Patchwork of the Crosses – Another Framed

Finally, another of the Patchwork of the Crosses blocks with its outer hexagons added. I learned I just need to get started on one and then I’m motivated right away to finish it off.

I have a nice little stack of the cream hexagons ready for the next few blocks and another little stack of the connecting squares that will be used when I start setting the blocks together. When I made my Quilted Diamonds quilt I used these glassine envelopes to keep the pieces for each diamond together. Now I’m using them to hold the little pieces for the POTC and for the Harpsichord Quilt.

In the reorganizing of stash, I came across this FQ. I absolutely love it and am thinking that I don’t want to cut it up at all but rather use it in its entirety in something. I’m not quite sure how I’ll accomplish that. Mr. Quilt Obsession thought it might make a great shirt.

Lester was, as usual, on the windowsill Thursday.

Smudge — in a box. An open empty box has to be investigated immediately.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Unnamed Block

Absolutely no name ideas come to mind for this one. I look at it and love the effect I got with the middle fabric but can I think of a name for it? No! Any ideas?

Thursday was unbelievably overcast. We had lamps on from first thing in the morning. Smudge didn’t much care — he was comfortable.

Lester tries to make sure Mr. Quilt Obsession can’t go out by lying on his sneakers.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Lilacs in the Spring

For some reason, this block says lilacs in spring to me. Here I go again — this may be my favourite for today, at least.

I did a small exchange with Terri at Purple and Paisley of goodies related to stitching, quilting and crocheting. In the package I received I got all these glorious DMC flosses, some of which will be used in the Mary Wigham sampler, some floss cards, floss project cards and the appropriate-sized needles. I love these floss colours — all very cheerful.

Tucked in with the other items were these buttons. They’re absolutely adorable — the faces on the cats are priceless! Mr. Quilt Obsession immediately asked if they were for him!

Wednesday was pretty overcast and, once again, rather cool for July. This is definitely turning into the summer that wasn’t. A long-range forecast I heard Wednesday night indicates August isn’t going to be much warmer than July has been. I suppose the thing to hope for at this point is a warmer than usual September.

Smudge stretched out on the sofa.

Lester draped on the chair.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Peppermint

Another block with its surrounding cream hexagons. Every time I look at this one I think of peppermints.

My hands/wrists are giving me a bit of a problem at the moment. I can’t use the rotary cutter or iron and am finding even using the computer mouse a bit challenging. My intake of Omega 3 capsules has increased so I’m hoping this won’t last too long as I’ve run out of the cream hexagons and need to print some more. In order to do that, I need to cut some of the cream fabric and press it.

Lester in his normal windowsill spot:

Smudge curled up on the couch.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Orange Marmalade

The latest of the blocks to get its surrounding cream hexagons makes me think of orange marmalade. It’s not pressed yet as I plan to press these in groups of 10 or 12 but do finger press as I join each set of three of the cream hexagons to a block. For the next Patchwork of the Crosses quilt, I am going to sort out what fabric I want to use for the outer hexagons and attach those as I make each block.

This was Smudge Wednesday before he decided to use the little duck as a pillow.

And yet another Lester on the windowsill shot.

Green and Cream Patchwork of the Crosses

It seems I will be showing some of these blocks as I add the cream hexagons. My plan is to work on this pretty well exclusively, although I’m sure I will need a break here and there. I now have six of the blocks completed with their surrounding cream hexagons. I will have to print more of the cream hexagons this weekend as I only have enough printed for another 2 blocks. Perhaps adding the cream hexagons as I made each block would have been a good idea. That said, it’s nice mindless stitching with lots and lots of continuous stitching and does go rather quickly.

Lester — where else but the windowsill!

Smudge the great hunter with his prize — a toy stuffed duck. It was so funny to see him resting his head on the little thing and he stayed like that for a very long time!

Setting the Patchwork of the Crosses Blocks Together

Given the amount of purple I used in the blocks, I decided to use this purple batik for the 1″ connecting squares along the edges of the blocks. The intersection where four blocks meet will be composed of 8 of the 1″ squares, or a 1″ x 2″ rectangle, and something 2″ square in the centre of those. At the moment, I’m playing with the idea of a stripe of some sort for that 2″ square. The original Patchwork of the Crosses has some gorgeous fussy cutting done for that 2″ area, which I will do for the large quilt when I make it but for this one I think I want to do something with a stripe. That may change.

I need help! An online friend moved a couple of months ago. Her ISP seems to be rejecting e-mails from my ISP. I’ve tried e-mailing her from my gmail account but those don’t appear to be getting through either. She has been sending e-mails asking if everything is okay as she hasn’t heard from me and even reply e-mails from me don’t appear to get through. Of course, I never dreamt this could happen and don’t have her new address or phone number so am rather at a loss when it comes to a way to contact her. Lesson learned for me — I should not depend on electronic contact only! Any ideas out there?

Lester in his favourite spot — again!

Smudge, sound asleep. It’s one of the few times a photo has been taken of him that he hasn’t been partially watching us photographing him.

A Patchwork of the Crosses "Framed"

I’m not going to show each of the blocks again as I get the surrounding cream hexagons surrounding stitched on, but I couldn’t resist showing at least one! Still no picture of the blocks all laid out. It was way too windy today. I would have been chasing blocks all over the roof garden if we had tried.

This is the back of the block. Because I’ve now made sure that all the blocks are pressed identically, joining them will be a breeze as the seams will be lying just right.

Lester in his favourite spot. I love this picture of him!

Smudge — with a big paw stretched towards the camera.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 32

The second-last block done. It’s a funny feeling being almost done with all but the surrounding cream hexagons. I know I’ll make at least two more quilts using this shape, probably more. There’s something about working with this long hexagon that is absolutely fascinating to me.

I’ll be digging out more stripes and directional prints for the big quilt. My goal is to make some blocks that are much more like the original Lucy Boston blocks with their amazing effects from fussy cutting. The back of block 32:

Wednesday was sunny but still rather cool. By now we should be having at least a few heatwaves, but not this year it seems. Tuesday night was so chilly I was half tempted to turn the heat on for a few minutes. I resisted that as we have the heat on for so many months of the year. I’d rather put on a sweater at this time of year than put on the heat.

Smudge found a cozy spot to sprawl out.

It was Lester’s turn to curl up in the kitty bed.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 31

This one is, I think, close to my favourite — so far, that is. I realized Tuesday night that I have used purples in a lot of these blocks. I love how rich it makes a block feel. Once I’ve got the 30 blocks that will be used in this quilt top done and at least 3 or 4 of them surrounded by the cream hexagons I’ll start auditioning a fabric for the connecting squares. Given the predominance of purple in the blocks, I’m thinking a purple/mauve batik may be the right choice for that. But that’s a decision for after this weekend.

The back:

My linen arrived on Tuesday for the Mary Wigham sampler. As my eyes are somewhat tired from reading and reading and reading the 900 pages I referred to yesterday, I’ll wait until Friday or Saturday to get started. Following the chart would be, right now, a bit too much!

It has been quite cool here this week. Tuesday neither cat was the least bit interested in windowsill time. Instead they found cozy spots to curl up. Smudge in his kitty bed:

And Lester curled up in the chair. This photo makes me smile — his head resting on a hind paw while a front paw holds on to that rear leg.