1/20/12

Just Takes 2 Blocks 7 - 11

For the past three days, I've been working on the next set of blocks for the Just Takes 2 quilt.  I've decided to call my quilt "Peppermint Patty," but that's neither here nor there.  The first three of these blocks went together easily and quickly.  Here's Block 7:


Here's Block 8:

And here's Block 9:

When I got to Block 10, I started having trouble.  After three tries I still couldn't get this block to lie flat.  Even with lots of pinning and using my stiletto, it was puckered around the outer curved seam.  I've had success making this kind of block before, but this one simply wasn't meant to be.

Yeah, yeah.  I know it looks okay in the picture, but trust me.  It's not.  Not to worry, however, because I invoked the Quilter's Baseball Rule, which I just now made up.  The Quilter's Baseball Rule is recited thus:

Three strikes and the block is out!

Having invoked the Quilter's Baseball Rule, I felt comfortable moving on to Quilter's Cache and choosing a different block.  I chose this one, identified on the website as Wedding Rings.  This paper-pieced block went together much easier, and I'm satisfied that it's a good stand-in for the original block.


Finally, I had a little trouble with Block 11 as well.  There are a couple of mistakes in the instructions, but I got it figured out eventually.  I think this block would have gone together more easily if it had been paper-pieced.  Using the templates provided required that I sew a couple of "Y" seams.  I'm not really familiar with any technique for doing this, and so I winged it.  (I could have stopped and looked it up online, but that would have meant climbing two flights of stairs to where the computer is.  I just didn't feel like it.)


I sincerely hope the next set of blocks for this quilt go together more easily.  If not, I may find myself losing interest in it.  Here are all the blocks in the second set so that you can get an idea of their scale.

Next up is to sew the pieced sashing on my latest Mr. Bear block.  However, I injured my back yesterday, and I'm not feeling up to par.  I may just call it quits for today. 

9 comments:

Needled Mom said...

Hmmm....I like that 3 strikes rule!!!! I think the blocks look great. I haven't started mine yet so what are the errors in the house pattern?????

My Sister Made Me Do It.... said...

I've been meaning to tell you that I really like your red fabric! I was so anxious for January 15th to get here and I haven't even STARTED my blocks other than downloading the patterns. Your blocks look great!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

That's the way - it's your quilt and you can switch out a block that is more comfortable - just keep it the same size and put a little note on it so you remember that trade out. Hope you feel better tomorrow.

Denise :) said...

Great rule and good call, blue. LOL! :)

Diane Wild said...

Your blocks look wonderful. I think I've said it before, I love this red & white quilt. Hope your back is better soon. Wasn't from shoveling snow was it?

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Fantastic blocks!

Kate said...

Beautiful blocks. I like your 3 strikes rule. I've done the same on some BOMs where I just didn't like the block offered and decided to come up with my own.

LethargicLass said...

I hope your back gets better soon!

P.S. Thanks for changing the comments captcha back!

heartsease54 said...

Thanks for the heads up on those blocks, I hadn't started mine yet, but when I looked at the schoolhouse block I wondered why it wasn't paper pieced. So I did some googling and found a paper pieced one on the Quilters Newsletter site-I'll do that one. For the fan, I found a Moda pattern-free download of a fan pattern that I'll use. I'm not going to worry about size differences now, we'll wait & see how it goes together. I had the same thoughts as you about this second set of blocks-didn't seem to be as carefully prepared & presented as the first ones.