On this week’s Design Wall post I mentioned I had a swap block measuring 1/2″ bigger than the rest of the blocks and I needed a solution to include it in the quilt.

I had a few options

• chop off points big time
• remake the block
• make a new block
• find another solution

I opted to find another solution as each of the other options just weren’t going to work for one reason or another.  Admittedly some of the points got chopped off — but that’s true for several of the blocks in the quilt.   But with this solution I just lost the tips — not 1/2 of the triangle!

This is not the block, but I wanted to show this picture to show how I attach the cornerstones and sashing to the blocks.

By doing it this way, I can work the quilt in sections.

The first thing I did was frame the block with the sashing fabric.

See — some points still cut off, but not really noticable unless you are looking for them.  Next, I trimmed the block to 8 1/2″ square.  This number is the correct size of block + sashing on all sides + seam allowance.

Then I cut 4 cornerstones, turning under the edge on two sides.

These were appliqued (yes, there’s that word) to the corner of the block, matching raw edges.

See how the squares ‘creep’ into the block?  I don’t think this would have worked if the block didn’t have light corners.

I did not trim away the sashing.  I’m not worried about the extra thickness because this will be machine quilted — eventually.

In this detail picture the fix nearly disappears and of course in the picture of the full quilt, I’m not sure you can see it if you didn’t know where to look.

This solution worked for me because of the layout design and the light corners on the block which was too large.

Another solution which would have worked had I realized this BEFORE   I started the alternate blocks would have been to frame ALL the blocks and square them to 7 1/2″ finished and made the alternate blocks 7 1/2″.

I made a set of block several years ago that were supposed to measure 7 1/2″ and they were all over the place size wise.  I framed all those blocks, then squared them ‘wonky’.   Quilt 1 Quilt 2  Although I’m not sure if I would use the same colors today, I don’t think you can tell that the blocks are not the same size.

This is the center of the Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler Swap quilt top.  I still need to add the outer borders, but I thought I’d show you how I fixed my problem block.

But not yet, in the next post.

But in the meantime, feel free to look for it.

I’m still working on the Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler Swap block top.  I really wanted to finish it this weekend, but I also wanted to go to a quilt show.  And there was the trip to the mall and Jo-Ann’s for inspiration and fabrics for the Eeyore quilt.

Having said that, I am on the home stretch.  There was one block in the mix which was 1/2″ bigger than it was supposed to be and too many points around the edge, so simply trimming wasn’t going to work.  Remaking the block really wasn’t the answer.  Making a new block had its own set of issues.  I finally decided on a solution I can live with.

I’ll take pictures of what I did and then after I get the top done, I’ll post how I ‘fixed’ the issue.

Meanwhile, check out other design walls by following the links over at Patchwork Times.

Last week I bought some of the fabric for the Eeyore quilt — then changed my mine and bought some different fabric for the Eeyore quilt.  The good news is I think I have everything except for border and backing — and maybe one other element, but hopefully that will come from my stash.

The only sewing I did was assembling the SBS Swap Blocks, so no fabric was used there.  Hopefully I’ll use some of the new fabric this week.

Fabric Added Last Week: 8.75 yards
Fabric Added to Date:  46.213 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 32.562 yards

Net Used for the year -13.651 yards

Hop over to Patchwork Times to see if more people bought fabric this week or used it.

I’ve been enhancing my stash.  I needed fabric in cello, Piglet & Eeyore colors.  Cello was easy.  We have a few stringed instruments in the house that I could use for reference.  I thought I’d be smart and buy a plush Eeyore and Piglet.  They won’t be lonely — I have at least 3 Tiggers, one which always goes to sewing retreats to stand in for Seven and provide “cat approval”.

Anyway, I bought the Eeyore (apparently Baby Eeyore) and matching fabric Friday night. DH thought he was too blue.  I couldn’t find a Piglet.  So, this evening off to the Disney Store we went.   DH thinks this Eeyore is too gray.   I think we saw three different shades of Eeyore.  But I’m going to go with the grey as I’m using the lavender fabric as a background.

