Quilt Progress is Learning

 

I got an Accuquilt cutter for my birthday. With it, you buy dies that cut fabric into the pieces you need to make a quilt block. There are several reasons to get one. For instance if you have a hard time cutting the pieces, for whatever reason, it makes it much more physically in reach. Also, if you are like me, and have a hard time cutting the pieces consistently, it definitely makes the pieces VERY consistent.  BUT there is a learning process with it. I mean, if you are cutting half-square triangles, you can put the right side of the fabric face up or face down, and it won't make much difference. Some of the other shapes, however are not as forgiving. It takes practice.

Yesterday, I cut pieces for a couple of mosaic blocks, for the first time. Yeah, I ended up with more of some parts of the block than I did the other. And I have "extras" for the future. Yeah. Extras. Today, I got some of the sewing done. Here's how that went.

The first mosaic block in process

I think the block when finished, will look pretty good, although I am glad to be able to practice it a few times. Is this my next quilt? you may ask. No. I will make my practice blocks into mug rugs, or maybe a fabric box. They are supposed to be 10" blocks, and that might be a bigger box than I would really like. We'll see...

I will say that I'm putting to use some of the quilt building techniques making this block, however. Pins, for one thing. Yep, I don't like using them because they take time to put in, and put away, and then, I drop them on the floor and make a mess. But really, I do try to keep them out of Pin Killer's clutches. (OK, OK, that IS the name of the sewing machine I use most of the time.) I think I got my pieces matching up pretty well this time, but while I will practice that, I won't live or die by it. Ever.

Pin Killer doesn't like sewing more than 4 layers of fabric, really, even this relatively light cotton. I think I'm going to try my older Singer on the next mosaic that I make. So, that is something else I'm learning: different machines are good at different things. OK, I really already knew that, but I'm learning to use them and find what they are good at, and take advantage of that knowledge.

Another quilt I've been working on is the current Charitable Crafting quilt. Many of the other people working on that quilt have much more knowledge of making quilts than I have, and I am learning a lot from them. Learning where being careful makes a difference. Learning about process, and thoughtfulness. Learning about using pieces that were made by others, and integrating them into the whole. 

A view of the first 5 rows 

Most of the blocks for this quilt were made sort of crazy quilt fashion, by various volunteers. Some, however, are created by using "orphan" blocks. Blocks that were created for other quilts, but didn't get incorporated, or the quilt was never completed, and the pieces have been donated to Cruces Creatives. Several of the people who help with Charitable Crafting make quilts for Linus projects, and have used some of these donations as part of one or another of their quilts. We have found them a beautiful addition to this project as well. I've learned how to use a walking foot, and a free motion quilting foot to help turn them into quilt as you go blocks. Recently, I saw someone making quilt as you go flying geese using half square triangles, and now I want to try that, too!

Of course Roxanne and I are working on some quilt construction together, finishing up the quilt tops that we started years ago. I need to go back to mine and finish up sewing the rows I made together, and get it quilted and finished! I know so much more about the whole process now than I did when we started those. And quilting is so much more than block making (although I will confess, the block making is my favorite part, so far).