Blarney Baskets

I'm a little late with my February Bitty Blocks post...I actually finished up my February Bitty Blocks on Sunday, February 29th (yes, at the very last minute), but with all the excitement of the AccuQuilt GO! Big Blog Hop, I am just now getting around to sharing my Bitty Basket Blocks with you...

Just in case you missed my January post or are new to my blog...I am trying to do some fabric scrap "maintenance" by participating in Quiltmaker Magazine's Bitty Block program. On the first Monday of each month during 2015, Quiltmaker Magazine will post a Bitty Block on their blog Quilty Pleasures...the blocks will be approximately 3″ or 4″ square...and even better, this is a FREE project - you provide the materials, they provide the instructions. The plan is to make Bitty Blocks during the month and then sew them into a row....then the rows will be sewn together to create an unique throw-size sampler quilt made from bunches of Bitty Blocks. In typical Belinda fashion, I decided to make a miniature seasonal quilt each month with my bitty blocks to display in my cute little 12" quilt stand. In January, I used the 3" Bitty Bow Tie Blocks to make my "The Lovebirds" mini quilt...and in February, I used my 3" Bitty Basket Blocks to make my St. Patrick's Day mini quilt "Blarney Baskets".

If you are following along on the Quilt Pleasures blog, then you know, the February Bitty Block was a 4" Basket Block. Well, I had already worked out a plan for my miniature quilt and really wanted to use a 3" finished block, so I did some mathematical adjustments and made my blocks "itty bitty"! I used my AccuQuilt GO! Big Electric Fabric Cutter to cut 3 1/2" squares, then used the method shared on the Quilt Pleasures blog to make my teeny tiny half square triangle units - then trimmed each one to measure 1 1/4" square (yep, that means each unit has a finished size of only 3/4"). I also had to adjust the size of the other block components. Even though they are super tiny, I think my 3" finished basket blocks turned out SUPER CUTE! I then combined them with 3 1/2" (3" finished squares) to make my miniature quilt for the month...I even machine appliquéd a shamrock in each corner.

I now have my monthly miniature St. Patrick's Day quilt on display in my adorable 12" stand and it makes me happy!

Now it's time to focus on the March Bitty Block...which I am thrilled is a 3" House Block...how fun is that?! Later in the month, I will be back to show you my March mini quilt...my creative juices are already flowing...

The Lovebirds

Happy Friday friends and followers - I am finally back to share my Bitty Blocks finish with you! I have been busy sewing/quilting several large (VERY time-consuming) projects that have a rapidly approaching deadline, but I made time this afternoon to bind my mini "The Lovebirds" quilt. Amazing how frustration can turn to happiness, just by switching projects...my mood has gone from "tearing my hair out" to "ready to take on the world" in one hour of time...

I started out making piles of Bitty Blocks using fabrics from my scrap bin (on the first Monday of each month during 2015, Quiltmaker Magazine will post a Bitty Block on their blog Quilty Pleasures...the blocks will be approximately 3″ or 4″ square). The Bitty Block for January is a 3" Bow Tie block....here is a sampling of my blocks....

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the monthly blocks can be sewn together to create a sampler quilt...but I thought I would do something different. I have a cute little 12" quilt stand that was in desperate need of a new miniature quilt...so I thought, why not use the Bitty Blocks to make a set of small monthly quilts. This month, I decided to use my 3" Bow Tie Blocks to make a mini Valentine quilt. I settled on an appliquéd center block featuring birds, hearts, and a flower - all cut with my AccuQuilt Fabric Cutters. I used an assortment of GO! dies and one Studio die (GO Square-6 1/2" (6" Finished), GO! Queen of Hearts, GO! Simple Shapes by Edyta Sitar, and Studio Flowers #3 (Mini). I also used the GO! Strip Cutter-1" (1/2" Finished) to cut a strip, folded it in half and pressed to make a flat flange border.

Next, I added my 3" Bow Tie Blocks as a border...I played with the layout and my different fabric combinations to find the grouping I liked best...

Next I added a small sleeve on the back and binding, so it would be ready for hanging...

