Rainbow Blocks for Pride, for Orlando

Because I am a quilter, because I think in fabric, because I didn't know what to say. Frankly, because I still don't know what to say.

In the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando this week I felt compelled to sew in that most symbolic of ways. The rainbow flag has been a part of my life for over twenty years, when I learned of it's history and became part of the LBGT community in university. I learned far more than my suburban upbringing showed me. I felt love and developed friendships with some amazing people from all walks of life. Whereas I'm not sure I'd heard the word gay before other than as a thing you called someone you didn't like, I learned that love is love is love.

So, on Sunday, I sewed. I hugged my kids and did some yardwork. I sewed. I talked to my husband. We reminisced about gay bars we'd been to together and separately. We spoke of friends, of family, who could have easily been at Pulse that night. I sewed. I sewed rainbows. I want to keep sewing rainbows. 

See, as a quilter, one of the ways we share love is through quilts. (I'm also Ukrainian and so I show it through food, but that's another story.) I'm putting all the extra love into these blocks. I have a plan for them. Then my daughter gave me a really good idea after I explained the symbolism of the rainbow. Either way, this quilt is going to have so much love.

You too can sew these rainbow blocks. They are very easy and I did all the math (it was so hard) for you.

You will need:

• 6 fabrics: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
• Neutral thread
• Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
• Sewing Machine and Iron

For a 6 1/2'' x 6 1/2'' block:

• Cut a 1 1/2'' x 6 1/2'' strip of each colour.
• Sew together and press.

For a 12 1/2'' x 12 1/2'' block:

• Cut a 2 1/2'' x 12 1/2'' strip of each colour.
• Sew together and press.

For a 18 1/2'' x 18/12'' block:

• Cut a 3 1/2'' x 18 1/2'' strip of each colour.
• Sew together and press.

For my blocks I am playing around with colour and value. I dug into the scrap bins and the stash. I'm trying not to repeat a fabric. Because no two rainbows, like snowflakes, are alike.

If the rainbow blocks aren't up your alley or you want to do something directly for Orlando, check out the actions of the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild. They are collecting blocks and completed rainbow quilts to distribute to families and survivors of the Pulse shooting. They ask contributors to use this tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew to make heart blocks in all the colours. Keep posted on their blog or social media for donation details. 

Maybe making rainbow blocks isn't your thing. Just remember that love is love is love. And frankly, I believe the best way to counter any hate, any fear, is to spread love. So if you are a quilter or a maker or a creator, spread the love the way you know best. 

Scraps Go Round - An Improv Log Cabin Style Quilt

Those early mornings sessions are totally paying off. Number one, for my mental health. Number two, for quilt productivity. A few years after starting these blocks are finished and the quilt top done!

(I've also finished the blocks for another top already and have been working on some snippets now.)

Depending on if you are a glass half full or half empty person, you will love or hate this - I probably still have enough strips left for another quilt like this! If you make quilts you will always have scraps. Good thing there are a million fun ways to use them!

These blocks were made by simply cutting a pentagon, hexagon, or even a heptagon. Then I added scrap strips, log cabin style, all around. And kept going. I did not use a foundation. Some might argue that the blocks are more unstable with it. And they would be right. But I took my time, was careful not to stretch as I sewed, and squared them up at the end. 25 blocks later and I have a 80'' by 80'' quilt top.

An interesting observation for me as I finished this is that there really isn't much of mine that plays in the medium range of value. A lot of lights, a few darks, and some mediums. This is in contrast to the majority of us quilters who live in the medium range. And to most manufacturers who provide us with those medium value fabrics. If you made this quilt with your scraps it would be a completely different look!

The harder part was trying to get a picture of the top with my 8 and 4 year olds at the park! It seems I underestimated my wingspan. And underestimated the height of the man I freakishly asked to help me hold the quilt while The Evil Genius snapped mostly blurry photos. But hey, they are happy and willing to indulge this part of the quilting so I am happy with the outcome no matter what.

Earth Day Block for The Splendid Sampler

Today is Earth Day! (And my nephew's birthday!)

You may recall that I used to work for an environmental non-profit. So every day was literally Earth Day for me. Now, with kids it is even more so. Just the other day The Monster started a discussion in the car about landfills. We talked about what garbage doesn't break down, methane gas, power generation from landfills, and composting. Just your standard conversation on the way home from swimming. We won't mention the irony of it as we drove around in our big, diesel burning car.

For The Splendid Sampler we've released a bonus block for this occasion - Earth Day, not my nephew's birthday - and I got the chance to design it. This block popped into my head in seconds and I went for it. Already I've seen variations where people embroider the outline of the continents on the circle. And already I see potential for this to be an entire quilt.

We know how I love a pinwheel! and the intersecting lines with the circle go so well. This is a pretty easy block, no super tiny piecing.

Secret little bonus! If you go to The Splendid Sampler site I've provided a special discount link for my Craftsy class - Inset and Applique Circles by Machine -  to help with all your circle construction.

(And if you want more than my Craftsy class, there is a sale this weekend.)

Grab your scraps - this is Earth Day after all - and give the block a whirl!

The Splendid Sampler - First 10 Blocks

In all honesty, I am shocked that I am here. Ten blocks into a 100 block sampler and I'm actually on track and still making blocks. This is made all the more shocking by three things:

• Embroidery
• Small, precise piecing
• Block styles that are so not my norm

That's the exciting part though. It may be work and a challenge for me, but that is exactly why I am doing it. We all need a push out of the comfort zone sometimes. And there is no improv in this sampler, as far as I can tell, until my block. (And that is only a tiny amount as it is.)

I nearly gave up. If it wasn't the 1'' squares it was the embroidery. So not my world. And I have a lot to learn about both of these skills. Then there is probably someone else in the group incredibly comfortable with these and freaking out over applique or getting precise points. I forged through and so can you.

At the beginning of The Splendid Sampler I know there was a lot of stress about fabrics. I ended up raiding my scraps bins. You need little pieces of everything so it is perfect for scraps. Now that I am this far in I think I will end up in stash for the black and whites. I also think I am going to change colours now. Maybe make a change every 10 blocks. That should help keep my interest up and perhaps make a tiny dent in the scrap bin. Besides, I've never really made a rainbow quilt.

Even 10 blocks in I see so much potential in the designs. So many of these blocks could be made many times over for really interesting quilts. The patterns are worth it for that inspiration alone! If you are following along on Facebook or Instagram it is incredible to see the difference fabric makes in the blocks. Some people are getting a bit creative with their interpretations, but I really like the blocks that allow some personality to seep in while still respecting the original design. 

If you aren't up to speed on The Splendid Sampler, make sure to check out the website. 100 free block patterns over the course of a year! Eventually, the blocks will be put into a book format by our fearless leaders Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson. If I continue to keep up my blocks will eventually make it into a quilt.