Tuesday, June 28, 2011

WiP Wednesday!

Hooray for WIP Wednesdays! Especially WIP Wednesdays where I've got something to report!

MADE MAJOR PROGRESS ON...

Some bee blocks. This cute squished 9-patch is for Shayla in Sew Buzzy. The last block of the Bee! Shayla said we could leave the block untrimmed so I did.

Sew Buzzy for Shayla

I'm also working on Sabah's June block for Sew & Bee Happy. She is making a red and white quilt and we got to choose what block to make - fun, huh? I chose Lynne Bob Square Pants. It's all HSTs - I'm trying to get over my aversion to trimming these things. I think I've found a solution: Thangles! I'm not affiliated with Thangles in any way other than as a happy user.

Thangles

Thangles let you piece HSTs in strips, and because you're using paper to stabilize that bias seam, the HSTs hold their shape very nicely and no trimming is required. You do have to remove the papers but that is okay by me. This block is scrappy, so I cut the papers into 1- and 2- HST sets, matched them up with scraps and went to town. Here's where I am in the block construction process (with a little help from my friend, and a couple of my own bee blocks in the background):

HSTs and helper
Not sure what that face is about: trimming HSTs maybe? :)

MADE SOME PROGRESS ON...

Finally, I'm busy doing my cutting for the Kaleidoscope Quilt Along. I finally zeroed in on a fabric choice, inspired by the towels in our master bathroom, of all things. Surely I'm not the only one for whom everything is a potential quilt? Didn't think so.
Kaleidoscope Fabrics Take 2 (With Inspiration)

You know what else I'm doing? I feel particularly brilliant to have thought of this: while I cut strips for the Kaleidoscope, I'm cutting some extra strips to make a charity quilt! It'll be a simple strip quilt using WOF strips but it will be so nice to have them (mostly) all cut and ready to go! Yay me!

WISHED I'D WORKED ON...

My Wonder Wheel. It's been basted for ages, but I just haven't gotten to quilt it yet. Soon, I hope. I also hope this washes out (imagine me making a frowny face):
spray baste spots

I'm linking up over at Lee's. I love seeing what everyone's working on, don't you?

18 comments:

  1. I wanna see your lynne bob square pants block!

    Ok, are those stains from 505? Did you spray the batting, or the fabric? I use it all the time, so I'm distressed about this! I've never had marks like this - I do really hope they wash out!!!

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  2. Lovely colour choice for the Kaleidoscope Quilt Along. Hope your stains come out in the wash.

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  3. I'm pretty sure the stains will come out just fine - I've done that before, and I'm pretty sure I can't see them anymore. It sure looks like you've been busy! Thanks for reminding me about Thangles again, I keep meaning to Google those. :)

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  4. Love your kaleidoscope color choices!

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  5. I've heard lots of good things about those Thangles. thanks for showing what they actually are! And oh wow, I've never seen spray baste stains like that. I'm sure they'll come out. Otherwise, maybe you can just quilt heavily over them so they won't be seen?

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  6. Heya - thought I'd pass some links along. If you like Thangles, you'll love these even more. Don't buy the papers, print out grids for free. lightweight papers are best, but I usually just throw in used printer paper, and it works fine!

    http://www.quiltingandwhatnot.ca/Half-Square-Triangle.html

    and

    http://quilt.com/Blocks/TrianglePapers/Triangles.html

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  7. Yep--that's the same face I make when I trim HSTs! I'm going to have to check out these Thangles. They sound pretty clever!

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  8. ok, the thangles thing is cool. I HATE hsts. I love them once they're done but i loathe putting them together... that might just make it tolerable!

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  9. What a bunch of nice projects! Love your kaleidoscope choices!

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  10. You're definitely among friends who see quilts in towels, floor tiles, clothing, and so much more! I look forward to seeing how your Kaleidoscope quilt comes together!

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  11. very nice projects you have going.. I like the Thangles also.. not that I do alot of HST's.. but they worked for me.

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  12. Looks like a lot of fun projects on the go.

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  13. Wow, it looks like you were working on all kinds of stuff. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I don't know how to reply to your comment, I'm sure it is something simple that I'm just overlooking.. To answer your question, I just bought a yard of some 60 cotton /40 poly at Hancock (for 2 bucks)folded it over and sewed the casings for the elastic and then cut it to length. I'm gonna keep looking at all this great stuff you have here :)

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  14. I will be so excited to see your kaleidoscope quilt come together! And you've been busy this week, oh my!

    (Me, I've mostly just managed cutting. And today was a work-thing, so no post. *sadface*)

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  15. What nice progress. I am looking forward to seeing how the Kaleidoscopic turns out. I too get inspiration for anywhere. Sometimes, it doesn't work out to well. Other times it is fantastic :)

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  16. Can't wait to see your Lynne Bob Square Pants! One of my absolute fave blocks right now. I really need to try Thangles! I have some, just haven't used them yet!

    Thanks for linking up to WIP Wednesday. : )

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  17. Love your fabrics for the kaliedoscope. Can't wait to see it. I see quilts in everything too. I always spray the batting when I use 505. Did you?

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  18. I love Thangles! I now have a HST ruler but haven't tried it yet. Good luck with those stains. What a bummer!

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