Sewing Machine Reviews

What brand and model do you have?
How long have you had it?
How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
What features does your machine have that work well for you?
Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
Do you have a dream machine?I found this blog interesting, at Sew Mama, Sew....Wanting to participate and answer a few questions about my sewing machine. But, which one.... I worked in a sewing machine sales store for two years and learned a lot about machines, that I did not know, even though I had sewn for years. The store where I worked sold Bernina, Babylock, Janome & Pfaff. I already owned a Babylock Quilters Pro. I purchased it ten years ago and it is my "go to" machine. It was bought originally thru a close out..the store decided that it was not moving and they were selling off the floor model The list price at that time was about $1200, so I only paid $850. Seems like a lot, since I can now buy the same machine for less than $700, ten years later. But, it is such a good straight stitch machine, metal gears, does have a scissors option.  It is only a straight stitch machine, no bells or whistles. At the time that I purchased this machine, the selling point for me was it had a deeper throat and it came with a extension table. I can free motion with this machine and I love how I can set the feed dogs at one of four levels. I can also adjust the tension on the foot. So, if I am doing something that is heavier fabric, I can apply more pressure to the foot. It has been a great machine. It is actually a re-badged Juki...but, I would not give it up for any other machine.
On the other side of table, I have a Babylock Ellegante. I purchased this machine used. It has a few issues that I have worked around. The foot pedal has a broken place in the cord, so I know that when it does not respond, I just need to wiggle wires...a new electronic foot pedal is $100, so I have been putting off buying one of those. And one of the features of this machine is that I can sew with or without the foot pedal. But, sewing with the foot pedal is for long straight stitches...not, so much quilting.  I bought this machine, because I thought that I would like to do embroidery work and at the time, it was the only machine on the market that was USB friendly for embroidery work. Being able to download an embroidery pattern and move it to the machine with the USB was extremely easy.  But, I really found out that I am not an embroidery person. I like and use the machine for the following reasons. Babylock is extremely easy to learn. It has a hovering foot feature, which lets me set the needle down and the sewing foot to pickup when I stop sewing. It is a great feature. I also like the number of stitches available on the Ellegante. Other features that I like are the speed control, scissor, and the needle threader is great!  I probably would not buy another embroidery machine, because that is not something that I am interested in doing. I said the machine was used and I worked for the store, so I paid $3500 for a used embroidery machine...six years ago.
If I had to buy a machine and Babylock was not available to me, my next line of machines that I would look at would be the Janome. I also, have a couple of Janome machines. But, they are specialty machines. I have a Janome 2030...it is something to carry back and forth to classes, light weight, features are speed control and scissors. The other Janome is very specialized-Janome Expression Felting Machine.

So, finally I got to go back into my sewing room and work on my project. I have spent a little time (two weeks) working on a project for my daughter. She is in the process of writing a quilting book..she was in need of a piecer and I got to be one of them. I pieced more in a short time than I have in quite a while. So, I have pieced two quilt tops, and quilted a quilt. Waiting for another quilt to quilt...I am sure that it will arrive any day now. Sorry, no pictures...but what I have seen is awesome.
And, while I am finished with helping the daughter, I also needed to make a baby quilt. I have a good friend that is having her first grandchild...a boy! A BOY...what do I make for a boy!. I have three sisters, I have two daughters and five granddaughters...what is a boy! I have nothing in my stash to make something boyish...well, maybe there are a few pieces of fabric! But, just not what I wanted to make. It is just a flannel, raw edge baby blanket, but it is warm, soft and snuggly! So, I finished making the warm, soft, snuggly baby quilt. I was able find SOME nice baby flannel in my stash to make a few burp clothes. What mother does not need 3 dozens of those..but, I only made eight.
So, back to what I am doing back in my room. I have been looking at my design wall and have finally decided to make a few adjustments to the project..pictures will follow in a few days. I have had this project on my design wall, since the wall went up. It just has not looked right..so, finally I decided it was time to make it right. When I pulled the project out of space it was in...I needed a new sky fabric....then, I needed a new tree trunk fabric..and, now the only thing left from the original project is the background and I am not entirely sure that is going to remain. No wonder the project was not finished, it just wasn't right. But, never fear, all will be headed in the right direction in a very short time.
And while we are on the top of the projects that I love to make. It is so difficult to find any info on how to make an art piece. I have questions that I just cannot find the answers too. Some of those questions are; When doing free motion type of three play, I don't want to see all of my thread play on the final backing. So, I have decided that I will be doing my thread play on the top, with a sandwich of batting and muslin. Then at some point I will ad a backing fabric and there is the next questions. Do, I sew thru the layers to attach the pieces together. I think that I have to, because other wise the project has to hang from the backing and it would not be attached to the front, only the binding. I will be working thru these questions as I make this project. I will keep you updated on how thing progress and what I feel are the best methods to use. And hopefully I will have pictures to show while I am moving thru this adventure!

