Posted on by agilejack

A Day of Rest and Nine Wensleydale Blocks Made

I had such a good sleep in this morning. I think my body really needed it. I slept more than ten hours and probably could have slept more.

Once I get up I didn’t expect I’d have a terribly productive day. I stayed around home all day. I did manage to wash and replace the bedding in my room and in my guest room. I also managed to take the. dogs for a walk late this afternoon.

I also managed to make nine of my Wensleydale quilt blocks.

I just love how each block is completely different. My favorite kind of quilt!

Before I started sewing these blocks I had to kit them all up using the fabrics I cut a few days ago.

Then I stacked up the paper plates and started sewing. I made these nine blocks in several different stints in my sewing room… interrupted by walks, meals, and breaks to sit on my butt!

I’m getting faster at making these blocks. I’ve built the habit of checking my coverage of the paper piecing template at specific places in the process by holding my block up to the light.

On one block I made today this step revealed that one area didn’t have full coverage of the seam allowance. So rather than junking the entire block, I sewed an extra piece of the fabric on.

You can see that little wedge sewn into the blue, right above that orange triangle. It’s a pretty good solution and will never be noticed when the quilt is done.

Here’s the 21 blocks that are done.

I’m really liking this more as I add more blocks.

I’m going to have to cut more fabrics before I sew any more blocks. Here’s what I’ve decided are in the “yes” pile.

that’s more fabric than I’ll need. I will need to decide how much variety I’m going to go for. I’ll probably start with two darks, two mediums, and two lights. Then I’ll cut more if that doesn’t make the remaining blocks. It likely won’t be the last group of fabrics I have to cut.

I have 12 blocks that still have the paper on the back. I was going to bring them with me into the living room tonight and pull the paper out as I watched TV, but I decided that I was too tired. So that will have to come later.

It looks like spring is definitely here. My daffodils are finally opening! it’s about time.

I saw a lot of other pretty blooming things around the neighborhood during our walk today.

While I was sewing today a little thunderstorm came through. We don’t get a lot of thunder here. But when we do, Rico is very unhappy. I had his head in my lap as I sewed for a few minutes because he needed some reassurance that everything was ok.

oor kid. Look how scared he looks.

Once he relaxed a little, he retreated under my sewing table and stayed there for at least an hour.

Bender is not bothered by lightning. But he does like to be comfortable!

Not much planned for tomorrow. I’m playing pickleball in the afternoon. I would like to get the remaining borders on my quarter log cabin quilt to check off that box. Let’s see if it happens.

56 Replies to “A Day of Rest and Nine Wensleydale Blocks Made”

  2. I have done that wedge thing with paperpiecing also, it’s a nice solution. Here in Utah we are expecting a storm starting tonight and lasting for 2 days so I am jealous/happy that you have spring!

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    1. The wedge definitely worked. No one will ever see it. It’s even hard for me to spot it now that the block is done.

      My friend that visits regularly lives in Salt lake. Did you know that I’m from Utah? Lived there my entire life until I moved to Portland in 2010. I’ve been following the rough winter you’ve had. But it’s good because you really needed the water.

      Hoping for a slow thaw!

      Anne

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  3. Your “day of rest” was certainly productive! Thank you for sharing your lambing adventures. The sheep peeking around the corner of the shed to welcome you on day 2 is one of my favorite pictures from this year.

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  4. Hi Anne I do enjoy your blog so much .
    Where can I get / buy the Wensleydale block paper piecing pattern ā€¦. I live in Johannesburg South Africa ā€¦ always concerned if it will arrive here as our postal service is non existent , if its available locally it would be better .
    Thanks for all your inspiration
    Anne potter

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    1. I bought the papers on Amazon. They come in a pad of 60. I have no idea if you can buy them locally. Do you have good quilt shops there? Maybe they can help. the template is in the book, Quilt Recipes, by Jen Kingwell. Maybe it would be easier to get the book and make copies from that template.

      Good luck!

