I finished my Gridsters Bee block for Rachel. She asked for buzzy bees, as she is a beekeeper in the Midwest. Her tutorial is *here,* as well as links to her pattern, but I didn’t cut apart the pieces. I just straight paper-pieced the thing, then joined the head section to the body section. We blew up the basis 6″ pattern to make 10″ finished bees. I can’t wait to see what she does with them all.
This is beginning to feel like the never-ending quilt.
I’m making small (2-1/4″ finished) plus sign blocks to go in between all the Chuck Nohara blocks that Susan and I made together last year. Our blocks are 6″ finished, so after I worked out the measurements, I drafted a pattern for the sashing. Here is the PDF: Chuck Nohara SashingFinal
I started the plus blocks by cutting strip sets (2 low-volume and 1 bold), then seaming the two low-volume onto the bold on either side. Cut those across the strip set into 1-1/4″ wide strip pieces. These pieces are both the a) top and bottom of your plus block, and b) the center of the “dot” block, shown in the intersection of the sashing, above
I then cut matching pieces of fabric into 1 -1/4″ x 2-3/4″ bits. I sewed a matched set of two strip-set-blocks, one on top, and one of the bottom to make a “plus.” Then I sewed 1 -1/4″ x 2-3/4″ pieces of low-volume on either side of a “dot” to create the mini block that is at the intersection.
Then the low-volume center piece, in between the two plus blocks, measures finished at 2-1/4″ by 1-1/2″ (so cut 2-3/4″ by 1-3/4″).
The “plus” and “dot” units finish at 2-1/4″ square, so trim them to 2-3/4″ square (size before sewing).
Sew two “plus” units on either side of the low-volume center piece. Arrange them all around, then sew the row with the blocks and plus-units first:
Then I sewed the “dots” and plus-units together:
And then I finished sewing them all together:
I’m now trying to figure out the borders. After all the piecing I did for the sashing, I can guarantee you it won’t be like the borders Chuck Nohara showed in her book:
I’ve finally progressed to the place in my physiotherapy (I like the way the Australians say it, as we just call it “PT”) where I could try out my Sweet Sixteen quilting machine again. After 3-1/2 months. It took me a while to get the thread tensions balanced, but then was I able to get going on my quilt from the Traveling Threads Bee, made of Alison Glass fabrics (with a few others).
Bliss. This block, from Toni of HoosierToni, is coming along nicely. I’m limiting myself to 30 minutes/session so I don’t break my surgery (my one big fear in life).
Lastly, you are all invited to our Raincross Guild Meeting this coming Tuesday, May 16th (6 p.m.), where I’ll present a trunk show of my quilts–well, only 25 of them. My husband helped me get them from our closets, walls and cupboards, so I can decide the order and what to say. I just clicked over to the Guild’s website, and in true humbling fashion, I’m not even listed. But Latifah Saafir is, on the day I’m supposed to teach a class for the Guild, too. What will I be teaching?
My Home, Sweet, Home mini quilt. I think they have a few openings, but I’m not sure. I’ll be emailing the class members prep instructions, that if they complete them, they will finish their quilts in class. That’s June 3rd, from 9 a.m. -2 p.m., with a 30-min lunch break (bring your lunch).
Last time I taught this class, I was able to snap a photo of three Home Sweet Home quilts. They look awesome! Patterns are for sale in my Craftsy shop, just in case you aren’t able to attend that day.
Happy Quilting!
OccasionalPiece--Quilt! 
Your Chuck Nohara quilt is luminous. I love your color palette, and I’ll be interested to see what you choose for the border. The highly pieced border from the other two examples is not flipping any of my switches. 😉
Oh Elizabeth, what patience you have ! I could never work on anything so small and busy, that would drive me crazy. I like to finish all my quilts within a month, that way it is an inspirational act for me and I don’t become bored with them.
I would never attempt the Chuck Nohara quilt blocks–what a treasure you will have when it is complete. And yay for working on the traveling quilt. Hope your trunk show and class go well–I wish I could attend both of them!
Chuck is looking more beautiful at every step. I’m sure your border will do justice to all the hard work you have put into it so far. I’m wondering whether your cross blocks aren’t 3 and a quarter inch square as you only have two bordering each Chuck block? I wish I could be at your trunk show, or your class in June! I’m still waiting for my lottery numbers to come up!!
love your Chuck Nohara. And all the little plus signs…such a positive quilt! Wish I were close enough to see the trunk show and attend your class. At the moment, I feel like I am drowning in projects 😱. So what did I do??? Started a new one!!
It must feel good to be back on the Sweet Sixteen even for small bits. And Latifah Saafir is coming to PMQG in June. We’ll have to compare notes. Must be fun pulling 25 quilts–enjoy doing the trunk show.
Thank you for the extra info on your absolutely gorgeous quilt. I remember when you were almost through with your Lollipop Trees quilt and was getting disillusioned with it and you were so very close to finishing it and I felt you were on the brink of giving up on it. As I said before you are almost finished keep going.. Much to my happiness you took my advice and completed it and look what happened – it was published. That was a happy day for me too. The Chuck Nohara quilt is so beautiful and you should be so proud of your accomplishment in getting it done to this point. Can’t wait to see it completed. As to the original border I’d probably make a different one too.
I love seeing all of your quilting endeavors. You are so very talented, artistic, and inspirational I really wish I could attend your class! Instead I must settle for buying your patterns.
Very cute bee block and I love your Alison Glass quilt. Fantastic colors. The two mini quilt options you have for home sweet home are both beautiful color ways. Thanks for sharing.
That plus sashing is AMAZING!! It really makes the quilt. The colors are so bright and happy:). I can’t wait to see the border you choose!
Your ‘Chuck’ looks AMAZING and makes me want to get back to mine. My ‘look, there’s a squirrel appraoch’ has maybe slowed down my finishes. Would absolutely love to attend your trunk, if we just didn’t live so far apart, I bet it will be inspiring and lovely. So glad you are back on your Sweet Sixteen, so frustrating to not be able to do what we love. Welcome back to quilting health!! XOXO
Latifah Saafir is speaking at our August meeting. I really hope I can get the day off to take her Molehills class. If I weren’t working, I’d come take your house class. 😦 Them’s the breaks with a new job and bills to pay.
I love that Chuck Nohara piece! Those little pluses make such a difference.
Yeah to being back on the quilting machine. I’m sure you two will be good friends again in no time at all.
Good luck with the show and class. I KNOW it will be amazing.
Haven’t read this yet — am in Oregon to spend a week with Wynde Dyer. But have to share a funny with you. Read the subject header as Earl May Accomplishments. EArl May is a midwestern garden center, and my first thought is “why is she working for them, now?”
Will get to your post sooner or later.
Take care, Brenda
bwiseman@neb.rr.com 402-486-3220