I am so in need of getting to sew on something of my own...I am about ready to scream. I should not complain..my oldest daughter is writing a quilt book and she need help piecing and quilting. Both, of which I do, on occasion. So, for the past week and a half I have been busier than I have been in quite awhile. I have pieced two tops in in 6 days and quilted another in two. They are lovely quilts, but sorry, I cannot show pictures for fear that I will be banned from any further helping. But, it was quite fun.
For my next act, while I am away from my project is to put together a baby quilt, since I have a good friend that is going to be a grandma for the first time. I am making a frayed edge quilt. They are so soft and warm for a winter baby.
Then once that project is done, the final project will be doll clothes. This, as I am writing, seems to be a month of off the wall projects. I have made doll clothes in the past for my girls and for the older grand-daughters, but I need to make some for the younger set of grand-daughter. Yes, that is all I have is grand-daughters. No, boys in this family. The husband says that is okay, cause that way we get to choose the boys.!
Hopefully, I will be done with baby quilt today and get to work on my own project for a few days. Because doll clothes are not due until the end of the month!

Here it is...FALL! And it happened like a light switch. One day it was Summer, sunny and warm...then bam, it was Fall, cool, rainy and fallish! The hummers have decided to migrate, well, almost all of them. I still have one hold out, he is probably excited to have the entire feeder to himself.  But, at least I have a nice sewing studio to work in. Air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. I have not turned on the heat, yet. But, you can bet that as soon as I do, the Velcro puppies will be find a cozy spot in front of the heater to spend their unproductive moments. Wait, I don't think that they have productive moments. They eat, sleep and bark...nope, nothing productive there!
So, I started a new project.

It is still a work in progress, but it is coming along nicely. I have to take a more recent picture. But, I have to take a break, because I have some piecing to do...hope that will be done by the end of the weekend. But then, while I am piecing, I need to make a baby quilt. And I need more practice on George...not quite like a job...but plenty busy. Well, time to hit the spools!

So, here it is Sunday...starting a new project. Well new, may not be correct. I have had this partially worked project pinned to my design wall...well, since the wall went up. Let's not stop to think how long that has been, scary!
But first, I did get the bird project done. And it is residing in it's place of honor in a new home. The exact home that I did not plan for it to be in.

I was really liking this project. Each project that I finish, I learn more about applique. You are not seeing this at an angle, the tree side is 4" longer. I just could not even off the bottom. It was an enhancement that was a surprise when it happened.

The other exciting thing that I am learning....is my new sewing machine. I have had a long arm machine for the past eight years. While, I love working with the APQS Millie..the back will no longer allow me to reach for the time it takes to start and finish a large quilt. But, large projects is not something that I am into anymore. So, I upgraded..for me, I purchased an APQS George. George is a sit down machine. Takes the pressure of standing for long periods of time. So now, it is back to practice, practice, practice. I learn new things each time I use it. So far, I am loving it!

So, the next project is getting started. Don't know how long this will take, because I may have to take a short break in the middle to do some work for my daughter. But, until that time, I will work diligently on it!

 

Wow, seems like the first few cucumbers just came off the vine...and now, we are looking at the end of the crop. Where did June, July and August disappear to. I think mine disappeared in the sewing room. Been a lot of changes in there.
Where to start....
I finished my sunflower project and it came out as expected.

 

I get wrapped up in my designs...I sometimes hate to part with them.

Well, I went from something small to something larger. And in hindsight, I wonder why!

This project was larger than I like to work with. But, it leads to another story. I have an APQS Millineum..I have had Millie since 2005. But, because of some medical issues, I decided to get an APQS George. It is a sit down machine. And while it will require a learn curve, I am sure..It is not something that is beyond my abilities. It really is an entire new avenue into my sewing adventures.

