Journey of a Quilter: Block 2
Mar-2010
Welcome back JOQ Club!! Mailing out all of the kits today…here’s the preview of completing block 2, enjoy!!
Block two: new fabrics, some more half square triangles and it turns out adorable 🙂
fuse your interfacing to your silks
piles per colour
piles per mini block (mb)
mb1 layout as per drawings
where seams connect nest them have one seam pressed in one direction and the other seam pressed in the other direction, butt them up to each other
I always pin my nested seams to keep them in place while sewing
mb1, should be vertical position with the green strip on the left hand side for this image,
unfinished size is 8.5″h x 6.5″w
mb2 unfinished size 7.5″h x 6.5″w
these are the half square triangles for mb3 which we will need to complete first, with right sides together mark 1/4″ line on each side of diagonal, pin, stitch.
Cut apart
square up to 1.5″ by placing your 45 degree line on the seam line of your triangles, trim excess
layout your pieces according to your diagram, then start connecting section together
nesting seams with half square triangles
mb3, unfinished size 3.5″h x 9.5″w
mb4, unfinished size 7.5″h x 9.5″w
sew all mb’s together as per instructions.
The finished Block 2, I Love the green fabric with polka dots..
Here’s Candace’s block 2
Here’s Susanne’s Block
Nice job Ladies!!
Here’s Isobel’s Block 2
Here’s Shannon M’s block
Here’s Rita’s Block
Here’s Kathy B’s block
Here’s Sandy B’s Block
So far we have 7 entered into the draw anyone else?
This months winner is Kathy B…hmm a bit of a hint ladies for whatever reason the winner for this month and last month were the ladies who were the last to submit their pictures…coincidence of course but I thought that was kind of funny.
Congrats Kathy and you win a sweet little pair of Gingher Stork Scissors…enjoy.
here’s Vivian’s block 2
such a cute photo Viv!
Very exciting…mail came and I have an entire week off!!! Wahoo!!!!!! We’re not going anywhere for spring break as DH has to work…so that means, lots of fresh air for the kids and me sewing my little heart out. wahoo!
Got mine in the mail today too!! Can’t wait to get started 🙂
SheilaC
Hi Ladies, I’m so glad you are as excited as I am, makes this so much fun!!
Vivian, thats so great that you have the week off, send us pictures of your progress. In that case, whoever wants to send in pictures of their blocks at different stages that would be great too 🙂
Sheila, looks like it arrived way quicker then last month hey? That is FAB!
Good luck ladies…
Valerie
I pieced my block this weekend!!! Went a little easier this month 🙂
You can see it on my blog…. now I can relax in the evenings and work on the embroidery.
Did you ship my package differently this time, Val?? I was shocked that I got it so quickly.
SheilaC
http://myemptynestisfullofcathair-sheilac.blogspot.com/
Hi Shelia, isn’t the embroidery part so relaxing me and Tig curl up and watch TV while I stitch 🙂
Ladies: Quite an avid stitcher told me a good trip, when you separate your floss make sure to separate all of the strands first then put the 2 back together to work with. I tried this and is seems to work better with the threads not getting tangled.
Valerie
I finished piecing Block 2 today. Valerie, thanks for your help on the phone today – once I got everything straight in my head, I was all set. Your step-by-step pictures are great! They are a big help with the layout and for doing the little triangle pieces – perfect! I am almost done embroidering Block 1. I should finish it tonight, then I will be all set to begin the embroidery on Block 2 when I get back from the weekend and that means I might even be caught up and have both blocks done by the end of March!!
Hi Isobel, no problem helping you on the phone today, even though my store is online I’m here to help and that goes for ALL OF YOU JOURNEY GIRLS 🙂
Have a great weekend!!
Can’t wait to see the Block 2 photos start pouring in 🙂
Yikes, I need to get my block 3 embroidery finished soon…
Valerie
Valerie, I wanted to add something. On the phone, you asked how I was liking the silks and I only commented on the fact that I was finding them easy to work with. I should also have mentioned that I love the way they contrast with the prints, both visually and in texture. The light catches them differently and they have a bit of dimension with the "slubs". I think they really add to the quilt.
