Week 5 Moda BlockHeads BOW

I cannot believe it. The week flew by and here we are for Block 5, designed by Lisa Bongean.  It's fabulous, but I want to prepare you for tiny pieces and lots of them. Starch! Do you hear me?  Starch! LOL. 

Below is my version of this week's block. 

Keep reading for tips and the 3"  Mini Penny block.

Coronation by Lisa Bongean

 Click HERE to find the pattern on Lisa's blog.

Lisa may have an alternate piecing technique on her blog which will include tips I'm sure. Take care with pressing. Stagger seams where you can, flipping open the intersections and clipping as needed.  Pressing seams open is also an option and I did press open the tiny HSTs. My fabrics are from Hope's Journey and Rachel Remembered.

Below, are links  to all the designers, don't forget to visit their blogs for 

their fabric choices and their tips. Each week one of us posts the pattern we designed.

Our facebook group has 3768 members at this writing Tuesday evening.

BlockHeads are posting pictures there and on Instagram....and they are so cool!  What variety and creativity!  Follow the #modablockheads

Did you finish your bee skep?  I thought that was great fun,

 and such a nice break from piecing.  Break's over!!!

Look for 7 more appliques from Jan, applique is her speciality...her super power! Last week,

Lisa offered an alternative to applique and my 3" pieced block from last week, could easily make a 6".  So keep the 3" blocks in mind, 4 of them make a 6" and alone they are easily upsized for piecing. So no worries, ok? There are options for those who don't care for the 'A' word.

Before I show the 3" mini, here is the question of the week....Needles...

 How often do you change them?

Guess my answer....

Some of are cheating and know me...

I count 8 or 9 machine needles on this side of the pincushion.  

Now, guess how long they have been there...No prize involved.

Answer....I change needles when they break. I dispose of those.   If  I've hit too many pins, yes I sew over them, and I notice a thread popping sound, I might replace, hence the needles in the pincushion.  On rare occasions, stitches start skipping as I piece, and I'll replace.  Full disclosure, Needles in this pincushion have been there for years.  I bought the pear pincushion in Missouri, in 2009, when Gone to Texas was published. FYI, pins on this side of the pincushion are bent...Yes, I know, I could clean this up.  r i g h t .

The mini this week...1/2 size Coronation?  No.

The HSTs in the 6" are the same size as the little HSTs I've been using in my 3" blocks...3/4" finished.

I saved the extra triangles cut away from the flying geese/starpoint units, for another time.

Here is what I made...

It's the center of Lisa's Coronation block but a darker center.  I have a couple of starpoint backgrounds improperly placed which I didn't see until I was pressing and no way was I unsewing! This dark version looks quite different to me. Corners and center parts are 3/4" finished.  Flying geese units are 3/4" x 1 1/2" finished. 

There are a LOT of seams in this block and in the 6" block..

Then I tried sewing with HSTs instead of flying geese.

And left the center square plain. Center is  1 1/2" finished. corners and HSTs are 3/4" finished.

In case your corners come up a little short after stitching, try upsizing your corners a little, then trim excess away when you finish. Trim to 3 1/2" finished.

 Slightly bigger than needed! LOL

The back.

Hope you are enjoying the blocks of the week!

I love hearing from you and seeing your blocks.

Until next time ~

Betsy

Lynne - 
Blog - http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KansasTroublesQuilters/ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lynnektq/ 

Betsy - 
Blog - http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betsy.chutchian 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betsy_chutchian/ 

Lisa B - 
Blog - https://lisabongean.com/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/primitivegatherings.quiltshop/ or https://www.facebook.com/lisa.bongean 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lisabongean/  or https://www.instagram.com/primitive_gatherings_quiltshop/  or  https://www.instagram.com/primitive_gatherings_ca/ 

Jan - 
Blog - http://janpatek.blogspot.com/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jan.patek.79?fref=nf 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jan_patek_quilts/ 

Jo - 
Blog - http://jomortonquilts.com/jos_journal/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jomortonquilts/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joquilts/ 

Moda - 
Blog - http://blog.modafabrics.com/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/modafabrics/ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modafabrics/