 

This is one of the last larger projects that I will do on the Millie. I have actually set it up in the living room and the George is in the sewing room...in the place of honor! It is not that I will not be using anymore, but at some point the Millie will probably be going to my daughters home in Georgia...a long trip! But, onto other matters. this is quilted but still needs the binding. I have been lagging on that because I have already started my next project.

I have an issue with this project. Because my best friend is a bird lover....and while I am working on a project with a bird theme, I did not want her to feel like she was obligated to purchase or that it was made specifically for her. It was just next!!

 

This is the project that I am now working on. This picture shows the layout and now I am ready to fuse. 

This is the final layout and it is totally fused and part of the initial top stitching is done. This is only the first layer. More to follow.





 

Well, it is painfully obvious that I have not been paying attention to my blog...I have been busy developing and sewing another wall hanging. This is one that I have had to develop along the way. I know what I want it to look like but, sometimes getting there is an issue. And, I hate wasting fabric.

I noticed that working on this project, I have a pattern. I mean a pattern of working. It sort of goes like this. I have the pattern in my head. So, the first thing to think about is how big do I want this project. So, I cut a piece of muslin the size of the project and I pin it to the design wall. Then it is study the size as I go in and out of the room. Once, I decide the size is right, then the fabric comes into play.  As I develop the pattern, I am also auditioning fabric. For this project, a sunflower, I had to choose three yellow fabrics that blend well..and then for the background, a piece of sky.  The sashing, something green, but it has to be a different green than what I will use for the leaves and stem. And a word box. Once I get it all pinned in place and I have to start sewing, I like to wait for a while, again going in and out of the room, making sure that everything blends the way it should.  Then it is time to sew it down and hope that it still has the effect that I am wanting to portray. Because I really do not like to use the seam ripper. Sometimes patterns that I think should be very easy take longer than I thought they would.

I hesitate between different layers of the project. I do this because, I am always thinking it will not work...or what will this look like...changing my mind...But, in the end...everything works out just as I had envisioned it. But, it has a little fretting and worrying applied during the assembly! Another thing that I have been doing is, every night before I leave the sewing room, I take a picture of the project. Not, only do I have a record of how far I have gotten. But the picture gives a entirely different view of the project. I like the flat image, it shows so many things that I have not even noticed. Are the clouds looking okay, is the border straight. I have seen a border with a pattern that looks different when top stitched different directions. Was not as noticeable in real as it showed in the photo. It was a simple fix, just remove some stitching and stitch down in the other direction!

 

So far, so good. Now, to top stitch and bind. More pictures to follow when done!

Gosh, here it is the first few days of August. The garden is growing great and we are starting to reap the harvest...Ya!
I have been busy, but not sewing much, as the husband revamped the table for my sewing machines. I was using a small desk and it just did not cut it anymore..could not comfortably cram two machines on the desk and still sew. Why two machines, you may ask..because I have my favorite machine that I use probably 95% of the time. BabyLock Quilters Pro, that I have had for ten years. I love that machine..it only does a straight stitch..but, it is a great straight stitch. And my other machine is my BabyLock Ellegante. The Ellegante does things the quilters pro cannot do, such as embroidery and numerous other stitches that I may need at a moments notice. But, I digress....I needed a table long enough to handle two machines and a small pressing board. I wonder why I have any ironing board when I only use a small portion of it. So, now, I have an area where I can roll back and forth between my sewing machines/ironing board to my cutting table. It is FANTASTIC! And I now have enough room to move a larger project around without having to stop and straighten things so often.
I am so surprised how much room I have now and the machines like the new table...more stable than anything with legs..does not bounce or anything undesirable like that.

Did not have the ironing board done when the picture was taken...and I had not hidden the old ironing board, which I need to keep for the LARGE projects..
And now, the mirror in the picture has moved to the other side of the closet door and that wall is now destined for an additional, larger design wall.
So, with all of that aside, I can now get back to some of the projects that I am working on and need to finish.
Other projects that I have been working on:

These two projects have already been sold to a "bear lover" on the East Coast. I hope she enjoys them..I was developing a soft spot for the cabin scene, but I am capable of making another...Oh well.
Time to go sew. Hope your day is wonderful and you get to do what you want.

Here it is Tuesday...I got to spend Saturday at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. It was a long day...up at 6a.m. for a two hour drive to Sisters. The show starts at 9 a.m. We walked around for 2-3 hours...and then back to the shuttle, back to the car and home. Good seven hour trip, anyway you add it up.  The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is a big event and it has really spread out to include the entire town. Seems like more businesses participated by having quilts hung outside their business...But, it is along hike. A side note...I do not walk far or well, due to a back injury. So, by the time I have walked with the aid of my cane from one end of the town to the other and then back again, I am done. And my quilts...well, they were at opposite ends of the town. We were dropped by the shuttle behind the famous Stitchin Post Fabric Store. So, the first thing we got to view were the quilt blocks...YEAH! I got to see mine, with a white ribbon. This year, they had a top winner and four runners up. The sad part is that out of 167 blocks, there were only 70 from the United States...the rest were from Japan. Come on American Quilters, we should be able to do better than that. But, the Japanese blocks were beautiful and another look into quilting designs. My big quilts, was hanging not too far from the where that blocks were. I could see it across the parking lot. Now, where was my other one. I had decided that I would walk until I found the second one...at the other end of town. So, we stopped at Dutch Bros for a coffee and rested...then back across town. The past two years they have added a shuttle service from the high school. It is great..we don't have to drive around and around and around looking for parking. And, then the long walk into town. Park at the school, get in the van and you are dropped in the middle of the activities. But, it was such a fun day...the weather cooperated and was not blazing hot. Now, I am awaiting the return of my quilts and my winning (fourth runner up) block!

Yesterday, July 10, 2013, I got a very exciting phone call. First some background. I have never been a person that enters a lot of contest. I am just a realist and I know that winning is an over rated thing and only one person is going to win that item. Well, now that is out of the way....I entered the quilt block contest for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon. It is a very big thing in the summer. It attract a large group of people. The week before the Saturday show (always the second Saturday in July) there are classes and activities...quilters flock to Sisters to take part.
So, this year, I entered the quilt block contest...I paid $10 for the fabric to construct the blocks. It comes in two different colorways, so what the heck...get both=$20. I was surprised when I got the fabric...a legal size envelope...I opened the envelope and to my surprise both colorways were mailed in the same envelope...looking further, I noted that I had received a 10x10 inch piece of background fabric and four coordinating fabrics that measured 6x6 inches. Now, the next question was "I am suppose to make a 9.5x9.5 inch block out of these fabrics and it is due back by June 15, 2013. Well, I hung in on the design wall....this was going to take some thinking. I wavered back and forth between a conventional block or a whimsical block...I made up my mind and I changed my mind. When the time came, that I had to make a decision. So, I gathered my tools and my heatnbond and sat down to design a block. The first one..was probably the easiest, I had to spend more time thinking about the second block. A side note; I also decided to hang two of my own quilts in the show. It is just a fun thing...no prize expected. I was also working on one of those quilts. But, I digress-back to the blocks. So, I decided that my blocks had to fit the poster of the quilt. So, the first one had contained a tree and some fish. The second one was a bit more difficult. But, in the end, I got them both done and sent in by the deadline. Now, the waiting game. Some blocks, very few, were displayed on facebook...and I kept waiting. I went back to read about the quilt block challenge and found that they were not going to pick the winner until the week of the show activities and the Quilt Advisers (teachers for the classes) were going to make the finally decision. Now, there are only four spots to fill...The top block was the only block to take a money prize, but there are still three other spots.
Too my surprise, I got a phone call from Sisters, Oregon...I better take this one...I answered and the nice lady on the other end told me that my blue block, the one I had the most difficulty with had come in fourth place. WAIT! It did what...I was beyond excitement...for taking fourth place. I will get a ribbon and I will be awarded some of the other blocks to make a quilt...how great is that! It is not about the money or the ribbon...it is about having nationally know quilters/teachers pick MY block as one of four top blocks out of 167 entries. I just felt like they would probably call back and tell me that they made a mistake..but, they did not...I cannot wait to go to the Quilt Show this Saturday. I will be taking a number of photos of me with my displayed block...I CANNOT WAIT! I am picturing my blocks below. And, I will also put in a picture of the two quilts that I sent. I am still on cloud nine....



 





Thanks for reading!

 

 







 



 

 



Done!!

