They’re so pretty!
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Rotary cutters are really nice! (and really sharp!)
Don’t be like me & forget to move your cutting mat before ironing fabric:
This is after being stored flat for a few years - it used to be worse. (I did buy a larger one later - it’s hard to cut on a wavy mat! 
)
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I’m in a similar property, is it possible to split your living area into living / crafting space?
This is how I moved in, but lockdowns and working from home broke my crafting space, I need to reclaim it in the best possible way!! (without having to commute to an office for 3ish hours a day!)
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My DH set mine against a radiator. 
I managed to iron the majority of my wave out, though. I still try to cut on the ‘good’ side of my mat.
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@MistressJennie those blocks are gorgeous!!
And agreed with the cutter, I have two main ones, when the blade starts to get dull, I downgrade that to paper, replace the blade on the old paper one, and upgrade that one.
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Ok, I have 19 of the black + rainbow color blocks, but there are 4 blocks that are questionable.
One is a messed up first draft of the Card Trick block I ended up remaking, and is therefore already in the pile. (I’d be fine using it on a backing, or in another project.)
One is a pink Woven Heart block I actually love, but I have another Log Cabin Heart block in deep reds. I already have plenty of pink in the pile, and not enough red, so while I like the pink better, I feel like I need to use the red.
Here’s the red:
One block I’m on the fence about. An improvised Clover block. I already have a better Clover block, that I like more. It’s only okay, and doesn’t ‘spark joy’, but I could put it in if I need to.
The final questionable one just kinda ended up looking like a swastika. I didn’t mean for it to obviously, and it’s not exact. But my fabric choice didn’t help. It’s a bright reddish-pink, for the inner cross, with solid clay-red triangle tips. But against the black background, it just reads evil fascist quilt block. I’m pretty sure I should totally take it apart. Or burn it the help the Allies beat the Axis? 
I tried blurring it, but I think that made it look even more evil.
So I could do a few things.
Option 1: Use 15 blocks in a 3x5 layout
This feels like it would make an awkward size quilt, but when I lay the blocks out in a color wash they seem to lend themselves to this layout. Even with some sashing and border, I could quilt it myself. This would be the fastest and easiest option, but it might annoy me forever that it’s such a long skinny size.
Option 2: Use 15-16 of the blocks in a 4 x 4 layout
Add in the extra green clover, try to ignore the fact that there are two clovers. Possibly make just 1 more block. This would be the second easiest option, and a good/average size throw. I should be able to still quilt it myself. When I lay it out on the I think it looks the nicest, but it seems to be demanding another green block to make the wash feel even.
Option 3: Make 3-4 more blocks, in strategic color choices to help balance colors of the quilt, and do a 4 x 5 layout. Use the leftovers in another project, or on the backing. Depending on what I do for sashing and borders, this could be a giant throw, and I might need to pay to send it out to a long arm quilter. That would take the most time, most effort, and probably the most cost.
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Hmm, somehow I missed trying a 3x4 layout entirely. That would mean I could be more selective with block choice…. Gonna have to try that after dinner.
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I like option two, with the addition of one more green block
I like #2 as well…the green is striking with those colors.
The current January BOM is not the most beginner friendly block. The entire block is pretty much made up of half square triangles and while HSTs are not difficult, they are time consuming and the itty bitty ones can be a bit fiddly. So I would like to offer an alternative block for this month.
This block is made up of rectangles and squares (no tiny HSTs in sight @marionberries 
) and would be a good starter block for learning how to cut with a rotary cutter and ruler, @skrutt. There are instructions for making this as a 6", 9", or 12" finished block.
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My first quarter quilting goals:
- Finish Charlotte’s I-Spy quilt
- Label and bind one out of the three quilts that just need these two steps to be finished
- (not quilting, but quilt related) Make a quilter shirt and/or jacket
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I love reading through everyone’s quilty goals!
@marionberries, I like the quilt pattern you used for Finley’s quilt!
@MistressJennie - Holy moly! You are on a roll! I will never cease to be in awe of the speed at which you manage to get things done (especially considering that you have a toddler at home!). Your rainbow BOM quilt reminds me of my childhood, there’s just something about that color combo that gives me a feeling of nostalgia. Regarding the black and rainbow quilt, I am also a member of the “Option 2 with one more green” club.
@jellybean - it looks like you’ve already completed a good amount of the work on both of those quilts. I’m looking forward to seeing them completed! Do you have all of your t-shirts sewn together in big blocks already?
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Here is one of my wall hangings that Ive done. Mum held a class and I participated. And somehow I mis-read the measurements. I read them in inches instead of centimeters, so I got a big house! But I love it non the less. Maybe its time to re-make in right measures now?
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I have 3 of the big blocks done right now. I was going to make a bunch of small quilts, but now I’m thinking I might make one big one instead.
I still have t-shirts to cut up & I’ll use the backs of the shirts to make more blocks. I also have several white shirts that I want to tie-dye & use.
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I pulled out the pile of rainbow scraps I was working through on that quilt, and found I must have realized I either needed or wanted more green, or alternate green blocks, because there are 3 new FQ’s in a softer minty-toned bright green (rather than the yellow-green tones of the others). I looked through some of the blocks I missed doing in previous Quiltalongs, and some on the Pinterest board I keep, but ended up choosing one I have already made, the Cups & Saucers Block. (I made a Halloween version, so they will be on different quilts.) I have 3 different greens I’d like to use, and this calls for 3 prints, besides the background.
Meanwhile, I took apart the fascist quilt block, and I’m playing with the components to see if I could rearrange them, or if they should just go away forever.
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@AudiobookLover, if you need BOM nominations for later in the year, I’m nominating this one:
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Thank you @AudiobookLover . I was willing to tackle the hst but not looking dorward to the little ones. And for some reason that block didn’t speak to me. It nice to have an alternative too.
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Nice choice, @MistressJennie !
We are very much in need of block nominations, we have ten more months to fill. The BOMs are all user suggested blocks, so if each person suggests a block, we’d have more than enough blocks for the entire year (if we end with more than 12 BOM nominations, we could have some months similar to this month where there could be a choice of blocks)!
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Cups and Saucers!
The light is terrible today, so I can’t get a color accurate shot. This is simultaneously too vibrant and too washed out. Oh well. One step closer on this quilt top.
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Great choice! The style of that block will work really well with the rest of them.
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