Saturday, 26 March 2022

Couldn’t resist those Bear Paws!

 I have never made a Bear Paw block before. No idea why because I always thought they looked great. I think it might be because over the years I’ve probably looked up patterns on Google and found they need odd sized pieces, cut at 2.875”, for example. so I was put off trying.

I follow Cathy’s blog Sane, Crazy, Crumby Quilting and this year she finished a gorgeous turquoise, purple and white Bear Paw Quilt and  since then has been making more Bear Paw blocks in all sorts of colours and fabrics. Well, of course they caught my eye and then my eyes positively gleamed when I read that she used 4.5” and 2.5” scraps. In my head I translated that as “squares” so I sorted out some yellow scraps ( still March yellow ) and kitted up 7 blocks. Sewed the first making the HSTs as I always do but when I came to join those to the square they were too short, so I had to swap out the 4.5” squares for smaller 3.5” ones. That worked, ending up with 5” Bear Paws.  I’ve since kitted up a few more in the original size and I’ll make the HSTs by sewing 1/4” away from the diagonal and snipping of the bonus triangle corners.

Of course I’ve since learned that Cathy used 2.5” strips, using her Easy Angle ruler for quickness. 

I do have one of those rulers so perhaps next week I’ll try that method for some Pink blocks.

Here are my original 7 Bear Paws and the one Ticky Tacky House I made.


And that was all the sewing I managed to do. On Monday I started a cold, Tuesday felt a bit better and went out to my Volunteering work but on Wednesday I felt dreadful and ended up in bed - still there. I was having these unbelievable bouts of coughing and yesterday morning I literally couldn’t breathe and we called the ambulance as I have several heart conditions and was afraid this wouldn’t be good for my heart. The two paramedics were fantastic, checked me over thoroughly with their battery of machines and decided I had a viral cough. So, no antibiotics, just time, before I start to feel better. Really frightening, but the things the guys suggested are helping and my husband has been great calming me down and helping to get my breathing under control when I’m having a bad coughing spell. 

So, an odd week. A shame because our weather has been beautiful and that is due to change to cold again. 

Linking up with Angela’s So Scrappy blog.

Saturday, 19 March 2022

RSC roundup of the Yellows

 Had a busy week with yellow scraps, adding 2 more Sawtooth Blocks to the ones I finished last week.


4 Twinkler blocks

L

12 String blocks 


18 Little Wonky Stars




And 2 little Ticky Tacky houses


 Now ready for the new colour for April.

Linking up with Angela’s SoScrappy blog.

Sunday, 13 March 2022

Thinking of Ukraine

 Like everyone in the world I am worried about the horrific situation in Ukraine and feel helpless as to how to help other than donate money to relief charities.

However I discovered that one of our daughter’s school Mums acquaintances is Ukrainian, her elderly parents, brother, sister in law and family live in Ukraine. We think the parents and brother’s wife and family were hoping to escape but know nothing further. Then I watched Pat Sloan’s YouTube about making a small quilt in the Ukrainian flag colours ( her’s was a hanging for her door), downloading the pattern in exchange for a donation. I decided to make one for Tanya whom I’ve never met and that’s what I’ve been working on. Now finished, ready for a label and then I can deliver it to Tanya in the hope she knows her family is in my thoughts and prayers.


I used a binding made from 2.25” strips which was great. I normally make bindings from 2.5” strips but remember a while ago using the narrower one and loving it and intending to continue using it. But I forgot and didn’t! I like it, must use this in the future for all my quilts!!!


So I haven’t done much RSC sewing but I have made 6 Sawtooth blocks with yellow crumb centres. Two more kitted out but no time to finish today.



The backing for my Ukrainian quilt (measuring 24” square) is a yellow tiny check so the trimmings have given me more yellow scraps so I think more RSC blocks will be happening next week, the last week for Yellow.

So, my thoughts are with Ukraine. Whatever you can donate please do. Money, prayers, everything. Linking with Angela’s So Scrappy RSC blog.