Just One Block

Don’t have time to make a whole quilt from all those great ideas out there? But you would love to try more new techniques?

Why not make just one block per month or per week as your time allows?

Make JUST ONE BLOCK of each new technique… so you have a variety of techniques and block sizes to create some very unique quilts at the end of the year.

Create a place to safely collect the blocks for the next year. Then after that time period is over; take a look at what you have made. During the year you may also document your progress by keeping a record of the things you did – technique, book is came from, the designers info, the date you made it, fabric samples, a brief description of what you liked/didn’t like about it, interested in making it again, etc. Have a digital camera? Then take pictures of some key stages and the finished blocks.

I think this would be a great idea if your quilting time is limited and it wouldn’t take up much space, either. You could still have fun trying new techniques and creating a quilter’s diary of your progress. 

Hmmm… perhaps, that’s what I could try in 2011. And, maybe some of you would like to join in with me?

IDEAS for using these blocks:

Create a sampler quilt for yourself.

Frame them and decorate your wall.

Donate the blocks to your quilt guild.

Have a friend help by assembling the quilt top.

QUILT GUILD WORKSHOPS/CLASSES

This JUST ONE BLOCK method could also be great for paid classes sponsored by a quilt guild. For a class where a new technique is learned, instead of each person committing to a whole quilt project themselves… each participant makes one block and the blocks are collected and made into one quilt.

OPTIONS for the BLOCKS:

1. The class could decide to buy tickets and the winner(s) get the blocks,
2. Have it quilted in class and sold in a raffle or quilt sale,
3. The proceeds from the tickets or the sale of the quilt go back to the guild.

If you really love that new technique, I’d think you’d be eager to make a new quilt for yourself.

BENEFITS:

1. There isn’t as much cost in creating one quilt block.
2. The time commitment is less and perhaps more quilters could enjoy taking more classes.
3. Learning new techniques wouldn’t be a strain on the wallet.
4. Or add to the present UFO list.

I know I’d be more interested in taking classes if I knew my efforts were going to complete a quilt project and also go to a worthy cause.

With all the great workshops and classes available now, it is quite difficult to decide which new technique to try next and how to get all those quilt ideas into finished quilts.

Change is good. Doing things in new ways allows us to expand our abilities and use our talents to spread warmth and joy.

THIRTEENTH PROJECT - AUGUST 2010:

My thirteenth project will be shared next week...

Nature's Elegance/

Jan Kornfeind

More Book Titles...

If you wish to see more quilting books you can check out my website for more details. The books that will come up in my blog reviews are listed on the "featured" page.

Enjoy your quilting time this summer… !!