Week 16 Moda BlockHeads Flags by Jan Patek

Hello Blockheads! Here we are at Week 16 with a fun applique by Jan Patek!  Hope you are all caught up!  I'm amazed that I am.  This has been a busy week with some Mimi duty.  The weeks seem to fly by, and that's ok, let's fly right past all this awful hot weather!!! and to think I used to enjoy summertime!

Question of the week.....Right now, today how many works do you have in progress, and will you ever finish all of them?   Truth be told, no, I'll never finish all of the unfinished projects in this house, no matter how many there are.  I have no idea own many there are because I'll never may never find them all!!!   Storage has always been an issue for me, whether blocks, tops or finished quilts. I've stashed projects in various closets, cupboards, and a multitude of tubs. Out of sight is out of mind for me.  I'm guessing 30-40 projects, including tops that need quilting, but if I find all, the number could rise dramatically.  I obviously have trouble keeping up...interests change and something more interesting comes along, or more accurate lately, more pressing.To give credit though, every project was interesting at the time!!! A lot of my friends have made UFO lists and are finishing them on a monthly basis. To make a list, again, I'd have to find them all.  hmmm.  One day....

New link...

If you are new to BlockHeads and need to locate the previous block patterns, please use this link. It will be updated each week.  http://blog.modafabrics.com/blockheads/  I don't know why the link isn't highlighted???   but I highlighted it and in the options that popped up, one was go to this link and I did and it works!

Here's my version of Jan's block...

For Jan's pattern, please CLICK HERE to go to her blog.  Jan will have applique tips and more. Be sure to see what Jo, Lisa, Lynne and Carrie have made on their blogs. We all have some tips to share. Wonder how many unfinished projects they have?  

Below are 2 Penny blocks for your pleasure. Are you addicted to these 3" cuties?  Have they become your new obsession?  I love creating these little blocks!  Someone asked for their names so they can be made larger...First, most do not have a name, as I do not want to be influenced by other patterns.  I create based on the 6" block inspiration or  leftover parts, which is why you often have more than one option. Secondly, I may reproduce the the 6" block. This time, I had trouble piecing a square flag, so I dropped the idea, but took the red, white and blue concept to make the 2 options you see, made from a scrappy selection of 3/4" finished half square triangles. Hint: once you've made your HSTs, and have them positioned, don't breathe on them! They will blow away! 

For each block I used Lisa's Primitive Gatherings Triangle Paper. I have the sampler packet which includes 3/4" finished HSTs

I cut the paper into 3 strips to get the scrappy look I wanted. I then selected 3 reds, 3 blues, and 3 creams which will be used twice. cut the prints to fit the size paper strips. Now do some math...for each block, you will need 16 HSTs  and from each set of paper strips, you can get 6 HSTs. one sheet is plenty for one block, at 18 HSTs  but not if you want a scrappy look., which I did.  So, I used 2 sheets, cut into 6 strips. I paired 6 cream rectangles with 3 red and 3 blue rectangles right sides together and sewed some HSTs.  Super quick...short stitch, finger press to dark, remove paper and arrange.  I made the diagonal stripe block first and had HSTs left, so I made the on point looking block. Lots of options, just playing with HSTs.  I did make extra red HSTs  to complete the block on the left. Now I have a few blue HSTs left for another time.

If you do not wish to use triangle paper, I suggest you cut your cream, red and blue squares 1 3/4". Place right sides together and sew 1/4" on each side of  a diagonal line, cut on diagonal line and then trim unit to 1 1/4".  Blocks should measure 3 1/2" for 3" finished blocks.

Cute, Patriotic block. Thanks Jan! 

To my International friends, please feel free to change colors or the flag to that of your country. I look forward to seeing your blocks on Facebook and Instagram.  Enjoy sewing time!

Not much of a Reed update, but here is what I have from our Father's Day celebration....

Our son is holding his nephew Reed and niece Madison is supervising. Steve and his Mother are also watching on. 

Rachel, Steve and Madison watching Uncle Matt with Reed in the next photo.

Poor Reed was a tiny bit fussy, so Uncle Matt gives him 'airbaby timeout'.

I'll soon be off to help Rachel for a couple of days.  So if you don't hear from me....it's Mimi time!

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/