For the past month....seems like longer, I have been working on a quilt that I entered, on a whim, in the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. I could have just entered the one that was done and had been hanging in display. But, nooooo, I had to enter that one and the one I was working on...What was I thinking, or maybe, was I thinking. But, it is done and pictures were taken this morning, with the help of DH. He has a better concept of how to best hang for pictures. Without further fanfare, these are my two entries:

 

 

 



 

The front and the back. I have never done a pieced back before...I was really nervous that it would be straight and not all wonky. But, it really turned out just as I imagined it would. That is just a great feeling.

Oh, the other one that I am sending, I made years ago.

 

Well, that is how I have spent my last month...Now, into a shipping box, tomorrow and away. And I am on to my next project...Can't say, just yet...but, I am excited to get into this one! Pictures, soon!



Bibs, bibs....

Why am I making bibs? Well, the oldest daughter is involved in a large project. And, since she is so busy, she gave me the pattern that she developed for children's bibs. The catch was.....she need 6 bibs as soon as possible to fill an order. Yikes...I was and still am in the middle of a project that needs to be finished before the end of the month. So, I got thru the design stage for my project and started in on the bibs. The daughter, conveniently supplied the PUL..slippery, slimy stuff. A lot different that working with cotton. But, I am also working with cotton...So, I cut out one, these cannot be that difficult, right? It took me most of an afternoon! So, the next day, I made another....still took me longer than usual. I was spending 30 minutes on the binding and ANOTHER 30 minutes trying to get a pointed end to look "just right!" So, I did it that way again...before I said, enough is enough. I altered the pattern...no more points, flat ends..easier to put together and I can finish an entire bib, after the fabrics are cut, in less than 30 minutes. But, in the long out come...they are the cutest bibs. Easy to make, once I figured it out! And the colors and patterns are endless!

Now, back to the project that needs to meet a June 28th deadline! But they were so fun. Been a while since I have made a children's project!

Friday again. And it does not seem like I have finished enough projects this week. Stuck on a quilting issue. I hate to load something on the big machine, when I am not exactly sure what I am going to quilt on it. I have part of the pattern, but the other part is just evading me. It will come with time, but time is not what I have a lot of. Because I have to have this quilt done. Quilted and bound by the end of June...that means four weeks from today it will be ready to mail....
But today, I have to just look at the quilt...because I have some mending to do for a friend....and I have some bibs to make for another friend....and I have a wall hanging to design (already started) for another friend...so, that is my weekend.
The weatherman is finally forecasting the correct weather for the weekend. The garden is going to love it. I am really an Oregonian. I love the rain, the clouds, the temperatures..friends of mine think I am crazy (maybe I am), because I love the rain and the green so much. But, this weekend I am enjoying the sun, before it becomes too warm!
Hope that everyone has an enjoyable weekend!

Here I am....I got so caught up in the projects I have been working on that I have neglected to write any posts.
I have finally finished my appliqued tulip wall hanging. Even though it was a free pattern from the magazine, American Patchwork and Quilting, I could not leave it as they published it.

So, I added some more petals to the flowers. Replaced the word "flour" with some hearts...liking it a whole lot more, now. I goes to show, that just because it is a pattern, does not mean that you cannot add your own embellishments.

So, that is handles..will post pictures of the finished project at a later time. But, it is already finished.

Now, I am back working on the red woven quilt. I have decided this year, that I am going to enter a couple of quilts in the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. It is a big deal in Oregon. Check it out on their website. Anyways, I was already committed or maybe I should have been committed, because I entered their quilt block contest. I read all the rules, but was totally surprised when the fabric came. One 10"x10" main color block and 4, 6"x6" coordinating colors. What was I suppose to do with these small pieces of fabric? It was obvious that is was going to have to be something whimsical. I just had to decide....WHAT! I wavered between creating a block and applique...the applique won out. I had looked back to last years blocks and they were whimsical...so, go with majority. So, I have now finished those and got those sent in...



So, while I was working on those blocks....someone or something took control of my brain...because I decided that I could enter a quilt in the show. It is only a view type of hanging. Not, to be judged. And, oh heck, while I am in this frame of mind...I entered TWO. Great...what was I thinking...one is already done, but number two is not...and with other things that are floating in the brain, I can see the list is being shifted.

