My Quilt Block of the month and tips I've learned.

I have not mentioned this much, but with everything else going on I am also doing a quilt block of the month.  Each quilt block is different.  I started it in October.  I paid $7 for my first block (the material and patterns) then when I bring each block in, I get a new block kit for free.  I ended up paying $40 for the acrylic pattern pieces, which I was not expecting. So make sure you know ALL the details first!  LOL   I guess they use these pieces every year and after a while you don't have to buy them anymore.  My first block turned out fine, I'll have to show you a picture later, but blocks Nov. and Dec. did not turn out very well.  I need to redo them.  Here are some things I have learned as a newbie, some things I learned in my one quilting class.
I take a picture at the quilt shop during the demo I go to every month.

The above pictures are the pictures I took in class, aren't they nice?  two days after posting this, I realized that I sewed my corners backwards!  LOL

Then I look at the picture and lay out my pieces.  This helps me understand the pattern better.

You need to use a scant 1/4 inch seam or your block will not turn out.  A quarter inch foot came with my new machine - I love it!  Otherwise you need to mark 1/4 on your machine using a ruler.  I had mine marked with tape but my seams were not right which is why my blocks did not turn out.  I'll have to remember to take a picture of the correct way to do that.

You do not back stitch when quilting, instead leave a little tail between each piece.  This was "chain stitched" where you sew several pieces at one time, it saves on thread and time.  In the third picture you can see where I began my chain stitch with a piece of scrap fabric.  This keeps your machine from eating your material.  I also saw on a video today where she used her seam ripper to hold corners down before they go through the feed dogs.  This also keeps those "dogs" from "eating " your material.  LOL  (I know corny, just indulge me and smile)

As I sew each piece, I lay it back in order. 

You HAVE to press each seam the way your pattern specifies after each seam stitching. If you want a nice quilt, you cannot be lazy!

You can see I still have a lot of practicing to do on my sewing.  I really like how you make individual blocks that you then sew together to form one big block.
Here it is, the finished block!

Here it is the finished block in all of it's misshapen glory!  I have not trimmed it yet.  I'm waiting until I finish all of them to make sure they are all the same size.  I can only get better, right?
I will start making this a monthly thing as I learn new things from these quilt blocks.


Happy quilting!
Missy