An Old Project Becomes New Again

Sometime last year after being inspired by

this post of Linda's at KokaQuilts,

I cut a big batch of reds, blues, and neutrals 

into 9" squares.

I managed to track down the pattern for Bertha

all the way from a quilt group in England.

But then the pattern and the squares

along with the whole idea sat in a box - until this week

when I discovered the box under something else 

I pulled out of the closet.

I decided to forego the Bertha pattern (HSTs)

and make hourglass blocks instead.

(Hourglass blocks are the current challenge

 over at the Ad-Hoc Improv Quilters blog)

The first photo shows 48 sewn-together pairs of squares 

after they were cut apart into 96 HSTs.

(pairs of reds/neutrals and blues/neutrals)

After the big pile of HSTs were pressed open,

I created 48 new pairs and drew lines on the back sides

to prepare for stitching into hourglass blocks.

(the yardage at the top of the photo will be used

to piece together a backing)

This was the stack after the second round

 of stitching and cutting apart.

Instead of standing at my ironing table in the studio,

I took the unpressed blocks outdoors and

set up a sit-down ironing spot on the back porch.

SO much nicer than staying indoors 

on a beautiful spring evening.

* * *

Next step will be to trim the oversize blocks

into uniformly-sized 6.5" squares.

THEN it will be time to arrange them on the design wall.

I've named this project Fourth of July.

(even though this is Memorial Day weekend)

My goal is to have the quilt finished

by the first of July so it is ready

for this year's Independence Day.

Quiltdivajulie

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“When we were young, we were told that poetry is about voice, about finding a voice and speaking with this voice.  But the older I get I think it’s not about voice, it’s about listening and the art of listening, listening with attention.  I don’t just mean with the ear; bringing the quality of attention to the world.  The writers I like best are those who attend.”

Kathleen Jamie