I am now heading back to the sewing room to work on finishing the backing for that second quilt. It is going to be the woven one at the top of this blog. But, as with comedies...this is one. Needed a backing fabric. figured out what the minimum would be for the length. To the fabric store, choose the most wonderful fabric to match the shade of red and the beige color background. Needed 4 yards, but at the very minimum 3.5 years. Found this great fabric...measure to cut....only 3 yards, 11 inches......NOOOOOO! It is the perfect fabric. So, I purchase the fabric and piecing some of the woven blocks into it...I dislike doing quilting the matches the front and not the back...but I am going to attempt to please myself...in my dreams. More needs to be said on this subject, but I need to sew. So, this subject will be finished at a later time or place or date....whatever... 



Grumpy, have not found the time to sew in two days....:(
Believe it or not, I do other things besides sew! But, in the mean time, I have to think about what I am going to use for the back of the wall hanging I am presently working on. I will post a picture. I am trying to decide how I am going to sew the applique down. Choices, choices and I still have not really decided...straight stitch or applique stitch....hmmmm. That is tomorrows desicions.

This is not my usual design. I really prefer to make my own designs, rather than work from a pattern. The leaves were a bit difficult to apply. I even took pictures when I thought I was finished. That way I can study it without having to be in the room staring at it.  And I did end up adding anothe leaf. It was an area that looked, empty.

Happy Mothers Day!. Yesterday, was also my Birthday. I have always been moody around my birthday....is that normal. Or, am I just resenting the idea that I have to share my birthday with Mothers Day? But, then I have to stop and think about all the MEN that have a birthday on Mothers Day...what fun is that? Okay, end of birthday rant.
What has been going on in the sewing room..or is that a studio? Another question with endless answers.
Right now, I am working an applique wall hanging (pictures to come later). This one is from a pattern and in my minds eye I did not see it as big as it is in reality. But, in the end, it will be lovely...I just have to make a few adjustments. I find it difficult to stick to the original pattern. I have to make it my own.
Spent some time in the sewing room trying to make the applique look okay, finally decided that following the pattern was just not working. So, remove the entire project and start from where I think we should start. Now for a short break to get the mind back in order....and back at it.

A few years ago....my oldest daughter bought me an oriental poppy plant for Mothers Day. I have failed to kill it and it seems to thrive in the pot that it resides. It is in the pot to keep the husband from mowing it off. He has no concept of flowers. That is another subject. But this flower is the most beautiful. Gives you ideas of art. I have taken quite a few pictures...because each one is different.
So, I will bore you with the beautiful pictures:

 

 

See what I mean...they are gorgeous!

 

 

 

 





 

So, today I will be deconstructing the border on the above quilt. Not to worry, I don't have to removed the entire border. I just have to take the corners apart for a modification.
The entire time that I have been adding the borders and finishing the mitered corners, it just was not going together as I pictured it should.
I needed a friend to visit and give me some ideas that she thought would be a good fix for those corners. The problem lies with the size of the strip pieces in the border. And, then I think, that is so simple, why did I not think of that....duh. I was making it more difficult than it actually should have been. Even the fixes I came up with, looked to difficult to achieve.
A lesson learned, have someone else look at your project, maybe they have a fresh idea that will work. Or, another thing that I have used it to take a picture of it. It gives another dimension to the project. If color value is an issue, sometimes a black and white picture is what you need to determine that issue.
So, I am onto the job of correcting an error "in my mind!"
Hope you have a good day Sewing, I will!

Today, as I write my first blog...I am wondering where will this all lead. Hopefully, to some place that will strike the imagination in someone. That sewing is not just straight lines and folds. 
Yesterday, I finished a quilt top. It was inspired by all of the Modern Quilters who I follow and they have been making the Scrappy Quilts or Sweet 16 blocks. I am not one to just follow a pattern that is so easy. My mind wants to know..."what would it look like this way" or "maybe this way." So, I am looking at the even rows with 2" squares or maybe 4" squares. So, what came to mind, was to change one of the dimensions. So, I pieced strips sets of 2" and 3." Then cut those strips sets into 2" increments (you will need 4 strips). Flip every other row and stitch back together. Just make sure they are matching seams in the center. And, this is the end product. Added a 2" border and a 2" chain of strip sets...another 3" border. Now, at sometime I need to get in on the longarm...but not today! Another project is calling and I need to respond.