A Finger in Many Pies...

I could hardly believe how long it's been since I posted on this blog! We've been traveling and had some family visits, and I was not getting a lot of sewing done. That needs to change. So I started with a couple of blocks for our guild's Christmas-themed donation quilt. It's not enough to make blocks for my own quilts, I just love being part of quilts made by group effort! This 12 1/2" Star  block will be one of many assembled into a cheerful holiday quilt.

 

This is the first block I made, but was disappointed to find it came a scooch short of the required size. You know a scooch- just a little less than it should be. I may try this one again just because I like the Missouri Star block. Any errors happen in either the cutting, the piecing or the pressing so I just need to figure out where I went wrong and fix it for the second time around! I suspect the piecing because I was careful when cutting and pressed the daylights out of it using spray starch. We'll see.

But because I can't stay out of other people's quilts, here's another small project I'm working with a quilting friend to complete. Someone gave her these cute red work blocks, beautifully stitched, and she asked for ideas on how to use them in a baby quilt. Since they already have a layer of batting through which the embroidery was done (no floss shadowing through), I thought it would be good to do a quilt-as-you-go quilt. So we've pieced some alternate string blocks and will assemble them with borders eventually.

 

This quilt is one I made for a special donation to a military service person who had lost his sight. It's a texture quilt and has dimensional pieces to feel such as zippers that open, prairie points with buttons, braids and trims, tucks, and plushy fabrics.

 

As the thought of "a finger in every pie" crossed my mind, I went in search of other quilts I've been a part of. I'd almost forgotten this small Cracker Quilt our small Wednesday sewing group pieced some time ago. It's fun to think that a little piece I made combined with others and is warming someone's life somewhere. Guess that's part of the community and sharing that draws us to quiltmaking.