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Monday, October 23, 2017

Roosting Round Robin #1 - civil and small

This is my first year participating in my guild's mystery quilt. This year it's a Roosting Round Robin - a quilt usually made in medallion-style (going a 'round' the center) but I'm changing it up a bit and making it two different ways to boot!

betsy chutchian fabrics

It started with this lovely pack of pre-cut 2 1/2" strips of Betsy Chutchian fabrics at my local quilt shop. I had to have them! I had already purchased a metere of the blue paisley and the brown paisley because I love paisley fabric, especially made in this traditional style. But I kind of felt like I really need to use this fabric sooner than later so challenged myself to use it to make the Roosting Round Robin. 


fabric choices and block choice in quilt book


Then, to make it really fun and challenging, I decided to also make blocks that are on my bucket lists. An extra challenge to be sure! This pine tree block has been on my want-to-make list for a long time. This is Quilts!Quilts!Quilts! 

Yes, this book! My husband brought it home for me many years ago when I "had to have" a drunkard's path block pattern - this was the only place the quilt store we lived near had a pattern for one. (yes, this was before looking for patterns online!)


freezer paper template

The book comes with pages of templates to trace and use to make the blocks. I tried to find the same block, the same size, online so I could just make it a quicker way, but I didn't find one. Instead I used freezer paper to trace the template. Then I ironed the freezer paper to the wrong side of my fabric and cut around it using my rotary cutter - the templates include the seam allowance. 


reusing freezer paper template

To make the background pieces on each side of the tree trunk required reversing the template for one side. I removed the freezer paper template that I used and ironed to the front to make it reverse - and it worked! 



design wall block units


I followed the diagrams and put my block units together in the same sections. I did make hsts instead of cutting all of those triangles on the bias and then sewing them together. And I took photos with my digital camera to make sure I kept my pieces in the right place as I moved them from wall to sewing table - something I couldn't have done 15 years ago!


completed pine tree block



I'm really happy with my block - happy I did it and happy with how it turned out. I'm looking forward to the next round with these fabrics!


Are you participating in a quilt challenge this fall?


With Joy,


Sarah V.









1 comment:

  1. Those paisleys are beautiful! I love your block too!
    I haven't been to any guild meetings this fall yet - but I don't think we're doing any challenges...

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