My sewing has been characterized by a complete lack of discipline in every respect. In an effort to improve, I have decided that I need a task master! And so I am trying something new: Block of the Month. Of course, there are pros and cons to this endeavor…
The Pros:
- A set timeline: though I’m going to speed it up and attempt to do it at a Block a Week!
- Someone else calling the shots
- Some of the blocks will force me out of my comfort zone (if I even have one)
- Planning is already done- none of my usual running out of fabric, too many or few blocks, layouts that won’t work, etc.
- Someone has already figured out the cutting measurements- one of my weakest points
The Cons:
- I hate sampler quilts
- Some of the blocks are ugly
- Some of the blocks will force me out of my comfort zone (okay, so this one cuts both ways)
- No creativity (though I did get to pick out the fabrics- ALL from my stash)
Since the pros seemed to outweigh the cons, the next step was to find the right Block of the Month quilt. After looking at several, I settled on Sew,Mama,Sew! Modern Block of the Month from 2011-12 with Alyssa Haight Carlton. I liked the simplicity of many of the blocks, which would really allow force me to focus on technique, since mistakes are hard to hide in a simple block.
Half-way through the first block, I’m really enjoying her crystal clear instructions, digital pictures and actual pictures. Each block is also made in a second colorway, and digital pictures are given of an entire quilt of that block in all different layouts. Can’t wait to see how this turns out!
Here’s a pic of block #1, ready to be assembled:
-Allison
