An Unexpected Year 2020

I waited till after the year was over to join the "Best of 2020" Linky Party hosted by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs. Gosh, who knows what might happen on the last day of the last hour of this unexpected and unprecedented year?

The quilts/posts chosen for this recap have one underlying theme - Unexpected. 

At Home with Scraps

1. Meanwhile -  I love this quilt because it was, for a long time, just a bag of flannel scraps languishing behind the bag of batting scraps. I had no expectations from this bag of soft, pre-washed and frayed strips. That is why this transformation from a bag of unwanted flannel bits to a darling quilt (chic and modern and minimalist) is one of my top picks for 2020.

Meanwhile

Meanwhile - Backing

I did not have a recipient in mind when I made Meanwhile. Sometime thereafter I had a meeting with Vinny - our investment advisor. He mentioned that his wife was expecting a baby girl. This was thrilling news because they had been trying for a few years. Meanwhile made its way to Baby Saryna.  Last week when I chatted with Vinny over Webex, he was working from home, holding the baby who was happily sucking on her bottle. Vinny mentioned that they use the quilt all the time. I almost wept with joy.

2. Quarantina - I agreed to pattern test not because I love paper-piecing (I don't) but because I love Mell and wanted to support her foray into pattern writing. 

Quarantina - Flimsy + My toes

Quarantina - Detail

In the end, it wasn't so bad. Unexpectedly, I am now more open to trying paper piecing projects. The diagonally divided layout (white and black) elevates this quilt for a top 2020 pick.

3. Pandora's Box - In times of strife and unrest we seek the comfort of familiar and avoid difficult things. Trying to fit together blocks of various shapes and sizes into a cohesive whole was neither simple nor straightforward. With coping strips and filler blocks, the flimsy was completed.

Pandora's Box

Pandora's Box - Detail

I knew it could be done but that it would also look good was a pleasant surprise. With several fun blocks, Pandora's Box has earned a place in notable quilty projects of 2020.

4. Playing with Fire - It was absolutely unexpected to receive an email from a total stranger - Barbara Cline but I happily agreed to particpate in the blog hop featuring her new book - Diamond Star Quilts. I had never attempted a Lone Star Quilt before and I learned that I need more practice (something to consider for RSC 2021). 

Playing with Fire - Diamond Star Quilt

I did not expect to make a mistake but when I discovered the faux-pas, I chose to leave it in. It seemed fitting to mark a topsy-turvy year.  

5. Our (Property) Values - I was just having fun with the houses and their inhabitants, inserting puppies, girls on scooters and children at play. Of course I also poured all my feelings into the post, as I sometimes do.  

Our (Property) Values

Homes for All

Gal on a Scooter, Gal on her toes

Kids at Play

I do love the quilt but the fact that 68 different readers left comments (an unusually high number for a post without a giveaway) makes this quilt the top pick of 2020.

Now Cheryl said five, but I am breaking some rules here. Expect the Unexpected!!!

6. Stars of Solace - With 3,475 views at the time of writing this post, this quilt deserves to be in the Top 2020 Picks. Sent to Bernie for Mercyful Quilts my only wish is that it provides solace to the family.

Stars of Solace for Mercyful Quilts

7. Picket Star Quilt Block Tutorial - The only post in 2020 that exceeds "Stars of Solace" in the number of views is the Picket Star Quilt Block tutorial with over 6,500 views at the time of writing this post.

Picket Star Quilt Block Tutorial

8. Hunting for the Hunter - Who knew that whining about a color could win you so much comment love!!! I was very pleasantly surprised by the response on this post and it was not even a quilt!!! 

Just a wee bit

Hunting for Hunter Green

If you haven't, I suggest that you read about my colorful griping about Hunter Green.

Do I have plans for 2021? May be. Do I have to-do lists? Kinda. But lists are not eye-catching.  Pictures are. So here are a few pictures showing projects in progress. 

Baby Quilt in the works

Chasing a Squirrel

More Picket Star Blocks

Many more Picket Star Blocks

More to come. So much more. Won't you rather discover one blogpost at a time? Me too :-D

If you like my quilts but don't care for my politics, you can stop reading now.

Unprecedented and Unexpected are just two terms that will be used to describe the year that was 2020.  The year of the unexpected pandemic was also the year of rapid unprecedented vaccine development. 

The year of racial strife was also the year when our eyes were opened to the racial injustice in our country.

The year of intense political drama was also the year of unprecedented public engagement. 

This year was so many things - unexpected and unprecedented. But it has reaffirmed my belief that the existence of good and bad side by side cannot be denied. The human body produces antibodies only in the presence of the antigen. Our world is no different. 

It occurred to me that America is like a crime scene and the pandemic year was like a beam of ultraviolet light. It highlighted our failings in stark terms. Although Covid-19 does not care whether you are black or white or brown, rich or poor, the death rates among the Black and Hispanic/Latinos people are much higher than whites in all age groups. 

