We Can Do It! Skill Builder Archives

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to do something different – I was teaching quilting to my mom.

My mom learned to sew in the day of home economics for all girls, and made a substantial part of her wardrobe (probably from high school through her 20’s), so she is not new to sewing. Teaching someone how to piece quilt blocks is a lot easier when the person already understands what a 1/4 inch seam is and why consistency matters.

Three generations of quilters in action!

My mom and grandma did make a quilt at some point before I existed. They used 4 inch squares of fabric leftover from clothes my mom made – a mix of fabric types. They cut it out using electric scissors, sewed it together, and tied it. My mom still uses it on the bed when my parents go camping.

There are differences between quilt piecing and clothing sewing (or how she sewed when she did it a lot): seam size, using a rotary cutter, using 100% cotton fabric, pressing instead of ironing, etc. Either way, she was a fast learner.

For her first block, I chose a block based on 9 patches. Straight lines in squares are always a good place to start. I did selfishly choose colors that would work with my “Real World Red & White Sampler”. We did the 9 patch block from Sewn By Leila’s We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler.

For her second block, I introduced half square triangles. We did the Pinwheel block from the same sampler, which was really just adding some tips to the Pinwheel Parade Block by V&Co.

My mom’s visit was great, and went too fast as always, but I’m glad we got to spend some time together doing something we both really enjoy.Linking up to Whoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt Addict, Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric, Sewjo Saturday at My Go-Goo Life, Anything Goes Monday, Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story, WiP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced, and Let’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuilts.

It’s the end of March, and I finished my March Bee Block and BoMs!

First up is the block for Stash bee, hive #12. Jennifer requested the Arizona block from the We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler at Sewn by Leila. She wanted orange and turquoise, so I hope she likes this block 🙂 I think I am going to have to make another one of these in my colors!

Up next, I am still working my way through the 2013 Lucky Stars BoM. Below is the March 2013 block. I had the absolute worst time with this block. I don’t blame the instructions, it was completely me. It seemed every piece of fabric I could cut wrong, I did. Or sew on backwards. Or run out of the fabric less than halfway through the block.

Let’s just say I was very happy when this was done. I am also convinced there is any easier way to get this look than the way this block was done. If I didn’t have such a terrible experience doing it, I would probably figure out the easier way. Instead, I just plan to have this be the one and only time I ever do this block.

I am also doing other blocks for the sampler as I see ones that I like. This is the January 2013 Aurifil BoM.

I think this one puts me at 11 total… I did the math, and I think I need 36 with the sashing I want to get it the size I want. Almost 1/3 of the way done!

Linking up to Anything Goes Monday, WiP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced, Paper Piecing Party @ Quiet Play, BOMs away, and Let’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuilts.