When I was at the Vermont Quilt Festival last June, I took a class to learn small piecing. The instructor’s quilts were beautiful. Everything was pieced in 1″ pieces or other very small sizes of fabric. I even learned to make a quarter square triangle that finished at 1/4″ It was perfectly square. If it was placed in a block, you wouldn’t notice it. I decided that this was not what I wanted to do, even though I could do it.
Block 22 in the Moda Blockhead block of the week project uses small pieces. There are four 3″ blocks within a 6″ block. It uses 1 1/2″ squares for the corners and centers of the 3″ blocks. They finish at 1″. The other four pieces consist of two 1 1/2″ x 1 ” rectangles sewn together. All four of the little blocks have different colors. In the original pattern, the center block was the same color as the rectangles that were closest to them. They looked like a cross in the middle of the block. I chose to use a coordinating print fabric in all of the center squares. This block might change my mind about piecing with small pieces. It is very pretty and easy to piece. I can imagine a whole quilt with this block in different colors with the center piece all the same fabric. Now, when I cut leftover fabric scraps into precuts, I will cut smaller than 2 1/2″ and go down to 1 1/2″. It would take a lot of squares to make a full size quilt.
The Moda Blockhead 2 blocks that I have made are out of order. One not made yet is an applique. The Splendid Sampler has and applique block and an embroidery block that are not made. Handwork takes a little longer than piecework.
Have a great day and happy quilting.
Miss Molly quilts 