I mentioned last week that I had plans to take a little break from quilting to spend part of the weekend stitching with friends. Our hostess has a brand new house, and she created a beautiful, spacious sewing area for herself, with enough space to share with friends from time to time. Lucky me, I was invited along for the Saturday sewing session.
As planned, I grabbed my copy of the Chopped pattern and loaded up with one unfinished sample, a wad of fat quarters, and about 7 yards light turquoise background fabric. Enough for two quilts, and part of a third all using the same Chopped pattern.
I packed it all up in a basket along with some supplies, snacks and sweets to share.
I didn't even unpack my sewing machine at first, because I wanted to see what exactly was in that package of sample pieces. Turns out, I had enough bits and parts to make about a dozen blocks, I need 48. So, I set up and then made the dozen or so blocks, then put the rest of the blocks on my to-do list for next time. Then I turned to cutting the fat quarters and yardage for half-square triangles--cutting, drawing diagonal lines, and sewing. That's about as far as I got for the day.
Back at home, I pulled and cut, but didn't sew, enough fabrics to complete the rest of the blocks for the scrappy sample. Then, I cut and pressed the half-square triangles for the two fat quarter/yardage quilt. That's what so great about the Chopped pattern, it has lots of options! I loaded everything back in the basket for the next sewing field trip.
Meanwhile, I got back on track with the quilting task on Monday, I continued making progress on the last of the quilts from the stack of to-be-quilted tops. This quilt was created for a shop hop years ago and it incorporates bear paw blocks and applique. My sample, made in pastel batiks has been sitting around as an unquilted top for years. My quilting strategy is a bit more fussy--and time consuming--than most.
I might release this pattern in parts, so you can make one, too. We'll see. First things first, finish the quilting, then decide.
Happy Stitching!
Head Hummingbird
Hummingbird-Highway.com
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