Friday, February 26, 2016

Me and my big mouth

Way back in January, when we were all still finalizing our RSC choices for the year, I saw some boat blocks on Angie's blog and asked jokingly if she was going to make a Rainbow Regatta.  (She wasn't - she had just shown the blocks because they were blue, and that fit with January's RSC color.)
But that Rainbow Regatta stuck in my head, right in that little part of my brain way in the back that starts getting itchy when I have some new idea to chase.
The more I tried to ignore it, the more it itched.
I remembered a little bitty boat block that I had seen on the Quiltmaker site last summer.
If I just made one little bitty boat, I couldn't get into too much trouble, right?


But the block as written was made with flippy corners, and with a block this small (3" finished - you know, my favorite size), the waste generated by that method was almost as much fabric as what ended up in the block itself.  With a bigger block, there are bonus triangles to make, but that's not really possible here.
So I fiddled with the pattern to make it with regular triangles and piecework.
Which means I had to make several more boats as I experimented.


And then, since I had a bunch of blue ones, I figured I might as well make some brown ones, too.


So, apparently, I'm the one who is now making a Rainbow Regatta.


You'll notice that the wind shifted at some point while making the brown ones.  Or maybe those bitty little sailors just know how to tack...


And in other 3" block news, I got some more 365 Challenge blocks done.


Those are for the 13th-18th of February, and I've got notes written up for the next blocks.  I'm saving each day's pattern, so worst case scenario is that my 365 Challenge will turn into a multi-365 Challenge as the years drag on...

And here's my other 365 quilt - the Quilty 365.  I've got the bottom row attached, and the blocks headed up the right side.  I've finished those since this picture was taken on the 23rd, and have kept up with making the new blocks, so the next picture I post will show progress in a row across the top going right to left.


I was going to crop my feet out of the picture, but I showed my knees in that photo the other day, and my feet have now demanded equal time.  Given how slippery the terrain is these days, I want to stay on the good side of my feet, so I'll humor them.



Linking to So Scrappy's ScrapHappy Saturday.  Come join the fun!



27 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

The sail boats are perfect for a rainbow project.

Linda said...

Lol I love reading your posts - they make me laugh out loud! Now if you could just get those piglets to board the boats...

Mystic Quilter said...

I think you must be a glutton for punishment - small sailboats! Your Quilty is look good and coming along quickly.

Cathy said...

Oh, those itty bitty sail boats are so cute. I might just have to jump on board too since I might be close to enough 3 inch spools after all these years for a big quilt and I'll need a replacement.

Surprisingly I've been keeping up with my Quilty 365 project too. It might be a bit difficult this summer when the gardens beckon.

Vic in NH said...

Such block-making fun on all forays! The quilty 365 is really developing into an intriguing retro look. Is that just me? It is so happy and carefree!

Wanderingcatstudio said...

those boats are almost as cute as the piggies.

Chantal said...

Are you suffering from recurrence startitis my dear? I am so happy for you cause those boats are too cute to stay in your head, lol. Now, the question is: who is sailing these boats, the monkeys or the pigs? Or do you have something else up your sleeve? lol. ;^)

cityquilter grace said...

nice little boats and glad to see you are the captain of your own ship! LOL....i am trying to stay current with 365 and not get too far adrift...if you get my meaning...have 1 block to make and will be current...

Sally Trude said...

You are too much. And unless you have a monkey and a piglet in your sailboat, you may be making owls and pussycats.

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

I am so happy to hear I am not the only one that can't resist starting something new no matter how many other projects surround the sewing machine. Love the tiny sailboats!

Kristi said...

I love the rainbow regatta!

Jennie in GA said...

Cutest little sailboats ever....but where are the piglets????? Must be blind, Ibdon't see your feet.

SandraC said...

Lots of great progress!...so glad I'm not the only one with many "starts" this year!

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Love the boat - it does look like it would be fun to make. When I saw the first one, I decided not to suggest that it was one of those blocks where you couldn't make just one, but apparently you knew that. They are all so cute!

Good call to let your feet get equal playing time. I didn't notice them in the picture until you pointed them out.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

I enjoyed reading your post this morning! My favourite this week is your Quilty 365 - lovin' those orange peel blocks, very scrappy and vintage-y looking!

Kathy's A Quilter said...

rainbow regatta...and I love how the wind has shifted. Thank you for a very entertaining post.

Turid said...

Lovely sailboats. Great project for RSC.

PaulaB quilts said...

You will have a very fine Rainbow Regatta with enough room for all your piggies. The owl and the pussycat must have a pea green boat, of course.

Anonymous said...

Love the rainbow regatta! Three inch blocks are fun--I can see where there wouldn't be much left after a seam on the potential bonus triangles. An image occurred to me as I looked at your blocks: various sized blocks so there would be some perspective--some boats being a bit behind, maybe in doldrums.

Nell's Quilts said...

Hmm! A rainbow fleet - cute. Enjoy the sailing adventure. Wonder how often the winds will shift.

Angie said...

Rainbow Regatta - you go, girl!!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I love your tiny sailboats! What a fun idea! Your orange peels for Quilty 365 are fun to see, too. I am also making orange peels, but haven't started sewing the blocks together yet. Maybe I should, otherwise there will be an awful lot of that in my future!

Cathy said...

I love reading your posts! Those sailboats are so cute. Of course the little tiny sailors know how to tack. That is, If they're worth their salt (hehe). And your Quilty project(s) are coming along nicely. Sounds like you're organized and sticking with the plan.

Peggyinno said...

WHAT! No piglets today! I wanted to see piglets!! Your sailboats are cute, just not as cute as the piglets!!

Lisa said...

Such itty bitty cuteness. I love that the sailors learned to tack, it seems more natural that way.

Debra said...

What a great idea. Love the sailboats. Your orange peels are inspiring me to get back to mine! LOL

Magpie Sue said...

Okay first of all, you are insane. Three inch blocks? Really? 365 of them? I realize you're not alone in this, not even the instigator, but honestly woman, have you *no* self control?

[I wish you could have seen my face as I read this post. You'd be laughing as hard as I am.]

So maybe i'll put a regatta of rainbow boats between my orange Ohio stars... Or start yet another set of blocks that will be ALL YOUR FAULT!