Sara's Quilt, Block 4

Block # 4, 10 1/2  " x 10 1/2" before being assembled into the quilt.

I made this block for Sara's quilt several weeks ago, but I only got around to writing up the pattern this week. Some people write the pattern and then follow it to sew the project, but that doesn't work for me. When I was teaching I had to have my room completely set up at the first of the year before I could even think about lesson plans and such. Quilts patterns are similar. For one thing, I need to have the photographs and the diagrams ready to go so I can insert them into the text. I can't do that unless I have the finished piece in front of me. I also use that finished piece to double check and triple check my measurements.

Some patterns are more difficult to write than others are. I don't know why, but this was one of the trickier ones. Now and then, I could really use testers and editors to find the mistakes in a pattern. Please let me know if you'd be interested in doing that. Volunteers would have to make a commitment to sewing a pattern in a relatively short time, but they would also receive the pattern free.

I'm feeling very proud of myself. I actually hand stitched four of the center applique pieces in place.  I used the same freezer paper, baste, and starch method that I used in making Block #2, but I wasn't to excited about how the machine stitching on that applique looked. I started this block by machine quilting the flower's center circle, and then I decided that even my less than wonderful hand stitching would be an improvement.

Not perfect, by any means, but not awful, either.

Sara prefers the geometric, pieced blocks in her quilt, so this may be the last one with applique. I love the mix of styles, and this is one of my favorite blocks so far. I played around with the block to see how a quilt made only with these would look. That's another reason I take so much time writing patterns. I keep getting sidetracked.

I'm not sure that I like all of the identical flowers, but what if the background fabrics were all pure white and there were different appliques in the centers of the blocks? It might look even better in a mix of dark, medium, and light fabrics of other colors. Scrappy is always fun. What do you think?

There really isn't any more time for daydreaming about this. I have too many other projects all lined up and needing my attention.

Cooking dinner is first on the list. Food before fun. Seems a bit backwards, don't you think?

Spring begins next Monday!

It may be cold outside right now, but it looks like I'll have daffodils before long.

 

Have a lovely week!