OMG! One Monthly Goal Already Met

Knowing that I may be time poor at times this month, I got stuck into my churn dash blocks on Thursday night, while Mick was watching the footy.  As I announced, my goal this month was to complete eleven blocks, starting with the blue ones, so they would fit in with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge as well. 

I’m making nine inch blocks, using a different fabric for each of the forty one blocks.  To make it a bit easier, I cut them out a bit differently to the pattern Chooky distributed, starting with a strip 4 inches by 15 inches and then sub cutting into one piece 8 inches long and the other 7 inches.

Working in a production line speeded things up considerably. My first job on Thursday was to mark all my cutting lines for the half square triangles, followed by all the stitching.

When I went to get my thread and bobbin, I noticed I had three bobbins in my favourite colour with just a little bit left on them and no full ones.  I also noticed several other bobbins with just a little bit of neutral thread on them, so thought this would be a great project to use all those little bits up.  I’d already emptied a couple when I took this photo.

Once all my stitching was completed, it was time to do all the cutting to create the small sections of the blocks.  Then it was on to the ironing board to press all the seams - open for the HST and to the dark for the others.  

By the bed time I had all the blocks ready for the next stage.  I was very happy with my achievement.

Oh, and I emptied eight bobbins and one thread spool.  The thread spool emptied on the very last seam, with about six inches of thread left.  

Friday was Friday Night With Friends, hosted by Cheryll and for once I actually joined in.

The first job was to trim all those HST and set out the blocks ready to start stitching.

At Scrub Stitchin’ some of the girls were using the web method of joining blocks.  I tried it with my Twister Quilt and ended up in a right royal mess.  The trick is to stack the block components in their columns, whereas I have always stacked them in rows, hence my mess.  I thought a nine patch may be a bit easier to try this method for the first time, rather than joining 64 blocks in a quilt.

I’m happy to report it went well.

By bed time I had all the blocks completed.

They will look a bit brighter once I piece some of the other colours.

And I emptied a further two bobbins and one thread spool. Happy dance!

Seven blocks were blue for Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

I hope to make some more blocks, once a few of my other goals have been completed.

This morning I started to do some more knitting on my beanie.  The checkerboard is complete and back to just stocking stitch.  I thought my mug for morning tea was rather appropriate.

Having a look at my ball of wool, I realised there won’t be enough of the main colour left.  I thought I should have another ball of that or something very similar in my box and would blend the two.  When I had a look, there is only the remainder of the wool that Dad spun from a fleece we bought many years ago and it is much lighter in colour and thicker.  I will now have to wait until I pop over to visit Mum next week and see what she has in her box of bits and pieces of wool.  There should be something that works.  I’m guessing there may be some stripes involved. The main thing is to get something in the correct thickness.  A beanie was supposed to be a very simple and quick make.  It certainly hasn’t turned out that way.  No worries, it is all a part of the fun.