Ruler Work Sampler: Piecing Continues

Six blocks down and at least 3 to go. This exercise in piecing is humbling. I am treating it as a much needed exercise in following directions. My kids don't need to know it, but I've always struggled with following directions. I like to do it my own way! This extends from sewing, to cooking, to quite a few other areas.

OK, I did change the colors here and added the orange.


 When going through the tutorials, I can see other ways to piece the blocks, especially wanting to make 4 patches with strips sets and make the half square triangles by sewing strips and then cutting them diagonally into squares. But I'm following the instructions to the letter. (Except for the order of sewing in a few cases to help me chain piece and press more efficiently and a few typos.) I figure it's good for me. A little more time as a student to gain better insight when being a teacher.

Sometimes I piece while singing along with my favorite tunes on my phone.

I'm also doing a lot of the piecing at night, when I'm tired. This has led to a few mistakes. Like the time I sewed down the marked line of 8 squares instead of 1/4 inch away on either side. So I then stitched the 1/4 inch lines and then cut down that line of stitching down the middle.

Whoops! At least I didn't need to rip it out.
Last night I was working on this block below, and as I got ready to sew the 3 units into the final block, I realized something wasn't right. Sigh....

So far, this is my un-favorite block. Too much contrast with the navy and no pretty turquoise.

Of course there was some seam ripping and resewing when points floated or were stitched over, and corners where points didn't meet up well enough. Though there wasn't as much of that as I had expected.
Six blocks on the design wall. I think they'll be set on point.

I am dying to start quilting on this!

11 comments:

  1. Ah, the struggles of sewing when we are tired! :)
    Do you prefer the piecing process or the quilting process (I get the impression from your post that it is the later)?

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  2. Piecing takes me FOREVER!!!! I think your blocks look fabulous!

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    1. I am slow too. Much has to do with trying to fit it in around daily life and such. Thanks.

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  3. Your blocks are looking good albeit a bit of unstitching! I am so looking forward to seeing how you quilt these.

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    1. Thanks! Just a few more blocks then to put them all together and I can move on to my favorite—the quilting.

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  4. Love the blocks and colors. Can't wait to see it put together and quilted. I find when I piece at night I have to become more acquainted with my seam ripper as well :(

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    1. I have a rule when it comes to night time stitching: Three times of ripping and I call it a night.

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  5. Your piecing is inspiring me! I I used to do this kind of complex precision piecing almost exclusively but it has been years. I must admit I can hardly wait to see how you quilt it!

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    1. I've been needing to work on my piecing and I'm glad to have done it. I can't wait for the quilting either!

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  6. Nobody is far away from a seam ripper! Things happens. Like that star block.

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