Quilt Block Boot camp

I feel like I have gone to quilting boot camp to finish my latest project. A few months ago I joined a quilt block swap. I am not quite sure what I was thinking except for that this was right up my alley. I consider myself to be more of a knitter and crocheter, but when I went on a yarn diet a few years ago to try and finish a few projects, I ended up buying fabric instead. Then with my fabric stash, I started buying sewing books. I never had the intent to quilt, more like make curtains, pillows and home accessories. Well that really never went anywhere, once I stumbled upon many blogs that have such creative ideas I sort have been interested in just about anything and everything. My confidence was up after I finished my first quilt. A baby gift for my friends new baby boy, Preston.

The pattern for the quilt is from Jenny Ryan's Sew Darn Cute. This is one of my favorite books I own. The project was pretty easy and small mistakes still looked good. So then my next sewing accomplishment was my knitting bag, which is the Amy Butler Birdie Sling Bag Pattern. I absolutely love it and it turned out fabulous.


So all of this boosted my confidence and when I saw the post on Oh Fransson's blog about a holiday scrappy quilt hosted by Beth at modernjax, I thought... I CAN DO THAT! So I signed up. It was quite humbling when I started making my scrappy quilt blocks how much I just don't know about quilting. My first few were totally crooked, the colors looked funny and I could not seem to get the finished size. I did not give up however, and I have to say I feel like I have learned so much from this swap, it has been invaluable to me. After going to Fabric Depot in Portland and stocking up on more bright fun holiday fabric and some not holiday fabric that just looked neat, I learned these things.

1) Steaming your fabric when ironing does indeed distort you squares. I have a very powerful Rowenta iron with a steam tank and so I thought, crisp seams here I go, blast, blast... then I read that is not so good, started being more gentle... instant results.

2) I needed to pin. I am not sure why I did not think of this at first, but pinning my pieces really helped me get straight seams. I always pin everything else, I just didn't see Oh Franson doing it so I didn't, peer pressure I guess? I realized I am kind of new at this so taking the extra effort really helped.

3) Squaring up. It is so hard to cut fabric in a perfect line. I tried so hard, but once I figured out to leave things a hair big and trim them down while I was assembling the block, things go so much better!

4) Scant seam allowances. I am not sure which swapper's blog I read this revelation on... whoever it was, thank you. I knew nothing about scant seam allowances. To account for my trimming I used really, really scant seam allowances just to be safe. Who knew... but now I do.

The whole process has been very intense. Making something for someone else really made me want to figure this whole thing out. I kept telling myself, "it is supposed to look scrappy". But I really didn't want to send something that looked crappy! I think I could keep making them for a long time. I am a little obsessed and could keep going, but time has run out. I must send what I have off to Deb, Amber and Chelsye. I really hope they like them. Thank you so much Beth for putting this together, I feel like a changed person because of it. I have a whole new craft I want to master. I also have always wanted to make things for Christmas, but never start in time. Thank you, Elizabeth for your amazing tutorials. I really had to study them and I still have a lot to learn. I am amazed at your talent and am so great full you choose to share it...

So here they are, Christmas Swap Blocks...