Woo, gorgeous! Happy Birthday, sparkly lady 
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Ok, I finished my round gemstone block, but I’m not thrilled with it. The original pattern makes an 8” gem, which didn’t feel big enough for me, so I sized the pieces up to 12” and 14”, then made the 12”.
By the time you get to assembling the quadrants together, the piece is so bulky, especially at the center, that it’s really hard to stay on the line. (As you have to sew with a really small stitch to help perforate the paper, it’s also nearly impossible to rip out stitches and go back.) I sewed the final center seam together, then discovered that I was off by 1/16” along the back, which was making the center of the block pooch out (like a rounded dome). I had to go back and adjust the middle. Now that lays flat-ish, and the large inner diamond shape line up, but the outer edges of the top right quadrant are off.
I think the block just has too many seams coming together in a central spot. (Obviously I’m also a beginner, and this is a more advanced block, but I felt like the heart gem didn’t have this problem.) I can either choose between my two complete blocks to make something for my parents, or I can attempt the 14” version of the round gem, as I already have the pattern pieces printed out, and the fabrics laying on my cutting table. If I do that, I’d try further trimming down seam allowance and being more strategic about pressing to certain sides, based off the first try.
Honestly, this block felt more like sewing a period corset, fiddly, complicated and with too many seams coming together in one spot. The difference is that when you do a corset, the audience can’t see a 1/16” misalignment, and the corset starts to form to the body due to heat and stress during wearing by the actor.
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Ambitious & well done tho, especially for an unknown piecing method. Good work!
It would actually look good with one central square rather than all those bitty bits. Not sure what that sort of flat topped stone cut is called but my ring is flat, no point there.
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That looks like it was a beast to sew. So detailed! I love those gemstone blocks, though.
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Wow, there are so many little pieces in that block! Nice job on fixing the center - tiny stitches + tiny pieces makes it really impressive that you were able to fix it!
Personally, I really like the heart block. I feel like a heart is an appropriate symbol for an anniversary gift and would definitely work well. Even if your mom isn’t a big hearts person I still think it’s a great choice for all the reasons you listed.
If you do opt to make the 14" block, I highly suggest picking up Acorn Precision Piecing Products - Easy Press Fabric Treatment. You can get it with a special pen. You fill the pen with the treatment, then apply it to the seams and hit the seams with an iron and it will magically flatten your seams. It is a game changer when dealing with bulky seams!
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I’ve put together two of the I-Spy tops, and am working on #3 today. I’m using leaders&enders to put together a disappearing 9-patch quilt at the same time.
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I finished writing the pattern for the quilt block i designed. I procrastinated, so didn’t have time for a tester. Handed out the pattern to my local guild members yesterday. Really hope it all makes sense and I left nothing out.
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Final try with this block. This one is 14”, so a bit bigger than the last try. Whatever happens with it, I have to move forward with turning one of them into a gift.
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I-Spy quilt top #3 is done! I’m trying to get all these tops done so I can do some garment sewing for a while.
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Number 4!
I think the disappearing nines quilt can wait for the next round of quilt sewing. I have five completed tops, now.
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They all turned out fantastic! It will be nice to take a break to make yourself some unique clothes.
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I posted my Polaroid Quilt (finally)!
I know i have a LOT to learn, but it was a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement. Especially @sloth003 !
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You did a fantastic job! I love all the prints you picked to make this special for your friend!!!
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I’m sooooo much happier with my second try at this block! The points and matches are all a lot better. After writing out my last post about how this felt more like piecing a corset, I thought “Well Jennie, why don’t you just treat it like one?” So I did. I gave myself extra match points on the pattern, and pinned the way I would when making clothing, rather than how I pin when quilting.
I got my wedges sewn together in pairs, and checked them carefully. There was only one that needed to be adjusted, so I unpicked part of the seam that was off, and readjusted. The paper wasn’t happy about it, but also didn’t totally fall apart either. Then when I pieced the wedges into quadrants, that happened once more, so I took that seam partway apart again and fixed it. And I pressed all my wedge seams open, rather than to one side.
Here’s the first one (12") on the left, with the new one (14") on the right. This pic is also a better color match. Not sure why the top photo looks so electric blue. They are more shades of wedgewood and cerulean. There are totally still a few imperfections, but I’m overall very happy with how it came out.
Now to figure out what to turn it into…
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Incredible!
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Well everyone is just knocking it out of the park today.
@tendstowardschaos 5?!! That amazing and they look great.
@gozer that is a wonderful quilt, well done.
@MistressJennie those blocks are fabulous!! 
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Heck yeah!
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@tendstowardschaos, I’m impressed by the time and dedication you’ve put into getting your five quilts done. Five I-Spy’s is my goal and so far I’ve managed four in the past four years.
@gozer, I love, love, love your Polaroid quilt!
@MistressJennie, your latest block looks perfect! I’m looking forward to seeing what you create with it!
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@gozer don’t forget to submit your polaroid quilt as a large personal finish. Oh, plus you had the ‘scribble stitched’ items that you made that would also work as entries for the raffle. Either or both of the Halloweenish ATCs you made would also work for this quarter’s challenge entry.
The same to everyone else - please don’t forget to submit your beautiful quilted items for raffle tickets. Anything submitted as a completed goal can also be submitted as a prompt, challenge, personal finish, or if you claimed it as a goal, for a BOM as well.
This month’s prompt was circles. Our quarterly challenge is any holiday themed quilted project. And any project that is not submitted under those categories can be submitted as a personal finish. You can submit up to 3 sizes for the quarterly challenge or personal finishes.
Project Sizes
Small: Something that takes you less than 10 hours to sew and quilt. (2 ticket)
Medium: Something that takes you 10-20 hours to sew and quilt. (3 tickets)
Large: Something that takes you 20 or more hours to sew and quilt. (4 tickets)
How to Post an Entry: To enter a Prompt, Challenge, Personal Finish, BOM, or Goal List project for a ticket entry, please use the appropriate header below, at the start of your post:
-I your name, offer your item for month’s prompt
-I your name, offer your item for my small/medium/large (pick one) challenge entry.
-I your name, offer your item for my small/medium/large (pick one) personal finish.
-I your name, submit this as my (late/current) (BOM month) BOM entry.
-I your name, submit your goal for my goal list entry.
I will leave submissions open until midnight on Saturday, October 5th.
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I didn’t know the other stuff counted! And thanks for the reminder on the quilt. I completely forgot!
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