February's Block of the Month

I am just so thrilled with how this months block turned out. I was a little nervous going into it because there were a few new techniques that I had never done before and I really wanted to get them right. I think I succeeded. 

My favorite part about this week was the fact that I was able to do the whole block just by reading the pattern. I knew I had the tutorial videos available to me if I needed to reference them, but I wanted to see if I was able to follow a pattern even if it was something I'd never done before. 

My Ideal Seam Guide has become my new best friend. I love how simple it makes piecing and getting a perfect seam. 

I also love that I was able to practice my spinning seam. It really does reduce bulk to the back of the quilt and it just requires a little preparation to be able to do it. 

I laid out all of the squares again so I could make sure everything was where it was supposed to be. It also makes glue basting SO much easier. 

And finally, the finished block. I am so tickled with how this one turned out. I can nitpick, of course, but ultimately there isn't much to criticize. The panels are all lined up correctly and the points are all almost perfect. My biggest problem is the edging on the outside. There is one spot that doesn't have much of a seam allowance at all. I'm hoping I can make it work, but I won't know until it's time to assemble the whole quilt. 

In addition to completing the BOM, I was also able to assemble the table runner I've been working on. I still have to baste, quilt, and bind it, but I am really happy with how it has turned out as well. 

I think the colors do ultimately work. My husband thinks it's perfect for the fall or the spring. That's a win in my book. 

The colors really pop in the picture but they're not quite so bold in person. The blues and the orange in particular don't stand out so much in person. The binding will be red like the center points. I'm excited to get it finished. 

I'm also excited to do the smaller block  for the BOM next week. It's the same one I did last month, just different colors. It will be interesting to see how the second one turns out compared to the first. That's what I'm loving about quilting. You can do the same thing over and over again and still have them be different every single time.

What are some of the things you love about quilting?