Originally Posted by ThayerRags

I see where you’re going with this, but she already has her print fabric cut into 2” squares, so it won’t help to make strips with them. It could have, had she decided to use 1” strips, but she’s using 2” squares instead. Also, during her selection of 2” squares, only 6 squares of the same fabric print will be used, so it will end up being extremely scrappy with no repeating color scheme which using strips lends itself to very nicely.

So, yes, she will actually cut all 1” squares and sew them all together, but will be using the Bonnie K Hunter method from her book “Leaders & Enders” for most of the blocks while she works on other quilt projects. Sort of like “multi-tasking”. In other words, while she’s working on a table runner, small seasonal throw, or any other sewing project for the next several months, she will sew two of these 1” squares together as an ender every time she needs to remove work from her presser foot. She will sew two 1” squares together, or strips of them, instead of lifting her foot and cutting her threads. Once a mini 9-patch is completed, it will be set aside and another set of 1” blocks with a different print will become the leaders and enders.

There may be times when she sets down to simply make mini 9-patch blocks for the 99 Bottles quilt, but probably not that often. She’s going to take advantage of the Leaders & Enders method to get them done.

I should add that even though she does alterations and repairs at the shop for 9 hours each weekday, she usually sews at home for several hours each evening, so she spends a lot of time sewing. She won’t do any of these blocks at the shop, because of different stitch lengths, stitch patterns, and thread colors/types involved in alterations. She’ll make them all at home in the evenings and weekends.

Did I mention that my wife loves to sew?

CD in Oklahoma