This one time at quilt camp, I assembles 256 blocks into a quilt. When I finished the block set, I posted about them here.
During a weekend quilt retreat at Camp Frame in Hedgesville, WV, I assemble the complete quilt top. It is 96” x 96”. My friends tell me that it is in the bright colors that I always gravitate towards.
Over the winter, I will assemble the quilt and bind it. I think I am going to gift it to our wonderful West Virginia neighbors…and then borrow it back to show it off at quilt camp in May. I will add another post when it completed…until then don’t hold your breath!
While waiting for a new toilet to be installed and the septic tank to be pumped, I had to do something to keep my mind off wanting to use the bathroom! Being a teacher for many years was good training for this sadly.
I started with this pile of red and white scraps from a baggie of yard sale goodies.
These are from the Splendid Sampler book:
I made fifteen blocks.
Fourteen from the book and one from bonus half squares…
Here are the leftover red and white scraps…quite a reduction to the original pile!
Here are some other scraps. I think I will use them to make a placemat for Meals on Wheels.
This week I am challenging myself to make something different. I have made sampler quilts before but not one that had so many blocks. This quilt has 100 six inch blocks.
I have used this book before now. I constructed 256 Coxey’s Camp blocks that are waiting to be assembled into a rather large one block quilt.
This book features directions for 106 blocks. I don’t want duplicates. I want an assortment of background fabrics and dark scraps. I made myself a lovely grid to keep track of my progress. I decided to start with the two color blocks. I circled all of those on my chart.
Handwritten tracking chart
Time to pull a background fabric to begin…a strawberry covered light peachy pink fat quarter. How many blocks can I make from one FQ? The answer is nine!
Here are my blocks. Can you tell which one I had to “fix”?
These are all pinkish fabrics. The dark is a plum color.The strawberries are easier to see in this picture. A frame is a great fix!
Here are the left over small scraps and 4 bonus half square triangles. Yes, those little bonus pieces are only 1 1/2 inches. I will admit that I pieced some of the backgrounds in the blocks. My grandma would have done that.
I started these six inch blocks last summer. It takes a little while to make 256 blocks…just a little while. They are made from scraps, scraps, and more scraps. Each block has 17 pieces. That is a lot of little scraps. You can do the math.
Here is the heap of completed blocks, just waiting to be assembled:
Large stack…a small mountain, really…
I was inspired by several blocks in this book: Sampler Spree by Susan Ache. You will see more blocks in the future. (I retired from 32 years as an elementary teacher. I will have lots of time to sew…finally!) Directions are well written and easy to follow. Sometimes simple sewing is just what is needed. All the blocks in this book finish at 6 inches. I made 256 Coxey’s Camp blocks out of scraps to make a 96″ square quilt, if I don’t add any borders.
Here is a sample of a completed block:
As I worked, I stored my finished blocks in a large storage bag from the Dollar Tree. The bags come in various sizes. (L…3 to a box, XL…2 to a box, and XXL…1 to a box…it is the size of a pillow). They are heavy ply. They also have a convenient handle. They are a bargain at $1.25.
I usually assembled 20 or so blocks at a time to maintain my own sanity. I parially assemble them and press them. Small steps that can be completed in about an hour are my best work sessions. Sometimes I get called away and let all the pieces on the ironing board. (The sections for an individual block are attached so there will be no problems picking up right where I left off.)
Time for dinner…or I’ve just had enough fun for the moment!I love little trays for blocks that are waiting for the last 2 seams to complete the them…
I am taking this block set to Quilt Camp to assemble the top in September. I have lots of other projects to work on in my retirement. What will be next?
What big project have you been working on…even if it is taking a year or so? Leave a comment.
