In a World of Problems...

...It’s Nice to Have Solved One

DSC_0008

I found a set of instructions online for the 10” Crown of Thorns block that seems to have solved my problem of skimpy-to-nonexistent seams allowance. The only difference in the instructions is the cut size of the squares that make up the half-square triangles. The first instructions I used to make the yellow block had me cut the squares 3”; the instructions for the blue block use 2-7/8” squares. The cutting instructions for the solid squares are the same: 2-1/2”.

By using 3” squares of the first block (the yellow one) the block came out too large and had to be cut down to 10-1/2 inches. But cutting it to size took away almost all the seam allowances. By using the 2-7/8” squares, the block turns out to be the correct 10-1/2” size without having to trim it. And the seam allowances are 1/4” on the money.

DSC_0014Notice the generous seam allowances on the blue block from today’s sewing, while the yellow block (the first one I made) has little to no seam allowances. It looks fine as is, but once it is sewn to another block, the triangle points would disappear.

Thanks to Nancy for her note from Maui suggesting that I use paper foundations to make my half-square triangles. I was going to try that next if these instructions didn’t work. Hurry home from Maui, Nancy. We miss you here. Turns out you almost missed a Birmingham Snowmaggedon. But after everyone collected our milk and bread and hunkered down for the big one, nothing happened. All the schools were closed and the entire state of Alabama was put under a state of emergency. I think some places in Alabama got a dusting; but here at the Yellow House, nada. And nowhere was a state of emergency called for. But better safe than sorry, I say. And it was exciting, waiting for the snow. And there’s still some winter to come. Maybe we’ll get it yet.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/29/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

So glad you found instructions that solved the no good seam allowance problem in the yellow fabric block. Well done in the persistence department!

Sadly, we had to put our sweet, petite grey tabby cat down today after she'd eaten nearly nothing for two weeks and then ate only smidgens of the people tuna we gave her. She lost so much weight and was so weak that yesterday her back end didn't work right so she'd fall over. we couldn't ask her to stay but we miss her so.

Hugs!
-----

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Getting There

Image
The new Blackberry Creek is getting close to completion. Thank you, Jed for all your work. I've finally found a minute to get still and learn to post. Doesn't seem too difficult. When all the old posts and photos get transferred, we'll start working on the layout.  Today, I'm going to attempt to scale the stairs and do some work in the sewing room. I'm falling father and farther behind on my schedule to get things ready for the June 2026 quilt show.
Read more

Book Talk

Image
To celebrate getting the border sewn on to my millefiori quilt, I decided to read a book--all the way through without stopping to sew anything. And I picked just the right one: Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. If I had wanted to put it aside to sew, I don’t think I could have. This is the best book I’ve read for at least a year. It’s one of those stories that almost reads itself. You don’t feel like you reading but just enjoying an enthralling story. The pages fly by, and you’ve finished the book way before you’re ready to leave those wonderful but broken characters. The main character, Eddie (Edward) Adler, at the age of 12, survives an airliner crash. The crash claims 191 lives, including his parents and older brother. For the next six years, Edward struggles to carve out a place for himself in a world without his family. The story is heartbreaking and at the same time uplifting.  If you’re looking for a good book to read to usher in Autumn, I recommend this one highly...
Read more

Catching Up

Image
This is my new granddog Ozzy. Daughter Andy recently adopted him. He initially showed up at Jesse's girlfriend's house, and after trying unsuccessfully to find his owner, she made him at home. But having one dog, two children, three cats, and a full-time job already, Ozzy (his name was Chip at the time) became too much for her. So Andy took him in. At first she was sure she had made a mistake. Not having ever owned a dog that she was responsible for (we had dogs from time to time when she was a child), she was sure she had bitten off more than she could chew. But things are settled down, and Andy and Ozzy have bonded. They visit me frequently, usually on Saturday to watch the Bama game--or in the case of last Saturday, to watch movies as there was no Bama game. Ozzie is a very good dog and appears to be well cared for. He had not been snipped, but he has been now. And the vet gave him a clean bill of health. As of yesterday, all the blocks, all 120 of them, are finished fo...
Read more