Now to figure out how much fabric I bought for tomorrow’s Stash Report and more importantly to figure out the pattern!

May has sprung, along with the end of year concert and graduation season.  Throw in a quilt show and a couple of quilt classes and an unexpected quilt and the month is filled up before it ever begins.

I now have the top half of the SBS Swap quilt stitched together.  Last night I pinned the left and right section together along with the blocks for the next two rows on the next section with the hope of finding a few minutes to stitch them together.  I got up early this morning and used my extra time to do just that.  Since concert #1 is tonight and then I’ve got help clear the stage of the chairs and stands afterwards.  It’s going to be a long day.

I’ve got the next section pinned and ready to sew whenever I find another few minutes.  Perhaps tomorrow morning.

My plan of using a block or two from my Christmas BOM is not working well for me.  Last month I only got one of the two blocks done — the stitching around the fused applique still needs to be done.  This month the # was 10 which was the Holly Wreath.  The leaves were cut out by April 3rd — but getting them fused to the background…well, lets just say I had to hurry up and get it done this evening to show progress.  I still need to cut out the berries and bow. Not to mention stitch the whole thing down.

I did get two Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler blocks made in April.  This brings my total to 77.

The Double Wedding Ring is still sitting in the basket with no progress since February.

So, what’s up for May?  UFO # 2 – the Mistletoe block.

Apparently I haven’t had enough applique over the last 3 months. 🙂

Also up this month is finishing the Bells and the Holly Wreath, two SBS blocks, and getting caught up on my JT2 blocks.  If I’m not careful that quilt will become a UFO.  I’m already behind by 3 sets of blocks and another set comes out today!

Hop over to Patchwork Times to check out how others did on their UFOs.

Two pictures today.  First, up on my actual design wall is my Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler swap block quilt.  I’m not quite halfway done with piecing it together.  I ran out of steam and decided some thing absolutely had to be done in my sewing room.

Normally (and I really would like to have a new normal) there are two milk crates, two file boxes and a basket sitting on the hearth which only allows me to use a bit over half of my design wall.  So, when I put this up, everything got shifted on to the floor.  Then I wanted a picture, so I had to unstack everything, so it was wall to wall boxes.

Then, I wanted to take a picture of the quilt top Boxy Stars.  This is a group project using Bonnie Hunter’s pattern.

In order to get this picture, I had to shove the ironing board out of the way and all of the boxes got shifted around again.  Needless to say I have a mess.

But all is not bad.  I’ve hauled a suitcase out of here (ok, it’s sitting by the basement door, as is an empty box which is too good to put out with the recycling); I’ve shifted the ironing board around to the far side of the sewing table (will be farther to walk by 5 steps – and every step counts); I’ve dug out all the stuff that fell off the end of the sewing table and can now put the huge suitcase w/my Hancock Star BOM there clearing up more floor space.

As much as I really wanted to finish the sampler, I think cleaning my having a clean sewing space will give me just as much pleasure.  Who knows, I might actually get something else finished.

Hop over to Patchwork Times to see what others have been up to lately.

It’s been a while since I bought fabric just to buy fabric.  What can I say.  I drove a bit to buy the iron and they had a FQ sale 10 for $15.  I don’t have many batiks which explains the pile on the left.  I have an idea for the tone on tones in the middle.  Later in the day I was at Savers and found a book of the Mountain Mist patterns.  Who can pass up a collection of patterns for $1.99?  Finally I bought the thread I’m going to use to quilt the purple Boxy Stars.

So, what did I use this week?  Not much.  It’s hard retreating for 4 days.  I counted a bit more fabric for the border of my SBS Swap Blocks and I have two rows sewn together.  I also finished the Boxy Star quilt last night, but since the border fabric was given to me expressly for this project I didn’t count it in or out.

So here are the numbers.

Fabric Added Last Week: 2.75 yards
Fabric Added to Date:  37.463 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: .593 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 32.562 yards

Net Used for the year -4.901 yards

I seem to be going the wrong way, but I have a few quilts ready to quilt, so that will use up fabric.  Don’t forget to hop over to Patchwork Times for other usage reports