Skill Builder BOM - July Blocks

So I'm guessing that this BOM won't be done before the end of the year. Especially since the blocks aren't finished, the quilting is barely started, and then I'll have to join the quilted blocks.

But anyway, I've made a little progress.

Here are the July blocks - the wave block actually made two blocks, so I'm going to use one of them as the back of one of the blocks.

Hopefully my attention span will let me finish some more of these soon - but to be honest, I've cut a new quilt, pulled fabrics for two more, finished a scarf, and started another since these blocks were finished!

Skill Builder BOM - catching up!

I've been taking the time since finishing California Dreamin to catch up on some of my Skill Builder BOM blocks.

The hold up was this one, originally....

This block is made of 64 HSTs. SIXTY FOUR. For a 12.5" block. You can't blame me for dreading it, right? But since I got my new toy, I figured I didn't have any more excuses. So it got done. Finally.

After that block was done, I got to play with some scraps.

What do you do when you don't have enough scraps in the right colors? Make more!

Sorry that last picture is absolute crap. One of these days I'm going to get a real camera. And also not take pictures at 3am. One day...

Skill Builder BOM - May blocks

I've actually had these blocks finished for a hot second, but keep forgetting to blog about them. Anywho, I had a really good time with these (for the most part!).

I've never done paper/foundation piecing before, and these were a really good introduction. I had a little bit of a hard time at first with the swirl block because I kept putting the prints and the background in the wrong spot. Seriously, like three times... you'd think I'd figure it out...

BUT, once I had that all straightened out, it came together pretty quickly, and I really like the process. I don't, however, like the mess of paper that happens when the back has to come off. But oh, well. I'll definitely be doing more paper piecing in the future!


I fussy cut a larger scale print for this block, instead of putting on the applique circles the pattern call for. I like the effect!

Here are the last two months worth of blocks on the design wall along with the blocks for the Sisters Ten BOM that I'm also doing this year. I like how different these projects are - it keeps it interesting!

Skill Builder BOM - April blocks finished!

Yay! These blocks are done! I was SURE that they were going to take forever, but they actually came together pretty quickly (for handwork). I love how they turned out!

The first block - the hexies - came together just like I expected, and I really like how the prints have a color progression. With my color scheme, I wasn't sure how I was  going to be able to represent that, but I found these prints and I think they work perfectly.

THIS block - oh, this block... The piecing was a little iffy, because these are weird shapes that I haven't done before, and those middle ones are teeny tiny. I actually sat down and pieced this one in one day, because I was just determined. I think part of it was that I was worried if I put it aside, I would forget how I had arranged the colors... I like the little sliver of purple in the middle.

Here are all the blocks I've done so far! I still need to put borders on most of them, and I'm definitely behind with the quilting, but at least they're up there!

More English Paper Piecing

I started the second May block of the Skill Builder BOM the other night. This one is also paper pieced, but it's very different from the first one! I've never done paper piecing with these shapes before, so that was fun. Except not really. But it was ok.

I started with this stack. The block is supposed to look like a gemstone when it's finished, so I wanted to get a bunch of different shades, so it would look like it was sparkling.

I printed the templates and cut them out, then decided how I was going to split up the colors.

Getting ready to baste.

I've actually finished both of these blocks, so I'll show them to you soon!

Skill builder BOM April.... Progress

I've been kind of quiet about the Skill Builder BOM for April. That's because there isn't much going on. The blocks for this month are pieced by hand! I put off starting them forever, and finally got a move on the other day. I've done a very little bit of paper piecing in the past, and really like it. It's very meditative.

I cut the fabric and basted all these tinies one night while watching TV. It went really quick! I started piecing the rows too.

Of course, in the tradition of Ineptitude, I started piecing it wrong. This is what I started doing:

Seam ripping sucks to begin with, but ripping hand stitching sucks even worse!

This is what the block is supposed to look like! I'm really liking this! There is another block that I haven't started yet, so I'll share that one when it happens!

Skill Builder BOM - March

Here are my march Skill Builder BOM blocks (a touch late). These are beautiful patterns, but they were crazy tedious to put together! It was worth it though. :-)

Live and Learn?

Remember the Skill Builder BOM that I've been working on? Well, this BOM is utilizing a quilt as you go method (which is new to me - yay!) and I quilted the January blocks a few days ago.

I got this super pretty spool of variegated purple Aurifil, thinking that the purple would blend with all the different purple fabrics, and complement the aquas nicely.

Well, it did, but I am not a fan of how it looks on the white background. I can't decide if I should live with it, take it out, or re-do these blocks altogether.

What do you think? Maybe part of my problem is that I'm not a big fan of stippling? Don't be fooled by these pictures, it looks even worse in real life...

Skill Builder BOM - February

I did my February Skill Builder blocks this past week. I'm really having fun with this, but the block in this first picture really kicked my butt. It came out a 1/2 inch too small; I think I rotated one of the sections the wrong way while piecing it. The top left triangle section is a very square rectangle, and I think I just sewed it to the white triangle on the wrong side.

I really like this block. It's simple, it showcases prints well, and there are a gazillion things you can do with it!

My pull and scraps for this project. :-) so pretty!

January and February blocks together. I've sashed and basted the January blocks, I'm hoping to quilt them this coming week.

Skill Builder BOM #1

I worked on the first two blocks of the Skill Builder BOM from Pile O' Fabric over the weekend.

The way she is running the BOM is pretty impressive, with videos and PDFs and very detailed instructions. The only thing I noticed that I didn't love is that she could have condensed her steps some, and that I think she made some of the processes a little more difficult than necessary. I suppose the thoroughness (is that a word?) can be a nice feature for those who are newer to quilting, though. I have a hard time being tied to instructions, so I kind of just used them as 'guidelines'...

Of course, though, I neglected to take any pictures of the process. She has great pictures of everything in her posts, though. You will have to get by with just my finished blocks and a gratuitous pile of scraps.