Almost There: Thangles Sampler

I don't want anyone to think this sampler quilt has become a chore. I'm still having fun. I'm just ready to get to setting the blocks. Now that the weekend has arrived I'm making much better progress. Three wonderful blocks done.This block is a Basket. By far, the most difficult block I've made in the entire set. I had to use the seam ripper more than once to get it right. I like the finished block more than I thought I would when I was ripping and grinding my teeth.This is the Ohio Star. I love the tiny pin-wheel in the center of this block.
Here we have Goose Crossing. I'm not sure they should qualify as "flying geese" blocks if they are made with half-square triangles, but I'll accept that the effect is the same.

The Blocks Just Keep Coming

I seem to be averaging two blocks a day. It will still take weeks to get all of them made and piecing into the proper setting.This block is called Star Light. Wicked fussy and I'm not entirely pleased with the piecing. (I also refuse to try to take it apart.)This is the Angels and Crowns block. Much better piecing on this block.

When I'm done with this quilt, I'm going to make something simple. With big blocks. And I'm not going to make a single fussy block.

Jingle, Jangle, Thangle

I managed to finish a couple more blocks for the Thangles sampler quilt.
This one is called Four Paws. I've considered making an entire quilt with a variation of these blocks because I can see the Bears Paw Mountains from here.
This block is called Triple X. A rather fussy block, if you ask me.

As I open each little bag of fabric and the block instructions, I find new fabrics and a new block. I tend to make a quilt using the same block for an entire quilt, so this is a nice change. I've only made one other sampler quilt. That quilt keeps my son warm during New England winters.

April Snow Day

Tuesday the weather was truly horrible. Rain, snow, sideways snow, rain, snow. Well, you get the idea. I made it to work, but wondered if I'd make it home. The road were slick and dangerous, making for a white-knuckled trip home. What does one do with a snow day? One sews.
I called up a friend, to see if she wanted to share part of the day at home with me. After some lunch and an episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand we looked at a small bag that one of the our friends had left here (full of jewelry-making supplies, but that is another story). Some quick measuring, some long drawn out math and some pattern drafting led us to construct this little bag. Just right to hold some make-up brushes and what-not. Not an exact copy, but a close enough approximation.I picked up this quilt-block-of-the-month kit at the Quilting Hen. I decided that today was a good day to work on a few blocks. The quilt has twelve different blocks, each made with the 1/2-square triangle block. The kit includes Thangles in two different sizes. I've never used them before this quilt, but I rather like the idea. My way of making the 1/2-square triangle blocks was rather clunky. Good if you're only making a few, horrible if you're making more than about 20.I really like the concept of a sampler quilt. I'm not as excited about making all of those blocks separately. I finished a couple of the blocks. It won't take me a month to make each block, but it may take me a month to finish the quilt. Since I didn't pick the fabrics, this is an adventure. Each little bag of fabrics I open up has a new surprise inside. While it may not be as efficient as I like, I'm still having fun with this quilt.