Wednesday, April 16, 2014

WIP Wednesday

I've been trying to make it a point to work on a WIP...any ol' WIP...for a few hours each day. I figure that if I keep at it, eventually I will finish something! The problem is for every one I work on, I think of two more projects I want to start. Hmmm. I think we are getting to the root of the problem!
I pulled out my mini nines again. While I was working on them I wavered between "oh-my-goodness, I can't believe how cute these are!" to "what on earth was I thinking?" That was all in just a few short hours. This quilt is definitely not a sprint but a marathon. I made 19 more blocks in the past day....so I feel a bit cross-eyed! I considered turning it into a pillow (it would be super cute) but for some reason I can't give up quite yet. I guess I shouldn't wait to work on these for 29 weeks like I did the last time. Yeah, that would probably help!
Just to give you a sense of the scale of the blocks...here are the blocks from yesterday and today on my design wall. Makes me feel like an extremist! Scrap play on the bottom right compliments of my daughter. I love her....and I love her style. :)
Also, Dee asked how I make the scrappy HST blocks (from yesterday's post). I use my nifty little easy angle ruler. Works like a charm! It has a notch on the end so the dog ears from the HSTs get chopped off before you even sew. Saves trimming afterwards and improves accuracy while sewing. It's a win-win!

Happy Wednesday!

32 comments:

Quiltin Jenny said...

Those little nine patches are adorable, but seriously? What size do they finish up? CUTE!!

RobotMomSews said...

Ooooh, these are so cute and so tiny! Love it! Also loving your scrappy HST's - awesome!

Unknown said...

I, for one, would encourage you to not give up on this mini nine patch quilt. It is so very sweet. Maybe you could set a goal for yourself of one or two a day...to help break through the barrier. Thank you for all of your wonderful ideas. I love your blog site.

Linda said...

You are beginning to sound like me...

SuperMomNoCape said...

Have you got a friend or family member who is having a baby soon? I think the mini nine-patch would make a great baby quilt.

Blue Moth said...

Problem? What problem? Love those mini nines - so graphic!

Lorna McMahon said...

Sew teeny tiny! Hope you can keep at those. Not another pillow!

SilverCat said...

It would maybe look cute if you interspersed some bigger blocks that were 3 times bigger on each side? The nine patch in the middle would be the size of the central block so it would look lovely and planned. It would also go together so much faster!

Vera said...

Extremist, lol. You are the queen of scraps :-)

Kay said...

Great sewing. Thanks for sharing the ruler too, all tips help. x

Wonky Patchwork said...

Marathons are sometimes good! It will make such a gorgeous quilt if you do manage to stick at it.

Anonymous said...

I feel ya! I have those same yo-yo thoughts when I do a lot of paper piecing. I LOVE it, but I often think, 'Why don't I try a simple quilt sometime?' I like your mini nine patches :) I think it will probably be one of those quilts that you half love and half dread while working on it, but upon finishing, LOVE so much. I also REALLY like your version of the interlocking octagons, and I might have to try to make one! That's a semi-simpler quilt than paper piecing, right? Maybe?

Mary McC said...

I must be crazy myself . I am fascinated with the mini nine pattern. Would you share the technique ? Thanks your quilt is lovely.

Aliceart said...

Love those little blocks. I love quilts made of tiny blocks! I have the same problem with WIP's. I have very little time to sew so trudging along on a WIP, even one I like, is not nearly so fun as the new ideas in my head. I'm trying to move forward though, and am making more progress than I have in the past.

Leigh Anne said...

I must be crazy right along with you :) I made one scrappy nine block and I've been hoarding special bits and pieces for when I get the urge to go back to them. I think of them often so I know I will be back to them LOL

Anne / Springleaf Studios said...

I like you big blocks. It's going to be a very cool quilt. I can also relate to your statement about every WIP you work on making you think of more you want to start. That is my problem precisely. Thus lots and lots of UFO's to show for all the new I've started.

Maggie said...

I loving see your beautiful work! I'm curious what your design wall is made of. I love how it all just sticks. It's wonderful!

Anonymous said...

I am in love with your color blocks that are so large. Would it be possible to use fat quarters for the strips? What color is next?

Suzanne said...

That would be a lot of pin cushions if you abandon the mini quilt but I know you we'll enough to know that fortitude and perseverance are two of your endearing traits. I do love the scale of larger and smaller side by side. Thanks for the ruler tip!

Caffeinated Cotton said...

when you posted about these mini nine patches last summer, I couldn't stop thinking about them so I tried one and could not stop making. I've enjoyed so much sitting and making these miniature blocks...sooo it has now turned into a 87 by 90 something quilt top and I hope to have it quilted soon and will put a picture on FIU friday. Thank you, thank you. Its pretty awesome.

Katie Z. said...

I don't have oodles of mini nines, but they are slowly adding up!

Darcy said...

I'm glad I'n not the only one CONSTANTLY adding to my "to sew" list ;-) And I need this ruler in my life! Thanks for sharing!

Judy said...

Several years ago I was given a shoe box full of 3.5" unfinished size nine patch blocks. This looks like an interesting way to use them. They are staying in the basement while I finish up a few other projects. Thanks for sharing!

margaret said...

did not realise how mimi the quilt was till you showed it next to your other piece, no wonder it takes so long to grow! I have the easy angle for half square triangles but have not learnt to love it, find it much easier and quicker to work with 2 squares back to back, maybe I will have another go

Millie said...

Ooooh! I love this. What a wonderful scrappy quilt. Such fun.

Amanda Jean said...

Quiltin Jenny,

They finish at 3.5". The center 9 patch pieces are cut at 1" so each itty bitty square finishes at about 1/2". Eeep!

AJ

Amanda Jean said...

Mary McC-

The tutorial for the block is here:

http://www.crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2013/06/mini-9-patch-pin-cushion-tutorial.html

Have fun!

AJ

Amanda Jean said...

nightquilter.com-

yes, that pattern is definitely easier than paper piecing!

AJ

Amanda Jean said...

Carol Jordan,

Yes, this would work wonderfully with fat quarters!

AJ

Terry Johnson said...

The Easy Angle has made my quilting life so much easier.

Anonymous said...

Oh, my, those ARE tiny! I like the design concept, but tiny to me is around three inches. =)

karen said...

I love the fact that you frequently work with small pieces. The 1-inch sized strips just don't get enough love these days. :) Keep plugging along. It looks fabulous and those itty bitty blocks are so satisfying to piece.