Dots and dashes and no beans

A couple days of fun.  Yes, a weekend of summer weather to enjoy with an outdoor art show and grandkids, plus some quilting in between.

First up dots an dashes:  these are 2 baby quilts for the NIC unit at the hospital for those premie babies.  I was compelled to make something bright and non girly for little guys as my youngest grandson spent 2 months there last year after he was born. He had been a mere 2 pounds 15 ounces and so small. The staff there was incredible both to him and his mother.

I loved the squares and had fun with one and half inch strips. Blocks were squared up to 8 inches finished and then sashed with corner stones.  The quilting was using pounce and a stencil.  The first one is then completed with echoes in the spaces between.

The second is quilted with little pebbles. Finishing the last bit of quilting was a challenge as I really struggled with this one on my domestic machine.  I spent several hours taking out and restitching to take care of long stitches and tucks. 

So all that is left is securing one binding around the edges.  Hooray! Another UFO off the list.

Another project in the mix is the latest blockhead number 24 :  Corn and no beans by Carrie Nelson.  Or as one of the other designers labeled it : the triangle challenge. Here is my finished 6 inch block with all 36 half square triangles.  

And as I don't possess triangle paper in 1 inch finished size, I utilized this method:

https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/01/how-to-make-half-square-triangles/   

1st step take measurement of finished square  (1 inch)   add 7/8 inch  = 1 and 7/8 inch.

Double it =  3 and 3/4 inches.  Cut 2 squares of each color:

I used Best Press prior to cutting to make the piecing easier.  What a help!

Draw diagonal both ways and either mark center line or mark and sew 1/4 inch away.

I happened to locate a notion in my drawer for this. 

Sew both ways on both sides of the line

Cut into blocks  1 and 7/8 inch from both left side and then turn and do it again creating 4 squares.  Lastly cut on diagonal lines. Here is a picture of both steps.  Slick!  Really worked easily to make 8 accurage half square triangles AT ONCE!

Linking up with Kathy's Quilts,   Design Wall Monday, and Monday Making.