The Splendid Sampler 100 Blocks

I have started a new quilting project with a Facebook group,  The Splendid Sampler hosted by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson.  We will be making

100 blocks, each six inches and using various quilting methods, 

some way out of my comfort zone.

This is our first block, Hearts Aflutter, which is 

one of the "out of my comfort zone" blocks

since I have almost no experience with applique.

This is the back stitch method where you draw the

applique shape on the back of the base piece

Then you pin the material for the applique

to the front.  You then stitch around the 

applique outline on the back using an unknotted 

running stitch.  Trim the applique material about 1/8 away from the

stitched edge.  Let your block sit for at least a 

few hours so the stitches will "take" and the fabric

will turn easily when you fold the edges under.

Remove a few running stitches at a time and 

make tiny stitches to hold the applique piece to the base.

I have a notebook where I keep my pattern in a plastic sleeve

along with my six inch block, until I get a few of them,  Then I 

will likely transfer them to a separate container until time to 

assemble the quilt- about a year from now since we will have

two blocks per week except during holidays.

Our next block is by Jane Davidson entitled Wings. I'll am using 

1930's fabrics so I'll spend time selecting just the right ones to 

show off the little butterflies made from half square triangles and

embroidered with tiny antennae!  

We also have some bonus projects, one of which I am binding now.  

I will certainly keep busy!

Hopefully during the quilting I can use my new sewing foot 

for the Baby Lock Jane.  It is a special foot used with templates

and rulers to make wonderful shapes such as flowers, snowflakes, 

scallops and feathers!  I need to try then on some practice pieces

that I can make into mug rugs or place mats.

I hope you all are having fun out there!  We are looking at 

good weather this weekend so it will be spent outside 

cleaning up the hives so we can start out bees this

spring.  If all goes well we have a few thousand

bees flying around the garden this year!