Summer SpinOut - July 2017 Block Lottery

To say we were excited about the Kona's 2017 Color of Year announcement is an understatement.  

Nothing says Florida (or summer or fun) like Flamingo Pink. 

It's an iconic association, along with orange groves, beaches, and alligators, that immediately comes to mind when you think of the state we call home.  

We (your ECMQG 2017 Board) knew we wanted to use it several different times throughout the year for guild projects.

  
As soon as Faye mentioned showcasing Flamingo for her stint as the July Block Lottery hostess, we jumped.

Years ago, like we all do whether from Pinterest, a blog, Flickr, etc., Faye saw a tutorial for a block that she wanted to make.  Also like many of us, she never actually found the time to do so.  That sad tale ends here, because Faye found the tutorial, chose her colors and fabric inspiration, and presented it last week.

For the month of July, Faye asks that we make SpinOut, a block and tutorial John Q. Adams, aka quiltdad, designed for The Desperate Housewife's Quilt blogfest.  (Strap yourself into the Way Back Machine.  This happened back in blogland during 2011, which is eons ago in the age of changing social media platforms.)

Colors are Kona Flamingo (or a pink that is REALLY close such as Kona Melon or Kona Punch), a solid gray (more on that in a moment), and a print that has Flamingo in it. 

Natalie helped determine the color challenge.  When selecting the gray - any shade/any manufacturer - fabric, look for the VALUE difference (contrast) between it and the Kona Flamingo.  We found during Saturday's meeting, there is little to no contrast between Flamingo and Kona Medium Gray.  

Notice in the mosaic below, the contrast between the two solid fabrics is lost in the images on the right.  That's what you want to avoid.  

  

Faye said the things she liked best when constructing her sample blocks was the ability to fussy cut her favorite Tula Pink images and the ease and organization that chain piecing allowed.  Additionally, she particularly liked the secondary pinwheel design the little flamingo corners make once multiple blocks are positioned next to each other.  

Please refer to Faye's blocks for visual placement of your fabrics.  John's tutorial can be found here.

You will need to cut fabric as follows for each 8.5" (unfinished) block:

Cut four (4):

Flamingo - 2.5" x 2.5"

Print - 2.5" x 4.5"

Gray - 2.5' x 2.5" AND 2.5" x  4.5"

Let us know your thoughts.  To make a decent sized quilt with no sashing or borders, we'll need to receive 56 blocks.  It's a good thing these are a fast make! 

June 2015 - Block Lottery Wonky ROYGBIV 12.5" Log Cabin

Welcome!

Susan and I are back on track for providing all of the details needed to participate in our June block lottery.  May was crazy to say the least!

This month's design and colors were chosen for all of you who've been asking for wonky (you know who you are) and all of you who love color order (you know who you are).  We aim to please!  Also, we wanted to make sure you could utilize really cool scraps or cut into some of your favorite stashed fabrics.

June's block is a wonky, ROYGBIV 12.5" log cabin (ROYGBIV = Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet).  Made with fun, modern prints, and a couple of solids thrown in for good measure, these will be beautiful blocks!

As usual, the rules remain the same (you can find them here) - quality fabrics, modern prints, solid block construction, and sewing skills (starch is your friend). 

The tutorials I liked, and referenced frequently as I sorted scraps, sliced fabric, and sewed, are from Made by ChrissieD and Quilt Dad.  You can find them here and here.  Both are excellent.

I began my block with a red center and built a ROYGBIV house.  

You can start with a yellow center, where YGBIVRO would be the color progression.  If you center is aqua, your color progression would be BIVROYG. 

It doesn't matter which color you choose for your center, as long as you stay in rainbow order, working from the middle to the outside edge.  Once again, lots and lots of options for playing and creating!

As someone who doesn't do wonky or improv easily, I found I had to totally resist the lure to square-up after each addition.  You may laugh at that statement, but try it, and tell me what you think.

Happy piecing!  The only limit here is your imagination.

Elaine