So, here it is...my finished "The Lovebirds" miniature quilt...it was just what I needed to bring a smile to my face! As you can see from the photo above, it fits perfectly in my little stand...and it definitely brightens up my living room...

Now, I am waiting to see what the February Bitty Block will be...I am thinking I will *have to* make a mini St. Patrick's Day quilt next! I'm sure I have plenty of green fabric scraps...

Bunches of Bitty Blocks

Today, let's tackle fabric scraps...now, I know not all of you have this problem, but those of you with a fabric addiction (myself definitely included), will understand. My fabric scrap bin is extremely out of control - it's truly overflowing! You see, I have a large plastic bin under my fabric cutting table (very convenient - perhaps too convenient)...and every time I cut out a project, the scraps get tossed in the bin (because I just can't bring myself to part with any small pieces of fabric that I think I could possibly use for something in the future - we all know, I LOVE fabric!). Every once in a while, I go on a scrap busting binge and try to  minimize what is in the bucket...but truth be told, my deadline list has been so tight, it leaves little time for anything else. So, when Quiltmaker Magazine announced on their blog Quilty Pleasures that they would be having a low stress monthly project for Bitty Blocks, I just knew it would be perfect for working with my scraps. On the first Monday of each month during 2015, Quiltmaker Magazine will post a Bitty Block on their blog...the blocks will be approximately 3″ or 4″ square...and even better, this is a FREE project - you provide the materials, they provide the instructions. The plan is to make Bitty Blocks during the month and then sew them into a row....then the rows will be sewn together to create an unique throw-size sampler quilt made from bunches of Bitty Blocks. So, I am doing my best to fit this project into my schedule and tackle my excessive scrap pile...

To shame myself into dealing with my fabric scrap stash, here are a couple photos (yes, this mess treasure trove is contained under my cutting table!)....

I haven't quite decided if I am going to do the sampler throw-size quilt...OR, in typical Belinda fashion, change things up and do a monthly small project. Since I am in a Valentine mood, I decided to pull red, white, and pink print scraps from the bin...and, as you can see, I found plenty to work with.

The Bitty Block for January is a 3" Bow Tie Block (you can find the simple instructions here on the Quilty Pleasures blog)...yep, the finished size is a 3" square...but don't let that scare/worry you, the instructions make it super simple! For each finished block, you need just two contrasting fabrics...and you cut/piece squares:
Fabric A: two squares 2″ x 2″ and two squares 1 1/4″ x 1 1/4″
Fabric B: two squares 2″ x 2″
So we are talking about small scraps here...which I obviously have covered!

To make this project even more fun (if that is possible), I used my brand new GO! Big Electric Fabric Cutter to cut the 2" squares for the Bitty Bow Tie Blocks this month...yes, that is a GO! Big on my cutting table and I am just giddy - it is truly spectacular! I am going to sharing my GO! Big fabric cutting experiences with you...and I will be part of the GO! Big Blog Hop that starts next month (stay tuned, as I will have a project tutorial for you). As usual, I'm getting completely off track...more on all of that in the future - let's get back to the bitty blocks!

I made quick work of cutting all my blocks and stacked them in piles...then started chain piecing....

Following the super simple instructions for the January Bitty Block, I had a pile of 3" bow tie blocks made and pressed in no time - and they are SUPER CUTE!

I have a plan for these, but you will have to wait and see - join me here in a few days and I will share my finished bitty bow tie project with you! For now, why don't you try making a few Bitty Blocks yourself?...they are addicting! You can find all the details for the January Bitty Block here:
http://www.accuquilt.com/fabric-cutters-compared/go-big-fabric-cutter/go-big-electric-fabric-cutter-starter-set.html
...and if you have additional questions, Quiltmaker has done an additional blog post that gives some color ideas and things to consider when starting this monthly project:
http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/2015/01/qm-bitty-blocks-things-to-consider/
I hope you will try making some Bitty Blocks...and when you do, I hope you will share your photos and ideas with me...it's always more fun to sew and quilt with a friend!