The rich got richer, the poor got poorer. The well-to-do significantly increased their savings while many families used up all their savings. Those who kept their jobs and could work remotely chose to buy bigger homes away from the city while the service industry workers are on the brink of foreclosure and evictions.

What does it say about us as a society?  That we cannot take care of each other? That we do not believe in "Live and Let Live" but rather live and let die? We will be searching for answers and solutions for a while. The work has only just begun.

If you have come this far, I thank you for your support. I feel loved. I will be sharing with Angela's Linky Party and all other linky parties; see full list on the sidebar.

This is (mostly) a rant!!!

Warning - this is a rant. Proceed at your own risk.

I had neither the time nor the desire to write this post. But I had to because I was so seething with anger and disgust. And if not here then where else?

Let's call her Auntie Marilyn. I am so tempted to use her full name, but I am not going to. Because I am better than that.

Let's start at the very beginning. The year was 2015 when Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company shared this tutorial on youtube.  You can buy the pattern Double Square Star on Missouri Star Quilt Company's online store.

When I saw the tutorial, I thought - I don't care for all that snowballing so I came up with another method to make the same pattern and shared it here, acknowledging Jenny.

A few years passed.  In December 2019, over the Christmas break, I started contemplating the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks for 2020.  

I considered my take on the Double Square Star tutorial. In the post "Best of 2019" dated January 1, 2020, I shared my audition block for RSC 2020.  It was a variation of the Double Square Star - as I wrote it.

Reversed Colors and Background

The block looked heavy and dense like a fruitcake. The block was then refined with snowballed corners :-D  Guess, I had evolved over the years. Moreover I had received the diagonal seam tape (as a Christmas present from Mari), which made the snowballing less painful. I shared it in this post dated January 12, 2020.

From January through October in 2020 I made these blocks in colors of the rainbow as suggested by Angela. 

Based on readers' request for a pattern/tutorial for the block, I shared rough instructions here and then the full blown tutorial here. 

When I completed the quilts Serenity and Courage and shared on one of the FB quilting groups, I received so much love and comments. And then Auntie Marilyn appeared.  A little knowledge and absolute power - what could go wrong?

Auntie Marilyn accused me of "taking credit for someone else's work", reprimanded me for using the Trellis pattern designed by Cluck Cluck Sew all because my post said "I designed and pieced this quilt".

I tried to explain to her that our patterns only "looked" similar. Specifically I pointed out

1. Trellis uses jelly roll strips. Picket Star does not. In fact, Picket Star carefully chooses two fabrics that are different in value by a few shades. The construction processes of the two patterns is completely different.

2. In Trellis, the Picket Star is created as a secondary pattern. In Leela, Serenity and Courage, the Picket Star is the focus pattern and it creates a totally different secondary pattern - a fat starry shape (quilted beautifully by Rebecca), see below.

Image from Rebecca Grace Quilting, used with permission

3. The secondary blocks created in Trellis have a solid center. Picket Star has a light and airy center. 

Auntie Marilyn was so understanding. NOT.  

If she could see the differences, or if she could read/understand my explanations, I would not be writing this rant now. Would I ?

She responded "a log cabin is a log cabin even if you change the setting. I will not argue this point". 

This was too stupid to dignify with a response.

Somebody please tell Auntie Marilyn - There is a wide variation in log cabins and their design possibilities are endless. See the two log cabin quilts below. 

Sonika (Log Cabin Baby Quilt) 2019

Sun City (Log Cabin Challenge Quilt), 2016

Speaking of variations, take a look at this Modern Flower Quilt pattern from Alyce of Blossom Heart Quilts. Do you see the similarity with the Picket Star Block? It even has the same secondary block shape. It is similar but not same. Therefore I am not attacking her or insinuating that she stole my pattern (or Jenny's pattern or Trellis pattern) and then sold it!!!

Not only Auntie Marilyn wrongfully accused me of something I did not do, she grew all preachy on the entire group posting "I will not tolerate..." 

Auntie Marilyn deleted all the comments/conversations where I tried to point out the differences in the two patterns and then Auntie Marilyn deleted me. I don't know if the original posts showing Serenity and Courage were deleted too, because I am no longer part of the group. 

Most importantly, I must ask - what credit did I take?  What profit did I make?

Even if the pattern was same (which it is not), all I had done was share my finished quilt pictures. There were no links to my blog.  No mention of the free tutorial on my blog. I was not self-promoting. I was not trying to sell anything. 

So, Auntie Marilyn, Shame on you. You are a bully and you are ignorant and you disgust me.  You can take your FB group and put it where...

Paul: Babe?
Me: Yeah?
Paul: How was your day?
Me: Awful. Some bleeping know-it-all rained all over my parade.
Paul: I am so sorry.
Me: In fact it has been so awful that it can only get better.
Paul: That is my girl!!! Would some dinner cheer you up?
Me: Not any dinner. I want smoked salmon.
Paul: So you want to go to Sweetwater?
Me: Yes.

Paul: You know I am getting a Drunken Ribeye.
Me (eyes rolling): Yes. 
Paul (naughtily): I love when you say YES to me.