Isobel
Valerie:
The sewing of this block went very quickly. Now I have two weeks to get the stitching done. I started last night – watched the podcast first so I knew to mark the thread numbers on the pattern, etc. These podcasts and your detailed instructions in the blog have made the sewing so easy – almost like having the teacher looking over your shoulder as it would be if you were taking a class.
My block is going to look a bit different than the others as I substituted a couple of favourite fabrics from my stash.
SheilaC – loved your blog and the pictures of your block. PS ordered the bag pattern from Dawn and had a nice e-mail chat with her!!
Sandy
Valerie, can I ask what the purpose of the stabilizer behind the embroidered areas is? I am trying to decide whether I need to use it or not. I keep forgetting it, even though it is sitting right there with my threads, etc. On Block One, I went back each time and took out the embroidery where I had forgotten the stabilizer, then re-stiched the blocks with the stabilizer. Well, I have forgotten it again on both the parts of Block Two that I have embroidered so far. Should I rip out and re-stitch these blocks or should I just "bash on" without it. If I don’t have it on some areas, should I bother putting it on the areas I have yet to do (assuming I remember to use it) or would it be better to be consistent and not use it at all, now that I have parts stitched with out it. What is everyone else doing? Augh!
Isobel 🙂
Hi Isobel, I’m assuming you mean the batting/stabilizer for the entire block, correct? No, you do not have to use it, I like using something to hide the threads but I know there is a few gals that arn’t using it at all…so please don’t rip everything out and waste all of your playing time to re-stitch. Since you keep forgetting to add it maybe it’s just not meant to be 🙂 Carry on, being consistent is KEY!!
Good luck Isobel.
Anyone else have any questions or concerns?
Valerie
I was only using it in the areas that had stitching, not the whole block so I guess I was doing it wrong to start with ! LOL. I will go on without it, I think. Thanks!
Isobel 🙂
Hi Ladies, how’s everyone doing? Any questions or more comments? I would love to hear from all of you and any updates 🙂
So, we have two ladies in for the draw anyone else think they will get their blocks done on time, I would love it if we had 10 in for the draw wouldn’t that be FAB!!
Keep in touch. I’ll be cutting the kits for block 3 shortly!!
Valerie
Hi Everyone, block 3 is ready to send out – well almost, all cut and bundled just need to put in envelopes and we will ship these out on the 1st.
Floss, I’ve had a few requests for floss, I’ve sent some orders out, some of you who have ordered won’t get yours for a couple of weeks as my supplier had an order issue and mine got missed sooo as soon as they come in I will mail these out to you separately from the block and bill you.
Shannon, I’m sorry I’m out of Crimson, because this is my fault, I’ll allow you to enter in your completed block minus the remaining amount of Crimson you have to do on the embroidery.
Hope this is okay with the rest of you?
Valerie
I finished Block 1 and managed to get Block 2 done as well, but I don’t know if i will be able to do Block 3 by the end of April as our Spring Break is the first week of April and we will be out of town so I will lose a week of sewing time.
Isobel 🙂
Hi Ladies, we have 5 people so far entered in for the Draw…hmmm what will it be this month 🙂 Anyone else going to get their block done you have two more nights (well before midnight tomorrow night that is 🙂
Good luck
Valerie
Oh so close…LOL…ok, maybe not close.
I’m done piecing and working on the stitchery however I do have quite a bit left to do. I really forgot to keep track of where I was in the month!
Congrats to those that have finished…you did amazing! And for those like me that haven’t finished yet, keep pluggin’ away! I’ll be stitching with you.
Hey Vivian, still send in your finished block when you have it done and I’ll add it to the group pics.
Ladies, please check the previous block one entry to see the ones who completed their blocks since then as they all look so great!!
I’ll announce the winner tomorrow and or post any new photos I get within the next 2 hours 🙂 good luck everyone!!
Valerie
PS I’m mailing out block 3 tomorrow and you’ll love it!!