Hi Everyone, I can't believe this is week 8. We're moving along so fast it seems. All the blocks are looking great and the fabric choices and colors are outstanding. Anne

Honchey, you have to be the crispy queen. I have never seen crisper blocks. I starch but you are precise.

That's my goal now. Crispy blocks. Hopefully, it will distract me enough to prevent a Christmas FW from happening. :0D

I didn't think I would get these two blocks made on time but I have. The background fabric on my Calico Puzzle is actually yellow but I used the wrong side as it was the right shade of beige for me.
Can't wait to start the next two blocks.

now I am officialy behind :roll: :lol:
maybe I will catch up sometime this year

WOW! Honchey, your blocks are AMAZING, can I be like you when I grow up?

:P :P :P :P :P :P Thank you so much everyone for all the compliments on my blocks. It takes a while--everyone is doing such a great job on their blocks. I do go thru alot of starch!! I also do alot of ripping. That's what I ask for in the Secret Swaps--little blue and crystal seam rippers :lol: :lol: :lol: . I have them all over the house.

Just to let you know--I don't like blocks 17 & 18 and they aren't liking me either !!

I don't like 15 - I guess I'm going to have to use starch. The block I finished with is SO AWFUL I didn't even try to rip it. I just tossed it. Maybe I'll give it a try again tomorrow.

Hi Cyndi H, We've all been there -done that. I save mine to make potholders :P :P . We should save them to have a swap or a contest for the ugliest/wonkiest potholder after we're done with this quilt. Don't feel bad I have to do 17 over and 18 is a real challenge for me. I hate these two blocks. Too many biased edges. Anne

I figured out what the problem is. I never know (haven't been taught, I guess) which end to start with when stitching triangles together - so I end up with too much at one end and not enough at another. I need to rip and rip, so that I have enough for a seam allowance where the points are. I'm covered with little tiny threads!

Hi Cyndi H, When working with blocks/pieces that have alot of biased sides- starch your fabric heavily BEFORE you even cut the pieces out-then PRESS your fabric. There is a difference between ironing and pressing.Starching helps to keep the fabric from stretching. line up the seam ends first and then PIN across the seam not with it then pin the center of the piece, The pins keep the fabric from sliding and shifting as you sew it.

Starch is on my shopping list - I want blocks as nice as yours, Honchey! But I don't think it's so much the bias edge sewing that's messing me up on this block - all my other blocks so far have been a breeze. I believe I'm starting the sewing of the two-piece sets at the wrong end - leaving me without the seam allowance needed for the large points. My large points ended up at the edge of the sewn strip instead of offset by 1/4". I have fixed it for the two large strips down the sides, and now I have to fix it for the smaller pieces on the top and bottom (in the middle of the block.)

I'll probably take a photo of the "before" block (the one currently in the trash can) and the after block - as long as no one laughs at the pathetic "before!"