Block Doctor is IN

A friend wrote me recently.  She was so frustrated.

Her blocks had a health problem - they were not coming out the expected size.  

She wanted to participate in a block lotto ...  but her blocks were not coming out reliably to the required size.......  I tried to give her a few tips, but I could tell she just felt like "what is causing this to happen"??????  She needed INTENSIVE CARE ,  lol.

So I asked her to mail me the block.  And i put on my 'BLOCK DOCTOR'  coat.  

She sent Three blocks - one looked perfect.  But another, which should measure at 12.5 square, was not close.    It was 12.25 - well, the top row of the 9 patch was 12.25.  The middle and bottom rows were larger.  

This photo is more informative -  see how the seam curves down on the left side?    aha, there's the problem....

So - the autopsy began, and I took apart that row of blocks, and laid them carefully one on top of the other - and this is what I saw:   

Aha:  diagnosis:  the blocks, which were supposed to be 4.5, range from 3.5 to 4.0 to 4.5

That will certainly cause an uneven block.

MORAL OF THE STORY:  Cut the blocks and stack them - if they are all supposed to measure the same thing - UH OH -  back up and re-cut.

cut precisely,  sew straight - that's the gist of the thing  :)

the reality is a bit more difficult.

isn't it????

Keep trying

Kathleen

January ????? egad how did that happen?

 Exactly HOW did it get to be January?   

I keep being tempted to say farewell to this blog - but then I remember how much I have enjoyed other blogs and continue to look forward every day to reading these little capsules of quilter's lives.

So - here we go - a little capsule of my life.   Just for you.  

I have completed two quilts since the New Year.  And for the first time, I set up a folder on my desktop and am determined to keep track of every single finish - well, we shall see, won't we?

First was this delightful barn quilt.  Someone made it and gave it to Jo Kramer of jo's country junction blog fame - and she passed it to me for quilting and donating.  I adore it - and now that it is all finished, I'm sending it to a program that provides quilts for Syrian and Afghani refugees, people who have and are suffering so much.  I just know it will be loved!

The other fabulous news is that this adorable kitty is better.  We spent about six months doctoring her through a kitty liver disease.  We had to syringe feed her 4-6 times per day.  But now she is eating reliably on her own, I am so glad.   

To take the excitement over the top - my new quilt, 'Bodega Bay', is in California, and will soon be shown in the Road to California show.  Here's a photo:

Yep, I am a busy girl.  And I can't wait to be even busier....

there is a quilt on the machine calling to be now, 

but i am going to pop some popcorn, snuggle up in a blanket, and invite a kitty on my lap to watch the late-night news.   

you take care now and stay well!

Kathleen