Block Of the Month 2024

Challenge #1

Is this for me? A Quilting Life started the Block of the Month 2024 in January 2024. I decided to follow it, wanting to extend my skill with accuracy with piecing and squaring before sewing the section together.  I didn't anticipate the brainstorming that came with each block without seeing the pattern beforehand.  For this project, I used leftover Christmas fabric and added some others from another bundle, but the value of the fabric is what I struggled the most with. So, I drew each block on quadrille paper, and I colored each section to visualize the value of the light, medium, and dark fabric. It helps tremendously.

Challenge #2

Don't like surprises. There are fifty-five small Square-in-a-Square in this quilt which I didn't know until the reveal of the assembly of the top was given at the end.

 Most of the square-in-square were chewed up by the seam allowance, even when I squared the block. The sashing was off a bit, too. Having put so much effort into piecing the block to have their points chewed up was disheartening.

I thought of ripping off every single one, but then I realized that the shashing was also off and not center. This has yet to happen often to me where cornerstones and sashing don't align with the rest of the blocks. After thinking about it, I admitted to myself the need to practice this square-in-square method and move on; otherwise, this top would have gone into a bin forever. As I write this block,  I'm thinking of fixing that square-in-a-square!

Challenge #3

Let it go. It's okay to admit we've limited ourselves in some piecing areas. Everyone has talent and skill when it comes to quilting. I've learned to avoid benchmarking or comparing myself to someone gifted in the skill area of quilting. But I love to discover an easier, faster, and more precise way of quilting.

For this reason, I've watched many YouTube tutorials to improve my skill with the square-in-a-square method. And I didn't even know there were many ways to do it. Yep, I may redo those nasty ones. We'll see:)

Challenge #4

Know your limits. For my part, I rarely participate in a mystery quilt or block of the month for good reason. Not seeing the entire final layout of the quilt isn't my forte. So why did I do it, you would ask? I wanted the challenge, and I got it! I have no regrets at all, for I've learned that some of my weaknesses in quilting need to be developed.

Challenge #5

Don't pull your hair; buy a bundle! Next time I embark on a mystery quilt or a sew-along, I will purchase a bundle of fat quarters that coordinate and leave the brainstorming for a pattern I can see. Doing so will ease my choice of value for each block, and I will enjoy the sewing process. 

 

How about you? Have you learned a lesson or two while quilting this year? Let's go Quilt!

 Resources

A Quilt Life: https://www.aquiltinglife.com/a-quilting-life-2024-block-of-the-month/