Crazy Quilt Journal Project - 2012, (Starting point)

Rough sketch of what I want to do, no guarantee as even when there my own inspirations I seldom follow through on them, the blocks are shaped in such a way that they can be made into purses or needlecases if they don't get put together.

Each  block has been drawn out on paper so that I'll have a bit of a chance of getting my fabric colour reasonably in the right place.  Each month I'll pick out a sheet randomly then when the blocks embellished use the sheet to finish of the blocks ( as in English patchwork)  When I have two or more joining blocks I'll sew together and embellish the seam.

I've marked each backing square in the same way as when I make the hearts for the Chains of Hearts group.    I draw the seam line one one side, turn it over and redraw exactly over marking.

I find if I used white or light coloured backing that I only have to place the block on a light surface (cloth, paper) to be able to see the first outline through the fabric so I don't need to use a light box or window to trace it.

I place and sew on the fabrics making sure I place well over the pencil line

I turn it over and machine stitch about ½ inch from seam line. Tack in a nice bright thread on the penciled seam line so I don't stitch past that point as sometimes I get carried away and forget to stop.  I always tack the seam line as I know from hearts I have received that sometimes its damn hard to remove machine stitch and just because thats suppose to be the seam line it doesn't mean it will be in the same place after embellishing.  I know some people like to leave at least an inch of seam allowance for that very reason but I find for me it limits the fabric I have as it needs to be so much larger and I also lose  the concept of the finished item as I tend to look at the block as a whole rather then just looking at the work area even though I use bright seam line thread.

Surplice trimmed off and its ready to start stitching,  As you can see I'll need to fudge, but a bit of lace will soon hide that mistake. Oh the joys of crazy quilting, you don't have to follow a pattern.  That block is  ready to start in the New Year.  Now if I can piece one block ahead of time each month then I should keep on schedule.   This is the last bit of stitching for this year so I can  start getting prepared for Christmas.