Starting and Ending Slow

You might already know that my day started with slow stitching yesterday. No fooling! Would I try to fool you on April Fool's Day? Never! 

After that, I went to work on quilting the Charm Stars. Doing just one block at a time with several hours of break between each one, it took a while to finish off the star quilting. In between each star, I got started sewing together the Blackwork Baskets. This is a picture of the pattern cover. The blocks are straight set. It's a simple wall hanging.

Oh, but in our travels, I've collected all these beautiful Southwest-flavor fabrics. I really wanted to put some of these to use.

I'd already decided to set the blocks on point, which would give me several opportunities to use some of my pretty fabrics. Smitty was all set to help.

But then I told him there would be math involved, figuring out those setting triangles. When he heard that, he suddenly remembered he had an appointment downtown.

Okay, so there are ways to figure out setting triangles mathematically, or you can use this handy chart from All People Quilt. That's what I did. Also, I had to figure out how many of everything I would need, and so I drew this rough drawing of my blocks set on point. "B" stands for "basket," and "C" stands for "color" in the image below.

I needed four corner triangles, eight setting triangles, and four "color" blocks. 

Next, I needed to decide how large to make my blocks. I had in mind to make the color blocks 9-1/2 inches, simply because I had a square ruler that size to help with centering the design on my color blocks. Also, I wanted to border each basket block in black, and so that all had to be figured in. I ended up cutting the blocks to 8-1/2 inches, and then sewing a one-inch border all the way around. Here's the first one:

It was time to choose what fabric I wanted to use for the setting triangles. It made sense to use one that was not directional, and so I chose this long-time resident of my stash. I think I've had this fabric for around ten years or more, and I especially liked how the circular design echoed the embroidered baskets.

Sadie helped me with selecting this.

We were laughing and talking. Sadie thinks my jokes are terribly funny.

But then she was a little put off by the math too. She thought she might have an appointment to get her furs permed. Yes, she's pretty sure about that...or maybe it was a pawdicure. She needed to check her calendar.

But first, she loves to snuggle up to the fabric. I think we can all agree that snuggling with fabric is a good way to spend one's day.

Okay, so I cut the corner triangles and the setting triangles, and I went to work. First one done.

I was most interested to see how the color blocks were going to work. For that, I had a half-yard bundle I'd purchased at Cortez Quilt Company in Cortez, Colorado. Pretty much this whole project was born at that quilt shop. They had the most beautiful southwest fabrics, and that was where I found a collection of patterns from J. Michelle Watts. So, I've had in mind to use that half-yard bundle for the open squares of my on point setting.

I left it laid out like that while I quilted the last of the Charm Stars. The quilting isn't finished yet, however. I still need to quilt the areas between the stars. Already I have an idea percolating in my tiny brain about how to finish this off. 

When I returned to the sewing room, I found Sadie had other ideas about how to set these blocks. 

But, I don't know...I decided to go with my original idea. I just kept sewing borders to the embroidered blocks, and cutting the colored open squares.

It was getting late in the day by then, and so I left the blocks on the design floor as you see them pictured below.

For this April Fool's Day, I'm setting a goal to finish sewing these blocks into a finished quilt top for April's:

Heading upstairs, I found the kitties...back from their appointments and doing an excellent job of warming Mike's lap. When Smitty gets tired, Sadie is at the ready to take over the job.

And then, I finished out the day with a little more slow stitching.

There's no time for slow-stitching today though. I'd planned to write this post later today because we're heading into town for breakfast, vaccine boosters, and groceries. Sounds like a great way to start the day, doesn't it? Well...at least the breakfast will be enjoyable.

When we get home, I'll get back to work finishing off the Charm Stars quilting. I don't know how taxing my next motif will be for my shoulder. It's feeling pretty good right now, but who knows how it will feel after I get jabbed in the arm. Either way, my minimum goal is to quilt across one horizontal row per day until it's finished...more if that seems too easy. Also, there are just about two moves of my hoop remaining to finish off the Calendula Patterdrip block. There are some pieced blocks to sew to the top and the bottom, but it's still fair to say that it's nearly finished. And I'll get back to my Blackwork Baskets. There are still a couple more blocks to finish off, and then I'll be adding at least two borders to it. Sounds like a good day's work, doesn't it? No doubt...more than one day's work.

Okay, so tread carefully today my friends. There are pranks awaiting you around every corner. Don't get fooled!