That makes me want to get mine started. Oh, to have more time!!

Bean and Girl, your blocks are just lovely. I am so enjoying watching this. It is amazing how different the same blocks look!!

yeah the trim down to is 12.5 so when the 1/4 inch seam comes in on each side you have a 12" block. dont think your alone I just cut and cut and started sewing a block for another swap where 12.5 is where it absolutely has to be. cool. however as I am sewing I look at things and see uh oh do the math and crud I picked a pattern meant to FINISH out at 12.5 so I had 13" unfinished block looming ahead of me.I panicked I cried I thought oh no no more of this fabric as its a boom block someone had sent me their f8th this was it all I had. Then I stared at it again, talked to both Jaba and Marytoddliz and decided on reducing the size of the center row enough to make it the right size. Its not perfect but it worked perfectly. phew big time. So my suggestion: before you cut you look, you look and you look again. Measure twice cut once and all that. So make sure you simply dont jump to a conclusion until your positive its the right one. easier to before than cry later. just my two bits :) otherwise nice blocks.

Juanita bean LOVE your combo of colors. its coming out very pretty. I am with you on the bang for your buck. three hours to cut tiny pieces end up with something your not over the top about .. well next time just pick a different block to fill it in and still share it with us. I am doing one a week and when time allows one of my own chosing. I still have to get on this week. I think everyone is doing a great job interpretting the colors in their own way and even the blocks at time. Wyldwitch GRAND job :)

Thanks so much for the encouragement Buslady!!
As for your tips they made me laugh
1. CUT ACCURATELY
2. USE GOOD 1/4 INCH SEAMS
3. PRESS EACH SEAM AS YOU GO
4. TRIM AS NEEDED AS YOU GO

1. I hurry too much to always cut accurately I really try though
2. The patterns have been saying to sew a "scant" 1/4 inch so I wonder if maybe I'm not small enough :p
3. Sometimes I get lazy and don't press all the seams :o
4. I do trim ok I guess tee hee

Welll, here are this weeks blocks...enjoy ladies!

Easy - http://www.quilterscache.com/W/WoodboxBlock.html

Challenge - http://www.quilterscache.com/V/VOS_C...StarBlock.html

Remember, next week is a catch up week. Extra blocks will be posted for those who want something to do. I will also post all the blocks we have done so far next friday.

Rosie the Wyldwytch

What happened to the EASY block? Come on now!! I can count the little pins on Quilters cache!!! You are discouraging some of us, or maybe just me. I guess I'll just retreat to my 9 patch!!

Everyone put their big girl panties on and go for it We can this one !!!!! Remember the Engine that could. Full steam with our irons ahead !!!!

is tht easy block paper pieced?

Yes easy one is

Here is cutting/sewing directions for the easy block if you prefer not to paper piece. I personally am not a fan, but in the excitement of picking blocks friday night, the fact this was paper pieced was overlooked. The block if you look closely at it is just squares, rectangles and HST's.

Ok, so here is my interpretation of the block:

1. It is 12 ins finished, with 3 wide x 3 high, that would make the finished blocks 4ins square. Which would make each block 4.5ins to cut.
2. now lets name them Blocks 1 - 9, starting on first row, left to right.

so: 1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9

3. The block is symmetric, therefore, mini-blocks 1, 3, 7 and 9 are the same; 2, 4, 6, and 8 are the same. and then there is 5. So there are only 3 types of mini-blocks

4. Ok, so you have the corner mini-blocks, which if you look are basically HST with a HST in the corner.
the middle mini-blocks are 2 equal rectangles.
the center is a square.
5. So, now we have broken down what we are looking at, what each block contains and that they are really designs we have done over and over.
6. Here is the cutting sizes (either print out or hand draw a sample of the blocks with the colors you are to be using for each block. :) just follow the picture)
mini-block 5 (center) = cut 4.5 in square
mini-blocks 2,4,6,8 (middle sides) = cut 2 rectangles, 4.5ins tall by 2.5ins and sew them along the long side
mini-blocks 1,3,7,9 (corner squares) = there are 3 pieces to this one, so I will break it down a little more for ease
a. outer corner block = cut 2 4.5in squares and then cut along one diagonal to make 4 HST's
b. inner corner block = cut 2 4.5in squares and then cut along BOTH diagonals to make 8 HST's
c. inner HST = cut 4 2.5in squares and then cut along one diagonal to make 8 HST's, recommend you do 2 of 2 different fabrics, then you would sew them into squares.
7. Now lets sew corner squares together.
a. first sew the 2.5in HST together,
b. then sew the short side of the smaller HSTs you made in part b above to the just finished 2.5in square in part A. Refer to the diagram as to orientation of those short sides. finished it should be a HST.
c. now sew that HST to the 4.5in HST you cut earlier.
8. At this point you have all the pieces, basically 9 4.5in squares. Now it is just a 9 patch.
9. If you are worried about sizing, just cut everything 0.5ins bigger and then trim down to a 4.5ins square at the end, should work.

If anyone would prefer a more "quilters cache" type version of this with diagrams etc. Just PM me and I will hammer it out and send it to ya.

Hope this helps :) remember we are expanding our skills and trying new things ;) There are never any failures, just learning experiences!