Mystery Quilt - Beginning and Progress

     I came across the beginning of a mystery quilt series on the  Quilters' Club of America website, and decided to give it a try.  My plan is to keep up with the weekly blocks, and complete the quilt by the July 7 deadline.  Naturally, this means I am making the smallest possible quilt!  I also am sticking with my plan to use only stash fabrics this year.   Here is my progress to date.         

The fabric choices.  I love the newsprint fabric (Zen Chic), which I had my husband buy for me, so I could keep my goal of not purchasing new fabric!   I am not sure there is enough contrast with the white, but we'll see.  

My high tech method of keeping track of which fabric is which!

Step 1 - 4 1/2 inch blocks.  

Step 2 - cutting - 2  1/2 inch strips

Step 2 - finished Blocks

The challenge suggests using a Tri Rec tool.   I am always keen to learn a new technique! 

The tool in action  - cutting out triangles.  

Step 3- finished blocks.  I am not sure that there is enough contrast here. 

Step 4 - more white triangles 

Step 4 - side pieces.  I must say, this tool does make for nicely finished blocks! 

      While I was sewing the Step 4 blocks, I was daydreaming, and chain-pieced 20 of the blocks without noticing that the needle wasn't threaded.  Oops!  

Step 4 - finished blocks.    Lots of contrast here! 

     I am very curious to see how this turns out.   I am enjoying this challenge! 

Take care,

Gretchen   

Pink Pigs, Posies and Polka Dots

         I am blessed with wonderful neighbors who are also friends.  One is going to be a grandmother soon - so a pink baby quilt was in order!  

I had 5-inch square blocks of pink from my stash left over from an earlier baby girl quilt which can be seen here.  

I picked 11 different pinks, and cut those squares into little charms (2 1/2 inches each) 

I put them into a 4 x 4 grid for a block which would finish at 8 inches square.  Polka dots, pigs in sport coats, dogs with balls, posies, strawberries and one cat. The cat is fussy cut from a Cotton and Steel fabric.  Chester the cat routinely torments my neighbor's dogs, so this is a little joke in the quilt. 

I wanted to make a 42 inch square blanket/play mat so laid out the 8 inch blocks in a 4 x 4 pattern

I sashed all around with 2 1/2 inch wide white Kona cotton 

I experimented with a free style flower quilting pattern.  I will certainly use this again. 

A view of the overall free style quilting.

I pieced together a back using just this pretty pink fabric.  I used a Kona bright pink for the binding. 

Ready to play! 

     This turned out to be such a bright, happy quilt.  I'll be glad when the nice weather returns, since the inside pictures never are as good as those taken in the sunshine.

     Thank you to all who look at this blog, and especially thank you to those who leave comments.  They are very much appreciated.  Quilters are lovely people!

Take care, and Happy Spring!
Gretchen