Hello all!

I'm so sorry the photos didn't make it into the newsletter last week! I am copying last week's newsletter - this time with photos - at the end of this week's blocks. The benefit of my mistake is that I can show you two versions of each block!

Week 7 is our last week with rectangles, and it has some interesting layouts. Once again, we have opportunities for fussy cutting, making decisions about similar vs. contrasting colors, and prints vs. blenders.

First up is block 31, a tiny 9-patch in a polaroid-style frame, and then framed again.


Block 32 gives us a larger patch to work with, ideal for fussy cutting or featuring a larger piece of your favorite fabric. With the little frame around this bigger piece you can choose whether you want to really accentuate the frame, or almost have it blend into the bigger piece.


Block 33 revisits the idea of alternating bars, but with differences in height and, in the top row, width.



Block 34 brings back the skinny cross idea, but now with tiny square interruptions and an off-center center.


Block 35 finishes the chapter with a half framed larger piece and an irregular border.



Now, here's the week 6 newsletter with pictures!!

Block 26 reminds me so strongly of the old Sesame Street segment with the pinball machine and the counting. Do you know which one I mean? Something about those echoing bands of color.



Block 27 is another variation on what I think of as the "2-fabric swap" block, where fabrics are changing places. This is such a quick one to sew, which is a sure way to my heart.



Block 28 brings back that little window slot that I love in other blocks, but splits the background around it, creating multiple intersections of color. When I was contemplating my fabric options, I thought of using two fabrics very close to each other in color as a background. But, as you can see, I changed my mind! My actual choices emphasize the splitting of the background, and I really like the result.



Block 29, my little wabi-sabi experiment. When I cut my pieces for this block I made a cutting error in the outer borders, resulting in a block that measures 6.5" x 5". I am still deciding what I want to do about this. I could rip the borders, cut new ones, and have the block be correct. Or, I could add a strip to one side of the block - I would use the inner border fabric - and have it be not-correct. Correcting the block would be easy (and I'd have some scraps I can probably use later, so not wasted), but I also think there are benefits to living with my mistakes, too. I'll let you know what I decide to do.


and here is what I ended up doing to fix my block:


Block 30 is also a throwback variation on blocks we have made before. Here, skinny bars (in that 2-fabric swap look we know so well) are set in with borders. I am always so pleased with myself when the corners work out!



Talking about block 29 reminded me that I keep forgetting to advise you to save all those little scraps as you cut your blocks out. I've been saving anything that is at least 1.5" in a little sandwich bag, and I've found myself using them, too. (Anything I don't use can go towards future scrap vortex projects!)


That's a wrap - happy sewing!
~ Quilter's JEM