      Anne

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  6. You are making great progress with you Wensleydale blocks. i like them too. The colours of spring flowers scares the winter bear part of me away and awakens the spring robin that I feel. I love that you shared them today. And Bender’s picture wrapped in a beauty quilt is priceless. Hope your Sunday is just as you wish

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  8. Hi, thanks for your reply on where to get the foundation papers. I ordered them but havenā€™t received them yet. Did you say they donā€™t have any guidance on what size you cut your pieces? Do you have the measurements for what you cutā€¦for example an inch larger? Thank you, my pup hates thunderstorms too!

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    1. There’s nothing with the papers that gives instructions on cutting your fabric pieces.

      Wanda from Exuberant Color blog suggested tracing the pattern on freezer paper, cutting ou the pieces, pressing them to four layers of fabric, and cutting them out with an extra half inch all the way around.

      My approach has been very random and sloppy. But I’ve landed on something that works for me.

      I just made a few blocks to test out how I was cutting my fabric and adjusted accordingly until I got it right.

      Anne

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      1. Thank you for introducing me to this block. I love it. This quilt is definitely on my list and I will order the papers. šŸ˜ƒšŸ˜•

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  10. My tulips just broke ground , itā€™s looking like we might not have spring in northern Utah, woke this morning to a dusting of snow and more on the way . Your blocks are gorgeous blues are always so soothing. Expecting thunder storms here today as well my boys hide in the basement ( dogs) poor Rico Enjoy

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing your work – quilting and the lambing!! I have now purchased the foundation piecing paper and her book. The quilts are all beautiful. I need to finish up some other projects, but may just have to do some fabric selection for this one.
      We are waiting for spring to arrive here in northern NJ!

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    2. I have several friends who live in Logan (I did my college years at Utah State!) and I’ve been amazed at all the snow you’ve gotten this year! Fingers crossed it all melts slowly this spring!

      Anne

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  12. Thank you for sharing! I have now purchased the paper piecing and her book!!! Every pattern in that book is beautiful. I have to finish some other projects first, but each time you post your update I want to start these blocks!!! Oh what a dilemma.
    Have a great – we are waiting for spring to arrive here in northern NJ.

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  15. Loving those blocks! What is the source of the paper foundations. I own acrylic templates but paper piecing would be so much faster and more accurateā€¦lovely work.

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    1. I got these paper templates on Amazon. They came in a pad of 60… plenty for a generous throw size quilt. I’m planning on making 48 blocks. Will make more if I think it needs to be bigger.

      Anne

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      2. I’m planning on needing 48. six wide by 8 high. I may add a row. Depends on how that size feels once I have all the blocks done. it will make a nice throw size. 60 would not be enough for a queen. Might make a twin. But I’m not sure.

        The blocks should finish around 10.5 inches wide and 8 inches high.

        Anne

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  19. I LOVE daffodils, enough to adopt them as my family emblem and get a tattoo of one on my leg. And incidentally the quilt blocks are beautiful, great balance of colours

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  20. Wensleydale is certainly moving along at a good rate! Poor Rico, he definitely doesn’t look a happy doggie. One of our last two Irish Setters, Seamus would become a quivering wreck when any storms came along, Mollie wasn’t worried one little bit. Bender looked pretty happy and cosy wrapped un the quilt. We miss our two dogs terribly, we have never been been without two or three Setters since being married in 1968 until 2011.

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  25. If I buy the Recipe book with this pattern, is the template in there that I can copy and make my own templates? This looks like a fun pattern.

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  26. Wow! I have been gone for 3 weeks and finally got through all your posts. You have been one busy lady! Love the new backing choice for the on-point starburst. Paper piecing is a mixed blessing, I too, hate all the paper. Rico is such a sweet, good, hard working boy. Working with the lambing sounds like a great experience. Lucky you!

    The Nine Wensleydale quilt is coming along nicely! The blue and indigo batiks you chose are spot on! But then you do color very well!

    I am exhausted just catching up on all you have been doing! So creative and so busy! šŸ˜‰

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    1. I like the look of my paper pieced blocks enough that I’m willing to put up with all that paper.

      I’m a little exhausted myself! I should take some time off!!!

      Anne

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