Hi Everyone! Hope you're doing great!
I have a celebration here...I actually sewed three blocks last weekend. By my count, those are the only blocks I sewed in June! Argh! But I want to share them with you today.
Our challenge was to make these bowtie blocks. You can find the tutorial at Canoe Ridge Creations. You can also read more about our challenge, here, if you'd like. We were also challenged to use "warm" colors, like orange, red, etc. We were to use white for the background or text print, if we had it. I had some text prints, but I was afraid they'd compete too much with the prints in my blocks, so I went with the white background. This one came out nearly perfect...square and almost 12.5" to the T! Woo hoo!
Next, I made this one. Althought it looks good here, it's pretty wonky if you put a 12.5" square ruler to it! Bad enough that I'd never give it to anyone. So, I'm either going to take it apart and try again (if I have time), or I'll give it to the winner of all the blocks and say she can trim it down a bit and use it on the back for a label.
So, then I made this one. I measured my "parts" after each step to make sure I was sewing accurately. And this one came out perfect, too. I have no idea what I did on the second one, as I think I did everything the same as I did on the first and third. The only thing I can figure is that I was sewing on the machine I usually use to embroider (trying to learn that machine for sewing a little better). Maybe I am just not used to that foot or something.
Anyway, I am happy with how these turned out, and I think they were fun to make. I'll be interested to see how they look when put together. I can already see that the bow ties will form "rings" when multiple blocks are put together.
If you want to see more of these blocks, hop on over to visit Ellie Q. She finished some nice blocks, too!
Gotta run. Much to do. First day on the "new job" at my office. :-) Have a wonderful day!
Until next time,
Nice job, Stephanie! Glad you can squeeze in some sewing with the new job starting! Can't wait to see all the blocks together at the end of the month!
Posted by: Ellie Q | July 01, 2013 at 01:49 PM
Your blocks look great! Great fabric choices! Hope you have a good first day on the new job.
Posted by: Lynn | July 01, 2013 at 02:12 PM
Love your blocks. Had to laugh because I too had a difficult time today making a block. You are usually such a perfect piecer! Love your fabrics. I have several of the same fabrics and will have to make this block. Good luck on your new job!
Posted by: caroll | July 01, 2013 at 04:39 PM
These are really pretty. They say summertime to me! Your second block doesn't look wonky to me, but if you changed machines for that one that could be why it measures differently. But what doi know, my blocks are never perfect!
Hope you ate feeling better.
Posted by: Sue | July 01, 2013 at 07:01 PM
Hope the first day at your "new job" went well! Love the fabric selections for these blocks. Very fun. Glad to see you are feeling better - just caught up on two months of your blog posts ;-)
Posted by: Rene' | July 01, 2013 at 08:50 PM
Happy to hear you're sewing again! Bet it felt great.
Posted by: Terri | July 01, 2013 at 09:21 PM
Goodness I am so far behind with blog reading! I've missed a lot!
Glad you are feeling better and see that you have a new position. Wonderful!!
Love all your projects you have completed. I haven't made a quilt block in weeks. Just sewing for the new grandbaby soon to be here.
Take care!
Hugs,
Donna
Posted by: Donna | July 01, 2013 at 11:02 PM
I've always like the bowtie block.Yours are great. I hate it when my blocks are different sizes...which is usually! LOL. But, when sewing them up for someone else, I especially hate it when they don't turn out right!
Posted by: Carla | July 01, 2013 at 11:53 PM
Love orange and bow tie block! You know they say to sew everything on one machine for a certain project as each can give you a little different seam allowance.
Posted by: Mary on Lake Pulaski | July 02, 2013 at 12:03 AM
I love this block! Definitely putting it on my to-do list and maybe add it to my list for the Corvallis MQG blocks to make.
Posted by: Lisa Lisa | July 02, 2013 at 02:59 AM
I've read through the comments, and I don't feel so badly! There are others who save posts and then catch up, too! LOL!
Love the blocks, Stephanie! I don't think I've ever made a bow-tie block but am checking out the tute. Saving your wonky block for a label on back would be just perfect!! Good idea when that happens.
I'd love to know about the new job...no more grading papers? or were the quotes there because it's something else I'm not getting? :)
Posted by: Deb | July 02, 2013 at 07:17 AM
Your blocks are great! I made a bunch of those for a Flickr swap last year--turned me off of HSTs for a while--ha!
Posted by: Ivy | July 02, 2013 at 08:20 AM
I hope the new job was splendid! I love the bow tie block -- such a fun quilt. And you don't give yourself enough credit. Technically, you made 12 blocks LOL!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | July 02, 2013 at 09:46 AM
Great blocks, Stephanie!! I'm sure you're 'wonky' block is just fine. :) What kind of new job are you doing? Good luck!!!!!
Posted by: Cindy | July 02, 2013 at 11:50 AM
I really like this block made up with the bright fabric.
Posted by: Linda in Calif. | July 02, 2013 at 03:03 PM
You might have beat me for the month of June... close tie anyway. CUTE blocks!
See you in TWO WEEKS!
Posted by: Doris | July 03, 2013 at 12:00 PM
Nice blocks - all of the fabrics are great but especially the ones in the wonky block! New job? Still teaching or?!?!?
Posted by: Deb | July 03, 2013 at 02:50 PM