More about the new die..................

I made several test blocks, using a layer cake 10" squares.  On the first two I didn't keep the small pieces in the right place a couple times.  If they were right, there wouldn't have been bias on the edge in a couple places.  Once I realized that, the next 2 blocks were better....except the center pinwheel is spinning the opposite direction (2 blocks on the right).  I should have known better but somehow it slipped past me.    Look at the 2 blue blocks, darks shouldn't be touching darks when the 2 blocks are next to each other.  The 5th and 6th blocks went together really well.

I have one more block ready to sew and I'll have the pinwheel center matching the 2 that are wrong and those 3 can become a table runner.

Now I need to decide what fabric I will use to make a quilt with this block.

Some die cutting...............

I took my pile of small batik scraps and cut some pieces for the 2" bowtie blocks.  I have pieces laying out for one block but I haven't sewn any yet.  I need to change to a lighter weight thread on my machine.

I have always been intrigued with this traditional block and the die was 57% off and free shipping so I bought it. It is a 12" block so the largest pieces will work nicely with larger prints.

I sewed a sample block but haven't pressed it yet so I'll have more to show tomorrow.

Sewing yesterday was the hand stitching on the binding of the diamond quilt.  I have about 54" left to stitch. 

Not much............

 My mind yesterday was busy with new project ideas and thoughts of what I should be finishing but all I accomplished was a little more stitching on the diamond quilt.  I have about 2 1/4 sides finished now.

I was looking at the dies for my tiniest bow tie blocks.  This one is the little corners that sew onto the pieces in the next photo.

There are 4 pieces on the die on the left.  After I took this photo I marked them with a black permanent pen.  This bow tie will finish at 2".  I have some tiny batik scraps to make my test blocks with.

First quilt top for April 2026...................

Kaleidoscope 1 top is sewn.  I'm thinking of 2 and 3 so this could be a series.  I won't use Marcia Derse fabric for the next 2.  This one is 51.5" x 72".  I ended up with the 35 blocks like I originally planned.  I usually don't use the same background fabrics all through a quilt but this time I had 2 nice light ones, also Marcia Derse fabric.  There are over 70 different fabrics in this quilt top.

Here are 2 of the worst matches of points.  They are both about 1/16" off and I'm not going to fix them.  Once it is quilted and washed, they won't be noticeable.

I noticed yesterday the start of the pink buds on the Redbud trees.  It will take a couple weeks for full blooms.

  

Final layout, time to sew...................

This is the final layout for this quilt top.  I could move pieces forever trying to not have the same fabrics near each other, but I decided this is good enough.

I started webbing it last night and got the 4 long seams top to bottom sewn and am now sewing cross rows.  Three done, 3 to go.  I need to finish this top today so I can get back to the other one and get the last 3 fabrics chosen for it.

Most points are matching well but there are a few to go back and take in a tiny bit. 

Another warm day yesterday with windows open to air out the house.  Today and tomorrow are going to be a little cooler, in the mid 50s. 

Cutting and third layout...................

All three sets needed more pieces.  I actually cut a few more than I needed so if I need to make a substitute block I'm all set.  I ended up finishing the 2 partial blocks and made 6 new blocks last night.  I haven't pressed them yet so they haven't made it to the design wall.

This is the assortment of new pieces plus the leftovers from the day before.  I had a strip of fabric that I had previously die cut 6 triangles of each fabric from and I put the ends of the strips back on the die to cut 4 more of each of each fabric.

I came up with one more layout and it reminds me of the hungry caterpillar story.  I first thought earthworms when I made it.  I think the diagonal shown yesterday is still my favorite.

Lots of progress..............................

I took the three sections to the basement and gave all of them a final pressing.  There are different lights down there so the color looks a little different from previous photos.

Then I started working on the Kaleidoscope blocks using the same triangles of Marcia Derse fabrics.

I got 6 blocks completed before I ran out of corner pieces but got 2 more blocks partially made before I also ran out of variety of the tall triangles.

This is all that was left when I finished sewing last night.  Today I'll be cutting more pieces of both shaped triangles.

I pressed the 5 blocks I made a few days ago and added them to the 12 that were on the design wall.  I brought them all up to the main floor studio and when starting to put them on the design wall, I found another layout for the blocks.  With this arrangement I could have an uneven number of blocks in both directions.

Here are the 2 layouts.  Now I'm thinking I need to make one quilt of each layout.  Maybe the second quilt will be with a different group of fabrics.