My first Block Party post

I have finally made a block from the Friday Block Party!
I have been lurking and admiring all your lovely blocks. I sewed "Another Star" from week 3 and am happy with how it turned out. Looking forward to sewing many more blocks this year with you.

Another Star

Ros

First Five...

No, Wait! Wasn't that the title of an Education Initiative in California a few years back? Not what I meant at all!!! I meant that I'm finally back with the FBP, and I'm caught up (where I hope to be all year, thank you very much!)

Thanks to Hetty for stepping up and continuing the party; hope to see Donna's comments occasionally, and wish for her a more serene 2010!

There has been plenty of weirdness down here, with strange weather, interesting relationships, and general excitability. But I think that is all past now (hope, hope...) and the year should begin to "line out" a bit.

We who drive livestock understand that term, and if you don't want an explanation, skip this next part...

In the beginning of moving a herd (cattle or horses), there is lots of confusion and dust, and lots of moving along at different speeds. Eventually, the herd settles down and the leaders aren't feeling the need to run down the trail anymore. They set a reasonable pace, and the rest of the stock following their lead settle into a rough line behind them, with the "drag riders" keeping the stragglers from getting totally lost. How is that for totally un-quilty bit of trivia?

Anyway, my year is lining out, and I'm finally back in the space I want to be - so "LET'S PARTY!" I still have trouble getting the text to ine up with the pictures, but if I only post one photo a week, that problem should take care of itself, too!

I declare this year my own personal "Year of the UFO" and "Not Buying That"... Since I have about 10 of those huge plastic tubs full of fabric, not buying more isn't really a hardship - but the blocks may come out with some really odd and ancient (80's???) fabric in them. Here goes...

The first block is "Wheel of Time" in solids. I've never made a block that had no print or 'texture' in it at all, so this is a first... sort of Amish-looking. Not my favorite block ever, but not bad.

"Another Star" was from week two. I'm going to make all the 12" blocks in reds, blues, and whites (or a variation - but those colors predominately) until I get enough that Play Well Together to make into a quilt. Then maybe I'll switch colors? Controlled chaos.

Next is "Quatrefoil". I really liked this one; very straightforward block, with possibility of secondary pattern if one were to make a "One Block Quilt" (never done that - could be interesting!) Repeat of the R/W/B colors as it is 12"block.

Odds 'n' Ends was just that. A tiny block, and I found some blue strips from a backing that were just wide enough to do. The green print is from a dress I made for my daughter when she was in Kindergarten (she's now 29!), so it is dated... but I like the flowers.

Both fabrics were quite soft and the block isn't as even as I'd have liked, but it will never show! Keystoning in the picture doesn't help either.

This last one is "Mothers Dream" - actually the block for this week. Thanks to Kathy for the "How to..." regarding the use of the square, strips and triangles. You are right; far less bulk, and much easier construction.

Patchwork Jenn's Denim Quartefoil & Another Star

Well  here they are and before Friday!  I had a toothache and didn't sew last week.  Finally felt better and got them both cut on Monday and finally sewed them up, before another block came out.   I don't know what I was thinking choosing denim, khaki and old polo shirts!  I really don't like the bulky seams from the flying  geese and the knits are horrid to mix with the denim, but I think this will make a great picnic quilt.

Hetty's Another Star

I thought I would love this block, but I am a little disappointed. I love stars! But I don't like doing the flying geese units. I always end up with a lot of triangles. In fact, that is what happened awhile back. I had a lot of triangles in my stash, so I sewed this block up in HST. It looks just like a sawtooth star to me. I wonder if I would like it better if the colours and background fabrics were reversed........

Another Star - Melissa V

Thanks for letting me join in!  Your group picks some really neat blocks!  I decided to make another star in six inches because I have a sampler I started last year that I thought was six inch blocks, but after I made the block I discovered they were nine inch!  Needless to say, I had to adapt and put the block on point!

Kathie's Week 3 Another Star

I took some cues from earlier posters in making my block. I made it with the flying geese on the outside and square on square for the center. I agree that it's good to minimize the number of seams to make pressing easier. I also made the center light, like some others had, instead of dark because I thought my dark was just too depressing to play such a big role in the block. I'm so glad we can use this blog to share our ideas and results.

Kathie L in Allentown

Another Star - Evelyn/Starfishy

This block had alot of bulk at some of the seam junctions.  I decided to iron some of those seams open instead of to the side.  Alot of seams for this design actually which makes no sense because really you could get this pattern just as easily with alot less pieces/seams.  But look there - I did use a fabric that I keep thinking is soooo ugly for the background - I figured the red plaid was strong enough to carry it off.

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My collection of blocks using these colors so far - that little block I made using the waste triangles from week 1 - I think I am going to make a pin cushion out of it.

Here's my quatrefoil -- this was a fun one!
Another Star was sort of ho-hum... I put it together a bit differently than Quilter's Cache prescribed, with the flying geese on the outside and a square-in-square in the middle. (and did a bit of a sloppy job with it!)

And here are my "green" blocks so far:

Week 3 of 2010

This week's block is called "Another Star". It is a 12inch block.