Plus Block Quilt Along (#plusblockqal) Progress

20 blocks sewn in one day (and many breaks)  

     At the beginning of the year, I happened upon a plus block quilt-along on Instagram which seemed to have very few rules or deadlines, and looked like a simple block to complete.  Check it out with  #plusblockqal.    Steph's website (which I just found) is  here.   The basic instruction is simple!

    I lurked for a while,  looking at the progress and great color choices of the blocks being posted on instagram.
     I have made other versions of plus blocks.  This version was a new one, and was just what I needed as a break from the 'On Ringo Lake' pieces I am still working on.   

Dave's homespun and flannel rag  plus quilt. 

Amy's Wonky Cross Quilt

Baby Plus Quilt 

     Well, once I decided to do it, I had to do it right away!! So, Tuesday night (after school), I went through fabric, not giving myself too much time to ponder all the possibilities.
    I was planning a scrappy neutral backing, since I have alot of neutrals from the  'On Ringo Lake' quilt, as well as others I hadn't used on that one. 
     What to use for the "pluses"?  My first inclination was blue, and I have a large assortment of blue batik fat quarters that I have been anxious to use.  But I also decided to do a baby size quilt, and I have had orange on my mind since I saw Kona's color of the year (Tiger Lily - I am waiting for my fabric to arrive!).  I had a adequate stash of pieces of oranges to make the pluses for a baby quilt, so just decided to go with it.   I only needed 20 blocks, and so I ended up doing all the cutting on Tuesday night!

Using my Clover clips to keep the parts organized! 

You can see how the music print pops from the other neutrals. 

      My test block with the pieces still not all sewn!

      On Wednesday, I had some time to sew, and just started sewing on and off all day.  These really go together quickly!  By dinner, I had the blocks all done.   Of course, when I am speed sewing, there are going to be mistakes.  I have yet to make a quilt that didn't involve ripping out at least one seam!

The print fabric is on the wrong side!  

     Despite my careful counting,  I ended up with 21 blocks, so one to play with.  I am still playing with a few layouts, and checking the values and contrast.   I was concerned that adding the music fabric was a mistake, but since some of the orange fabrics are quite light, I think it adds some additional visual interest.  

I love using the mono filter on my phone to check the values!  

     I have another orange project in the works, too!  I liked this so much, I may do another one as a smaller wall hanging.  Stay tuned, and thanks for visiting! 
Take care,
Gretchen