the center block as soon as I come home from the Shipshewana Quilt Retreat next week where I will be taking a workshop in hand piecing with Linda Collins of  Quilts in the Barn in Australia.

 

Centre Block Progress

I valiantly started on the center block by picking out two fabrics for the pinwheel. 

I did this several months ago when I was blitzing a beginning 

and chose fabrics for quite a few blocks that are not yet made. 

Story of my life.

The first thing I did was change out that blue for one with a bit more contrast to that amazing pink print.

Then I promptly cut the blue pin wheels backwards, so I cut them out again correctly.

I pinned together the first pair to hand stitch them together. Sigh. They did not quite fit. so,

I went back to my template and checked the registration marks. Its hard to see them, but what I had done was quickly draw a pencil line on both the inny curve and the outy curve using the same mark.

However, I had drawn  it ever so slightly on an angle

So, I drew it on again this time carefully and straight. Now it fit. 

This time the two curves fit nicely when I pinned them together.

Now to stitch together the other five couplets and see where we are at. 

blessings,
Chris

The Morrell Journey Continues

I got so busy working on a new hand applique sampler quilt along and I started and completed a whole machine applique quilt last month, that I did not get any more done on my Morrell.
But I am back now and anticipate getting a few blocks made this summer. One of my OMG (one monthly goal) for July is to start and complete the center block. It will measure 20 inches when complete. It is a bit daunting and I am tempted to just cut out a section of a red on cream toile, or do some broderie perse like in the original, but since I boast about liking a challenge (whose idea was that?) I will take on the challenge. There are curved seams and inset curved seams and reverse applique and some straight up applique.

Center Block

 I drafted out all the saw-tooth blocks on EQ7 about eight months ago and picked different red prints to do them by simple foundation piecing.

Red French General picks for several saw-tooth blocks

I had started with the simpler applique blocks because I could take them along as handwork while I was away so often last winter. No promises at what pace I will get these done. I am, at best, an all or nothing type, so after doing nothing on this for several months, I just might do all these blocks this summer. We shall see.

Blessings,
Chris

Catching Up

There are a hundred other things I should be doing, but I decided tonight that I need to update this blog.
I know. There was a lot of work to make these blocks. Not. I made the simple 9-patch a few weeks ago but it ended up too small so tonight I made a new one and it wanted to be 1/4 inch too big so I just took an extra 1/32 seam and it is now 10.5 inches. One day I will learn how to take pictures straight.

Morrell Block #08

I had this Winterthur panel already fused so I cut out a few elements and created this. I will machine applique it on one of these days when I want to avoid doing any real work.

Morrell Block # 26

 This was a no-brainer. I had used this extra wide backing for another quilt and had some left over. It is a gray on cream but this cream is not the same as my background. I will wait until much later to see if I will do anything with it.  I have a few red and cream toiles to choose from for one of the other blocks.

Morrell Block # 14

Morrell Block # 05

 I made this one a couple of months ago and have decided where to put it. That's it for  now.

Blessings,
Chris

Block # 4

I hand pieced these 8 star points together. It actually came together far easier than I had anticipated. My hand piecing skills are very new. I have spent a lifetime using the sewing machine for piecing and a seam ripper for un-piecing. I started and stopped 1/4 inch from each edge.

 I hand appliqued the star points. Using longer pins, I turned under a seam allowance and pinned it in place. I used that small red flower at the point for a reference. When I got to 1/4 inch from the point, I took an extra stitch before clipping off the point and turning the corner.

 And voila! Not every design on the fabric was an exact repeat. I used the dark line in the center for a reference as I reverse appliqued the center.

Morrell block # 04

I was almost done when I realized that it was supposed to be on point. And this is how new pattterns are invented.

Blessings,
Chris