What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

I haven't started a new quilt. I am just cleaning up the odd scraps near my sewing machine. The fact that the little string blocks are the right size for quiltville's newer pattern crazie mazie is purely a coincidence. Sometimes, a girl, just has to make string blocks. The mess, and the need for no thinking sewing combine, and, string blocks are born.

These are quick, cute little 5 inch blocks that use the smallest bits. I have finished a couple of big quilts lately and I am giving myself a reward.

I spent a few evenings at the treadle making string units. I was trying to make ahead, the units for the fish school blocks, I have been making for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I cut fish school blocks for the leader/ ender challenge 2021 and made  quite a few, but, didn't keep up for the year. So, this year I cut for RSC. And, about that time, Bonnie Hunter shared her pattern kismet of her finished fish school. I decided, I wasn't far enough along, that I couldn't switch to kismet for finishing my ...

I have all the blocks I need to make this rainbow project into a top. I have really enjoyed making this. I liked using my smallest pieces to make the string rectangles into something useful. By using the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. the colors are bright and happy. I have moved them to a box of their own and plan to take them with me to open sews for assembly.

This block has ...

I am barely finishing these hole in the barn blocks for the month of August and the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy.

I think I have nearly all of them that I need for the quilt.

I have a few zipper blocks ready to go. I just don't have many orange scraps. I like orange in quilts, but it isn't an often used color.

still canning from the garden

 I have orange cream candy ready for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. They look yummy. I think I am nearly done with these blocks. I still need a bit of licorice and chocolate. I have certainly enjoyed making these this year, and I had PLENTY of strings I needed to use. I am looking for a string project for next year or maybe 100.

 I have the orange waffle stamp blocks finished for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy, in orange. I have added over 100 blocks this year. But, I am retiring this project to the ufo closet to wait it's turn for assembly. 

and pink

This is the last Saturday for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I spent the week finishing what I needed in purple for my rainbow projects. And, I am ready for the new color.

I had a few blue waffle stamp blocks

purple zipper

hunters star

star and crown

I ...

Every color of candy is my favorite after I make them. All the purple sweet tooth blocks are finished for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I am thinking that I have too many rainbow scrap projects. I am struggling at the end of the month to get them all done. But, I really like them all. Maybe next year I will exercise a little more sense.

I knew I was going to need more projects to take for our Friday and open sews coming up in April. I decided to dig out Fair and square and see what was next for moving this project along. This has been a puzzle from the beginning

I sewed the string triangles into twosies. I joined the twosies to make blocks.

I thought I was ready to start piecing rows, but the string blocks didn't fit. Back to the instructions -

Now, I am ready to make rows.

I grabbed a bucket of strings and crumbs and started sewing pieces together for my hole in the barn quilt. I feel like I am going to run out of the strips before I am done with all the colors for the rainbow scrap challenge. I only need the rectangles to be 2 1/2 inch wide. It is a great opportunity to use the small pieces.

I enjoyed my Mother's day with church and family for dinner. But, it certainly wore me out ...

I have my candy blocks ready for April and the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. Angela dropped the hint for the color a little early, so, I quick made crumb blocks and tada.. candy. I have baggies of strings sorted by color for the year.

I woke up one morning, and, I wanted to make noodles. That was odd. Who wants to make noodles when you can open a bag from the store. The house was quiet, and, I cracked open a few eggs and started. It was a very sentimental time, and filled my heart with love for all the really great women who had taught me how to make noodles. I first thought of my Mother, who has been gone for 20 years. I could see her unrolling those long noodles and she talked about her Mother teaching her. It was an art ...

 I am a little late setting my goals for July. 

I really want to keep sewing my sea swept sashing blocks - I hope to finish them this month.

I haven't been spending much time sewing lately. I need to make a list of the next steps needed on my works in progress, and then, I won't just stare at the mess and not know what to do. A list is much more ...

Sew day was Saturday with the guild. I had a new project I was anxious to start, and, I wanted to get the borders on this scrappy shirt quilt. I had started the string/crumb borders on Friday. When I laid the quilt out to measure, and cut the borders, I didn't like them at all. Which was a great reason to switch to my exciting new project. That was just what I needed to think about the borders for a bit, and, realize I just needed to keep going. Often, I don't like something at one stage ...

I have a top  for crossed strings. It was such an adventure building the blocks, putting the blocks together, and discovering a top. I think at this point, I will call it done and make a back and binding. I was hoping to have a nice day to take photos, but, no.

inside

outside

I'm linking to:

TGIFF different     here  and here

Making the longer pieces for crossed strings, although challenging to find long enough pieces, is straightforward. sewing and cutting the side pieces takes a bit longer. I was aiming for 48 blocks. Once again, string piecing makes a mess. I grab a handful, and see if I can pull pieces to use out of the pile. 

Of course, the best part is seeing all the block variations with all the different leftover bits and pieces from other projects.

sew much fun -free instructions ...

I mentioned that my crumby stars had me playing in the strings again. I saw this great idea on Cathy's blog and I had to try it. I started making the long string pieces for the center, but, I couldn't wait to try with the shorter side pieces. Now, I was using mostly crumb pieces, and, I had to piece some strips from shorter pieces to be long enough. I tried eliminating any piece I picked from the basket, either by using in this project, or, sewing them together in another way.

crossed strings

I am a big ...

I mentioned here that I was cleaning my scrappy work table and started a quilt.... just like that. This will be my third wonky courthouse steps. I haven't even quilted the first two. I have more strings and crumbs than I have time. These go so quickly and are such great fun. I am aiming for 63 blocks this time. I had a basket that I almost emptied, but, it is only one of several. So I filled it again with more.

lots of great leftovers in here

It's time in Indiana for maple syrup. We have a ...

I have more sunshiny yellow blocks made for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I have started crumb stars just this year. I sit for one evening sewing crumbs in the color of the month. However many I can cut from that, is how many I can make for the month.  I am cutting the centers at 4 1/2 inches and using 2 1/2   HSTS - ( half square triangles )