Distractions

Linking up with Meredithe and Anne for 6and6in2018. 

I am working bit by bit on hand-quilting "Plan V" for the quilt show, which is in less than 2 weeks...  Stay focused, Becky!

my 2nd-old-6

I soothe my stress (aka distract myself) with the plain garter-stitch of my first-new-6:

I've also been playing with ombre in my 2nd-new-6:

I bought a "My Small World" kit and began practicing applique with scraps from my BBQAL:

I love purple!

(March) + April OMG - BBQAL

Change in plans: I was one of the lucky winners of 3 yards of wide-back at the beginning of the month (thanks, Rachel of Stitched in Color!) and I really liked this shade, so I changed my plan a bit...   I wanted the backing to be the top, so I decided to stick with just purple squares.  The other colors will become something else, someday.

Sheree, my pretty kitty, and pretty fabrics! Bottom bit is the wide-backing.

Sunny, the big fat cat, on Elda from Mostly Manor by Victoria Findlay Wolfe.

Also, I found out my comforter is not a square.  It is slightly rectangular.  Very glad I gave myself some wiggle room:

fuzzy fuzzy maths

Another important thing that happened this month: I bought a Sizzix Pro and several dies.  I am not a big fan of cutting precise things...  Did you know that 6" squares do not play well with others?  My previously cut squares were not compatible with my new dies for 4.5" or 2.5" squares...  Hmmm.  Time to improvise.

My very first try with the machine, I had to say out-loud "You are not emotionally attached to this fabric - it is a scrap.  You do not even like nautical things like whales..."   :P

Here is my first attempt with purple fabric:

Scary that it leaves marks, but it is supposed to.

little squares and left over bits

Not too bad, eh?

So, I made some four-patches and tried this layout:

sun is behind a cloud

And that layout:

sun came out

I was not super excited about either, so I let it simmer for a few more days.

Decided to take it apart and make more four-patches.  I made a medium sized one with 4.5 and 8.5" squares.  The fabric below was some of the first I bought, back in 2000 ish, when I was 16 years old and could not even afford a skinny quarter.  :P  I think I bought only 1/8 of a yard.

Not my current style, but it is purple.  :)

Then I made a giant four-patch with the original 6"squares in a four-patch paired with 11.5" squares.  I took out the all-polka dot one, so now I have these 3 blocks:

68" ish long!

I missed posting to the March OMG link up.  :(

But I met my (changed) goal and it is still March in my time zone - I'm happy with my progress.

This post will also count as goal setting for April: I am going to applique the squares and put in the zipper and ties I removed from my old duvet.  Linking to Patty at Elm Street Quilts and Rachel's BBQAL.

BBQ-AL, part one

I cut up 11 more squares:

I really liked the post about setting aside a larger chunk of time for the steps that are harder for you.  I need to make me/cutting squares a priority for that one free day I have each week.  Who needs groceries and clean dishes/laundry, right?  :P

still fuzzy maths:
If my duvet cover is 90" and my squares are cut at 6", when I factor in seams, I need 16.3ish squares to cover the width (or length, since it is a square!) so let's go with 16 and it will be 88".  I might make a border, or I might cut more squares, but there is some extra space on the current cover, so maybe 88" will be fine.

16x16 = 256   I like 16 better than 17 because I can sew them into 4 patches.  But if I go with 17, then the pattern (maybe a trip around the world?) can be symmetrical...  Too many choices!

Let's get back to cutting and then I can lay it out.  I want to keep this a flexible plan.  :)

I will use this project as my March OMG (Elm Street Quilts): cut more squares, enough to get me to the half-way point... And this will also be one of my new 6and6 in 2018.  (future link)