CarrieM ... only you know if the JR sewing might be a good or bad thing for your elbow. I was thinking it might be something you could do with just one arm. Don't know .. but for sure, do not overdo! I bet you feel a lot better with your new "do" ... I go creepy crawly when my hair does not get washed often enough.
Anael ... of course, I knew that! ... I'm not aiming for all different fabrics. For now, I can am just going one by one, and then will see how far I get before I have to repeat. You've already got a nice mix, from what I have seen.
OKSGlad ... Good idea ... and I guess just too obvious for my pea-brain to think about it! What? You do not know the DJ pattern ... have a look here ..............
DDamsel ... Thanks ... no pro I will be. And will I do them all? Only time will tell! So am I supposed to clip the curves even when they are outside curves? OOPS! I've just sort of been letting it gather and then starch it like crazy .... then I trim the seam allowance back to as narrow as I think I should dare to still let me do the hand stitching. I've avoided the inside curves so far, because I am scare to start clipping!
Thanks for the coach's comments ... I need and appreciate them!
AlisonQ ... I've been watching but have not seen blue charm packs ... yet! I don't know how much I need .. some a smidgeon and some you need quite a bit. I know some are buying layer cakes to give them a comfort zone. Its surprising how much you use when doing some of those blocks with more of the blue in them. Or at least the way I do them. Sometimes I oversize, and then trim to size (eg. the circle ones made with the 4Ps and HSTs.
HOnchey ... Thanks for the tip. I have done some of them in a similar way. The larger pieces worked better than the small ones. Of course, I am still pretty inexperienced on this.
**hint** .... one thing I have discovered (and maybe everyone knows already)
When preparing templates .... first label the template with A1, B4 etc, because I usually do a bunch all at the same time and this can avoid wondering later, what is it for? Then I rough cut the template from the copy paper. Next spray the backside with 505. Stick that to an old file folder or greeting card. Now cut carefully on the template lines. So you only have to do your precision trimming that one time ... and I find it easier to do with the stiffer cardstock behind it.