It doesn't count until you cut into the fabrics.

Right? At least, that's what I'm telling myself. This first stack is for this quilt. I'm probably going to throw some red in there too, but I don't have a red solid right now. But I think it needs it.

This is for the Kaleidoscope Quilt-Along by Don't Call Me Betsy (see button on side). Instructions come on June 23rd, so I haven't actually started (although this one IS on my list already).

I've had these fabrics for years -- given to me by a friend. They are quite old, but I love the striations in the colors. I'm thinking mostly pinwheels with white for contrast. But then there are some pieces that are rounded, so I may make some circle blocks (or quarter-circle blocks, as the case may be). But I haven't cut the pieces out, so it doesn't count. It's just sitting there inspiring me.

What's kicking around in your head that you haven't started yet (but are secretly aching to)?

This one's for Amanda Jean.

I'm halfway done piecing my blocks! I wasn't going to do this one, got a wild hair, cut all the blocks out at once, and now I'm piecing them as an afterthought to other projects. So I'm halfway done without even feeling it. Check out Amanda Jean's quilt here. Tutorial here.

And cross your fingers that I finish this one without knowing it. ;)

I am weak . . . so very, very weak.

But have you seen this quilt? I think it was Camille's version that put me over the top. I have two FQ packs that I have already used for quilts and have tons left over -- Whimsy by Fig Tree Quilts and It's a Hoot by Momo. I have decided to do two iterations of this quilt in those fabric lines. Because I don't have enough projects already. They go together so quickly, though.

I'm behind -- I think they're on week 4 -- but I'll catch up quickly. And then I'll taper off halfway through. At least, I'm pretty sure that's how it'll happen. Because I'm quite familiar with myself. :) I'm going to try to transcend, but I'm also pretty realistic. But I do love this so far. Have you jumped on the bandwagon yet? If not, you can check it out here and maybe you'll be tempted like me. Unless you happen to have more willpower than I do. :)

Oops -- yet still there is progress.

Remember this -- from the previous post, right? See that black square that indicates one of the stops -- the one hanging out in the middle of nowhere with no subway line going to it? I thought that looked odd.

That's probably because it's supposed to be gray. I did a fast print job, and that line ended up looking white apparently. So it's fixed now, and . . .

I have two rows finished! The rows aren't sewn TO each other yet, but I have finished 10 of 25 blocks (and the blocks ARE sewn into the two rows). Now that everything is cut out, it's going together pretty quickly. I'm enjoying the piecing of this quilt.

If you have been thinking of making this quilt (ahem), don't be afraid. The cutting is the most daunting part. Even with the couple of blocks I've had to redo part of. (Yes, it was more than one.) Happy quilting! I hope you all have finished something this week! (I have a couple of finishes that cannot be shown yet, because they have not yet arrived at their final destinations. Can't ruin the surprises.)

Do you remember Elizabeth Hartman's Tokyo Subway Map Quilt-Along? I love the quilt, but I think I was daunted by all the little pieces to cut out. I started cutting with her when the QAL started, but then I took a break. I didn't feel like I had enough of any of the colors to make a varied quilt. Plus, I'm sure I was just working on other things. Anyway, the last few weeks I have been cutting like crazy to finish up the amounts I needed. I still need a few dark blue squares, but there weren't any in this first block. So there, the first block is done.

I increased the size of my squares from 2" cut to 2 1/2" cut. It will be 80" square when finished instead of 60". And I opted not to cut all my white squares individually. I am amazed at how quickly this went together, though. The cutting was daunting, but the piecing is not. I look forward to whipping out a few more of these very soon. Elizabeth's instructions and designs are always so well-thought-out and clear. I love working from her patterns.

Thinking about . . .

I saw a lovely bright version of this King David's Crown quilt, so I thought I'd do my own. Of course, it's in the pattern-drafting stage, which means the actual fabric version is a long way away. But it's on my mind.

Scrap reduction

I threw these together this week. There's actually a second one of this first one with the rows completed. I'm down to scraps of the Nicey Jane and the Wheels collections -- just trying to find creative ways to use them up.

Of course, the scraps aren't completely gone, so I'll have to be creative again. :)

I'm joining . . .

I have wanted to make one of these for quite some time. So I'm going to join. Don't judge. Yes, I'll add it to the sidebar. I've been pretty good this year about not starting QALs. And this has been in my brain for a while. I'm so excited!