Patricia Faye

I copied both sizes & may end up doing them both, not sure. It'll depend on what other things I have going on. One a week, so it may be manageable.

The smaller ones don't use much fabric, so I may save the remnants from the larger block for the little one. Maybe a Mother/Daughter quilt set for my wonderful daughter & granddaughter!

janRN

You're right, Patricia Faye. The 4" minis take very little fabric. I made a few from another pp book and was able to use jelly roll strips. I only used 1/2 of the 3 strips to make an entire block. They're sort of fun, too. The only complaint I had was ironing. When I quilt, I set up my ironing board across the hall in the bathroom. (This forces me to get up at the end of each seam and walk across the hall so my butt doesn't get any bigger-I consider it exercise LOL). If I do any more 4" blocks, I'll get a really small iron to put on my sewing table. Some of the seams are only 5 or 6 stitches and that was giving me a little too much exercise.
Went on a FART yesterday to try to pick up some Christmas fabric which is what I plan on using. Most places are already out of Christmas fabric but did find a few. I guess most quilters purchase Christmas fabric by July 1 so they can get started on projects.
I love the fabrics everyone has shown so far. It will be exciting to see the blocks made in all the different fabrics.

carriem

I haven't gotten my book yet (it is being ordered by the LQS), but I had been thinking about combining some of the big and small blocks together in one quilt. I like the idea of using "scraps" from the big blocks for the small ones.

Jan--the quilt shop where I work had tons of Christmas fabric. Was there something specific you were looking for?? She "has all types of "Christmas-y" stuff--trees, ornaments, stockings, poinsettias (in red AND purple), snowmen, etc...some have metallic gold or silver.

Patricia Faye

janRN, I use a folding TV tray with my ironing pad on it to press when I paper piece. I like to press each seam. I'm no good at finger pressing. The rest of the time, I do the same as you & have my ironing pad set up on my cutting table so I have to get up.

Yes, lots of the fabric stores are having sales on Christmas & Halloween fabrics. Looking forward to see what you use.

rwquilts

I need to get my book out and get everything prepared like the rest of you. I have been working on all kinds of different projects and am just about ready to settle down with Miss Rosie! I am also considering doing the 4" blocks. I love paper piecing mini, as you can tell by my siggie!

Jenniky

I have my book back from Kinko's also ready to go. Here are the fabrics I am auditioning. I am going to do the mini- patterns also.

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janRN

Carrie, thank you for your kind offer. I think I have enough; I'm going to go with a scrappy look so I can use up more fabric in my stash (and then go shopping for more LOL.) I love any fabric with gold in it ( as I'm sure you've noticed in my Pony Club quilt.) I like scrappy because I get so bored making 2 of the same block. Quilter's ADHD????
Jenniky, great looking fabric. You'll be amazed at the size of some of the pieces--think little finger nail size. That's why I decided to use Christmas fabric in 10" blocks; by the time I cut such a small piece it just read as solid.
PF, I like the idea of setting up a tv tray for my iron and will do that when I do mini's. Otherwise, I'll keep "exercising" LOL.

Krisb

Jan, I have a wooden. Finger press iron; works pretty well most of the time, and a mini iron for paper piecing. But it is still across the room to make me get up and move over to press the seam. Just created a lot of scraps, so thinking that they would work for the 4" blocks.

carriem

I made a tv tray into an ironing board with 2 layers of cotton batting and "drill" (fabric found at JoAnns)...just cut the layers to size with enough to wrap around the sides and staple on. Walmart has wooden trays for less than $10 each. It is great to have by my machine, but also for taking to retreats and sewing days w/friends.

Kirsty

Hi Linda - good to hear there's someone close ! Haven't picked my fabrics yet and the date is getting nearer - will have to get in shopping mode.