More Celtic Solstice Piecing

     Bonnie offered 2 sizes for the Celtic Solstice Mystery quilt.  I worked on the smaller size that would finish at 75” square.  I read about a couple of quilters who made theirs queen size.   If I added one row of blocks (8 rows of 7 each), my Celtic Solstice would finish at 75” by 84”.   I needed 7 additional blocks so the past few days, I have worked on components such as the orange and yellow HSTs.  This time I used a different HSTpaper but it was just as accurate and easy.  I printed free pages from http://www.quiltingandwhatnot.ca/Half-Square-Triangle.html . 

All my subunits are pieced; I just need to get busy sewing.  I can’t believe how quickly a few ladies finished their quilts.  I am taking a good bit of time to pin most of the intersections to match.  All 28 of my “54-40 or Fight” blocks are finished.   I’m working on my 28 “Birthday Girl” blocks but  12 of the 28 will have the chevrons rotated.  I like how the occasional star adds a little more interest.

Hopefully, soon I will be ready to add the borders. 

I did take a break to make a 9” by 12” quilted pouch that is for a JoAnn Fabrics class.

 

Break is over.  Back to sewing.

Hexagon Floral Placemat

       The past few days the only quilting I have done was on a hexagon floral placemat that is a JoAnn Fabrics class sample.  I am scheduled to teach the class in April but I wanted to get the sample done.

It is a good project for a beginner because they learn to English paper piece a hexagon flower, applique it either by machine or by hand, machine quilt and bind. That is a lot.

    I also spent one afternoon cutting scraps.  If they were less than 12 1/2" long, I cut them into usable units such as rectangles 2 1/2" by 4 1/2" or 2 1/2" by 6 1/2" or squares 2 1/2", 3 1/2", 4 1/2", and 5" to add to my collection.  Some small pieces went into a crumb pile. I still have many more scraps to be cut up.

    I added a border and have the scrappy orphan top ready to sandwich and quilt.  Along the way I will piece more on my Celtic Solstice mystery.

More Celtic Solstice Progress

     After spending most of the day on the road and visiting a sister and cousin who have both had surgery recently, I returned home safely in a terrible rainstorm and settled down to piecing on my Celtic Solstice “54 - 40 or fight” blocks.

I worked on them yesterday also and I stopped this evening with only have 5 more to piece. 

     Next I have to finish the “Birthday Girl” blocks.  When checking out photos from Bonnie’s Link Up Party this week, I saw that several quilters have made the small change of rotating the chevron pieces so that a star is formed.  I like it.  

Kari has played with both options and color choice.  The combination adds a special look.  You can check out her options here.   I think I will make both types of blocks with the chevrons.