Circling Back Around -

There are some projects that just don't work well with Leaders & Enders for me.

Any paper piecing project where the seams are short and in the center of the paper template make it really hard to chain anything without a complete and utter waste of thread (and time) so Leaders & Enders take a back seat there.

That also applies to things like string piecing where I can use the units themselves as Leaders & Enders and just work on two blocks at a time - one engine, one caboose - trimming my work off from behind the presser foot. I complete two blocks, and when one is done (or both) just pull in a new foundation and start on the next ones.

When I piece on paper the stitch length is set smaller, and I just don't like to work on a second Leader & Ender project at that point.

But now that big blue Stardust is done - I can circle back around, take stock and get back to this year's Leader & Ender project: Four Patch Fun.

This is my bin of kitted up pieces.

I've made pretty good progress on the pink/neutral blocks.  I'll start working on the gold/neutral ones when the pinks are done.

But now that I am back to "regular" piecing and a normal stitch length, I can start making some progress again on these.

That's the beauty of Leader & Ender proects - they work for you when they work for you. There is no guilt if you have to set them aside for a while when your piecing techniques change.

And as always - I smile when I see what you are making with these easy Four Patch Fun blocks.  So quick and  satisfying!  I've seen many quilt finishes already. It's only been 2 months since we started this year-long challenge.

For me - it takes me a bit longer to get to top status, but it's not a race, right?

I only had a couple of hours of sewing time yesterday - Jeff and I spent the morning going through all of the retreat stuff.

He passed the towel basket rolling and folding with flying colors. We went through ALL the things.

My retreaters will be in good hands and can expect a lovely clean and organized and ready for them environment while I am away.

The fun fabric choices that make me smile are at it again!

And Four Patch Fun blocks are playing their role as Leaders &Enders to hold myj place under the presser foot while I go, press, trim, come back and start putting main block pieces through again.

Sometimes I can't help double dipping with the Leader & Ender pieces!

The Kiwi fabric reminds me of our trip to New Zealand.  Seeing the Kiwis growing on vines on our train ride was fantastic.  I'll never look at a Kiwi the same again.

And yes, there is a cat in my neutral!

In my couple of hours of sewing time I was able to accomplish 3 X-Plus blocks from my Addicted to Scraps column in the January/February 2023 issue of Quiltmaker Magazine. (thanks to those who helped me date it!)

And three more pink/neutral Four Patch Fun blocks to add to the pink pile.

There seams to be a cat theme happening here!

Ivy approves!

There was also an opportunity to capture this as I happened to have my phone on me while walking the side porch at the inn:

Click to Play:

Shaky little video but this little lady was standing in the trees off the side porch.

 
She looked at me for a few seconds and decided it was better to head on over the fence.

 
I love how she steps so daintily!

I'll get more time to work on my blocks today - going for as much variety of everything that I can pull together.

Some days there isn't much time for sewing progress - and that's okay.

We do what we can in between all of the other must-do's that fill up our days.

What will you do wtih your Friday today?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

I think I am one of these people!

I also think we recognize each other when we see each other! Lol!

Have an awesome Friday, everyone -