I am so late in posting my Circle 7 Bee updates, but I am really excited to share these quilts with you. Each quilt in this bee has been an absolute delight to work on and I feel so giddy as I make each one - like I'm working on a surprise for that particular person each month! That's not to say I don't stress about these quilts - trying to narrow down ideas and utilize designs that complement what the others in the group have contributed has been a fun challenge for me.
My sweet friend Lindsey of LR Stitched requested vintage kitchen as her theme. FUN!!! Let me at it! She was open about colors, adding that she loves bright happy fabrics and polka dots. Very doable! I have always wanted to make one of those beautiful stand mixer paper pieced patterns, and this seemed the perfect opportunity to try it out. But all the paper pieced patterns I found weren't as big as I wanted for Lindsey's block. So, I think to myself - I can improvise a paper pieced pattern! Why not?!
Well, guess what?? Turns out, it's not that easy. Especially when you don't have any software and you're going all old school with pencil and paper and such. Ha! I turned to the awesome tutorial here, but again, I wanted something significantly bigger. And maybe y'all would know not to simply add inches around the pattern pieces because the proportions don't translate well. Of course you would know that. But I didn't. I best learn lessons like this the hard way! Long story short, I ended up paper piecing some sections, and free piecing others, and even using the freezer paper technique in spots too. And lots of starting over. And then starting over again. But look - It turned out!
Please don't ask me how - I couldn't begin to tell you! But it is done - it is a thing I made! And I love it. And I love that Lindsey will have it. I hope she enjoys it - I'm sure she will, as all of us quilters know what labors of love each stitch is. I added the colorful patchwork along the sides to brighten it up and frame it out a bit, as well as the red-check to make the table it sits on since that reminded me of a tablecloth.
I'll be back soon with some more progress on these Circle 7 quilts. Hard to believe the bee is almost over as the year draws to a close.
Everyone learns better through failure than through success (which is why failure really shouldn't be seen as such a negative thing!) because you remember them better. :) And it may have been a lot of work, but your block turned out fantastic!! I can't wait to see the finished quilts when your bee is done!
ReplyDeleteYay, well done for pushing on through! PS your block finally went in the post yesterday - so sorry, work has been a nightmare!
ReplyDeleteYou did a fabulous job on this, Valerie. I love it!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Valerie! Your block turned out great! And the patchwork adds a bright happiness to it. Your friend Lindsey will love it, too!
ReplyDeletebeautiful block and one I want to try to make
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