Darting bird block

Ever wonder how quilt blocks get their names?

Well, some of them are pretty obvious! This is one of them - it's called "Darting Bird."

And it looks like a bird!

Check this out:

Cute, right?

Now take a peek of all three sizes together:

They really DO look like little birds, darting in different directions!

These are the 5 inch, 6.5 inch, and 8 inch blocks that will become part of my Summer Moon sampler quilt.

Now, on to the next block!

See you soon,

DragonDrop approved

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Hi kids!

Those of you who have followed here for a while know that we have two cute mascots here; one is called Padsworth, and he's a true Renaissance frog who is into all kinds of crafts and sewing and quilting. He even has his own project for shelter pets!

The other is his friend, small in stature but huge in heart: DragonDrop, who came to America all the way from Mairi in the "Land down under," when she sent him on his way to us.

Together, they are an awesome team of Quilt Inspectors, Craft Enablers, and All-Around-Good-Guys who keep us on our toes here at the Lilypad.

DragonDrop was checking out my latest stitching when I washed away the Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy, which is a fabulous product reviewed in this post and in this one. (Click on that green link there and you'll be whisked away to check out how to purchase some for your very own!)

Apparently, he has heartily approved my latest efforts!

This is another one of the Psalm 23 blocks from Jenny Elefantz. (Click on that graphic on the right-hand sidebar of the blog, and you can find all the blocks and instructions from our talented friend, Jenny.)

Here's a close-up:

I have just a few more to do and I'll be ready to turn these into a  . . . . well, you tell me. Jenny makes a lovely book, but I'm betting that they'd make a sweet quilt, too.

What would you do with these blocks?

Love,

Judy's blocks

Hi kids!

Padsworth here, to announce that today, we have some blocks to show you! These are stunning Summer Moon units that one of our wonderful Lilypadquilting followers has created!

Stand up and take a bow, Judy! 

Bravo!!

Judy is doing a great job of keeping up the project, in spite of the pandemic -- when she began this Summer Moon journey, it was part of a community (can we say, quilting party?) that met at a local quilt shop to construct blocks and fellowship together. Since the outbreak of Covid 19, they've been unable to meet, but Judy has continued to create these lovely blocks from the Summer Moon book.

Great job, Judy, and thank you so much for sharing with us!

If you are sewing along with us on the Summer Moon sampler quilt, and you would like for us to feature your blocks, be sure to let us hear from you!

Happy sewing, y'all!

Love,

Padsworth

Tips for the Checkerboard block

Hi kids!

Sorry to be absent so long . . . tests and scans for Mr. Snoodles have put me behind a bit - and don't take this wrong, but he IS more important to me! (Grin)

I did have a moment to put together some tips on the next block in the Summer Moon journey, and I wanted to share with all of you! (Click on that link if you'd like to get the book and join us!)

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Our next block is Checkerboard -- totally made up of square-in-a-square block units! 

Ready to put some blocks together?

Great!

The standard procedure for these blocks is to place small squares of fabric on opposite sides of the main fabric, and sew across them on the diagonal. We trim the seam allowance to one quarter inch, and press it to the outside.

The second step is to follow that same procedure on the other two corners. 

Here's a diagram of how it goes:

You'll notice that the second set of seam allowances are to be pressed to the inside. I tried Carrie's way of construction, and I wasn't pleased with how the seam allowances were looking.

Pressing didn't seem to help . . .

So, what to do?

(Pssssst! I went rogue!)

I decided to try pressing them to the outside of the block, just like the first two seam allowances, and it worked out much better!

Look how nice and flat it is, compared to the other one!

This reduced the bulk, too, so that when I put the nine units together into the Checkerboard block, it was lying flat and looking awesome.

Here are the three Checkerboard blocks:

Here's a close up shot! Love those orange prints!

Hope these tips will help you as you sew the Summer Moon sampler quilt!

I'm hoping to get back in my sewing room ASAP, so I will try to post some great stuff soon!

Love,