Me (smiling): I always say YES to you.

Paul: When can we leave?
Me: Give me 10 minutes to wrap this up.

Trust Paul to rescue me - Every. Single. Time.

In spite of the negative reasons that prompted this blogpost, I have to end it on a positive and uplifting one...even if I must borrow the goodness from elsewhere.  

1. Read Rebecca's post about quilting Courage. What she wrote felt like the first raindrops on parched earth, especially today. Do read my comment too. I hold nothing back.

2. Read Tanuja's poem - Have you ever hugged a tree?

3. Read this very touching story (you may need a tissue) from Bernie about the impact of Mercyful Quilts.

In the end, I am glad that the Rebeccas, Tanujas and Bernies (Cathy, Maya, Sylvia, Mell, Mari and Emily too) in my life way outnumber the bleeping know-it-alls.

Work in Progress

Island Batik March Project in progress

I won't be sharing this post with any linky parties. But you are welcome to do so.

And now I have a quilt to finish and a real blogpost to write. If this blog has ever brightened your day or made you smile, please send me a hug.  I will return it with interest :-)

Picket Star Quilt Block

Hello Quilty Buddies,

Here are the detailed instructions for making the Picket Star Block, named because the star points look like slats of a picket fence.

For the 17" finished block.

Picket Star Block

Fabric Requirements

Background - Two squares 3.5", Two squares 9.5", Four squares 2.5"

Fabric A - Two squares 3.5", two rectangles 3.5" by 9.5"
Fabric B - Two squares 3.5", two rectangles 3.5" by 9.5"

I am using medium pink and dark pink.  My recommendation is to use two fabrics that have some difference in value - not too close and too much contrast.  This will give the look of light and shade.

Instructions

Step 1.
Stitch the two Fabric A squares (3.5") on either sides of the background square (3.5"), using a scant quarter inch seam.  Iron the seams open (personal preference) and trim to 3.5" by 9.5".

Stitch the Fabric A rectangles on either side of the above constructed rectangle, using a scant quarter inch seam. Press seams open and square to 9.5". Set aside.


Step 2.
Stitch the two Fabric B squares (3.5") on either sides of the background square (3.5"), using a scant quarter inch seam.  Iron the seams open (personal preference) and trim to 3.5" by 9.5".

Stitch the Fabric B rectangles on either side of the above constructed rectangle, using a scant quarter inch seam. Press seams open and square to 9.5". Set aside.

Step 3.
On the wrong side of the 9.5" background squares, draw lines (pencil or frixion pen), 1/4" from the diagonal.

Place one marked background squares RST with each of the squares completed in Steps 1 and 2. Pin in place.

Sew on the drawn lines. Cut along the diagonal.

You should have four half square triangle blocks. Iron seams open and square each to 9".

Step 4.
Snowball the fabric corners of the HST blocks.

Using the diagonal line on the mat to mark the squares

Place the background square (2.5"), RST, on the fabric corner of each HST block.  Pin in place.

Sew corner to corner. For accuracy, sew slightly (a thread's width) away from the center, towards the corner of the block.

Cut 1/4" away from the sewing line. Press seam open. Square again.

Step 5 - Final Step
Place the four HSTs (with snowballed corners) such that all snowballs meet in the center. Also make sure that Fabric A is adjacent to Fabric B.

Stitch using a generous quarter inch seam.  Yes, I said generous. I suggest moving your needle three clicks to the left to make a generous quarter inch seam. If you can eyeball it, power to you.

Default Setting on my Machine. (Default seam length is 2.4)

Needle moved three clicks left. (Seam length reduced to 2.2)

It is very important to sew a generous quarter seam because you want to preserve the points in the completed block.

Placed RST

Pinned

Generous 1/4" Seams

In the pictures below you can see that the point is that much farther away from the edge.

Point is more than1/4" away from edge

Pin the two halves together for one last seam.  Make sure it is a generous 1/4".

Pinned

Iron seams open and straighten the edges.

FINISHED!!!

The resulting block is just shy of 17.5".

All picket star points are a safe distance away from the edge.  This ensures that the points won't get clipped when you put the blocks together, even when you sew a regular 1/4" seam.

Point is more than 1/4" from the edge

Although there are several steps to making this block, it makes a large block, finishing at 17".

You only need 12 blocks for a lap/throw size quilt (51" by 68")
And 30 blocks will make a queen size quilt (85" by 102")
If you just want to try, I suggest making 4 blocks. It will make a small baby quilt (34" by 34"). Add 3.5" borders to make it larger at about 40" square.

This is the block I am making for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge in 2020.  You can see the earlier blocks at the links below.

January - Green Blocks
February  - Orange Blocks
March - Teal/Aqua/Turquoise (all the colors between blue and green)
April - Light/Bright Blue

If you have any questions, please ask in the comments.  I will answer here so that all can see.

This tutorial is free but I do request that you give me credit and provide a link to this page when you make this block. On instagram, please use #PicketStarQuiltBlock and tag me using @SewPreetiQuilts