Checking in on MCQBOM2016

In 2016 I made my first Mad Cat Quilts BOM. I chose blocks each month that I had never sewn before. I wasn't sure how I was going to lay them all out in the end. I decided to echo the geometric theme of the fabric but creating a simple grid with a dark sashing. 

I actually started sashing the blocks before I even finished the last block in December. But then I let it sit for a while. I added it to my first quarter FAL, but it still sat. 

This week, I gathered all the wrinkly parts and started finishing sashing the blocks. Elvis helped me, but he got a bit bored. He here is caught mid yawn: 

So, now MCQBOM2016 is getting closer to being a quilt top!! The blocks were all a bit different in size so I added some extra of the grey here and there. It's pretty wonky, but I'm really happy with it!

These are not the best photos, the fabric is wrinkly and not laid out flat, cats are everywhere! But that's how I work so I think it's worth seeing in it's true in progress shape! 

I also added this quilt to my Q2FAL list, so I'm happy to be making some headway on it. Now I'm on a bit of a roll. I'll post more soon! Today I'm linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday, BOMs Away at What a Hoot, and more!

New Block: Plus Squared - Last MCQBOM of 2016!!

I found this block while browsing The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts. She credits it as coming from Quilty Love. I thought this would be a neat block to finish my MadCatQuiltsBOM for 2016. It showcases a lot of the fabrics I've used throughout. 

This block came together quickly and easily and I would definitely make it again. I like how it turned out!! I forgot to get a group pic of this block with it's 11 cousins before I started sashing the others. I was just so excited to get moving!! I will be posting a MCQBOM2016 post wrapping up the blocks, and showing what I'm doing next, soon. And be on the look out for Mad Cat Quilts 2017 Block Of the Month! I'm working on the blocks and intro post for that as well. 

Which BOMs is everyone joining for 2017?

New Block: Inspiration from Instagram

I saw this block on Johanna Weider's instagram. I liked this block, which Johanna quadrupled on her post. She has a ton of great work. My block is not quite the same. 

This was a fun block to make, and makes a good addition to my MadCatQuiltsBOM. I'm excited that this is the 11th block! I'm running out of space to take the group picture, 

New Block: Economy Block Variation

Many of the goals I had for October were finished, but not all of them were recorded in a timely fashion. I got my MadCatBOM done early on in the month but never found the time to photograph and blog it. Well, here it is. 
For October's block, I modified a block I saw on Cluck Cluck Sew and now can't find. It seems like an economy block variation. I made it quite a bit large, so I plan on cutting off the corners in the finished quilt.  

I made it quite a bit large, so I plan on cutting off the corners in the finished quilt.  

Linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching. 

New Block: Railroad Spike

For my September MadCatQuiltsBOM I modified a block I saw on CrazyMomQuilts. She uses it as part of her crossed canoe quilt, but mine came out a little more like a railroad spike.  

In these blocks I'm trying to bring in the colors and fabrics that I have chosen for this project. In the last few block, I am seeing where I need balance and contrast. I will try to incorporate these ideas as I go into the final stretch of the MCQBOM. 

Linking up with Kathy's Quilts and Slow Sunday Stitching. 

New Block: Wrench Variation

I found this block on instagram (@kerenlewistextiles) and got a screen grab so I could try it out. When I was looking for my August MadcatquiltsBOM I happened back upon it. I'm not sure if this block has an actual name but it seems like a wrench block variation to me. 

This block was quick and easy to put together. A perfect block for one behind in their BOMs. 

New Block: Equilateral (Sorta) Triangles

Here is my MadCatQuiltsBOM from way back in July. I started it that month but Summer's been rough and I just got around to finishing it recently. I have seen a lot of great equilateral triangle quilts but never attempted this block before. 

This is another block that is made tougher by using my no-measure technique. The triangles were definitely not equal, but they came out pretty interesting. 

I'm linking up with Kathy and Slow Stitching Sunday as well as Moving it Forward Monday over at Em's Scrapbag. 

New Block: Failed Star

Here we are six months into my MadCatQuiltsBOM! How did we get here so fast!? I've had such a great time coming up with new blocks to make and pushing myself to try new things!
For June I'd chosen a star block using diamond shapes I'd glimpsed. It was an 8 point star, similar to a Sawtooth Star.    

My inspiration came from Pomegranate and Chintz, but I can remember what post...

Here's where my no measuring, no rulers method kinda falls down. I cut out eight diamonds in what I thought looked like a good approximation of what I needed and started sewing them together. And immediately hit some problems. No points, bunching, ugh. I decided to take two of the points out and try again.... But that made the sewing of the background awkward at best. I ended up making it way bigger to compensate. 

So, although this block got a little out of hand, I'm keeping it in the BOM. It was a great learning experience, for sure. I hope to try diamond shapes again... but not too soon.  

New Block: Diagonal

MadCatBOM May! I went back to Blossom Hearts Quilts HST Sampler for my May block. I like the geometric aspects of many of the blocks there. Diagonal shows this off well!

This block had a bunch of HSTs but it came together really quickly. I tried to add some different and bright colors into this one. But I wanted to make sure it still worked with the rest of the blocks. 

I'm linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching. 

New Block: Drunkard's Path

I knew I would eventually try the drunkard's path block during the MadCatBOM. But what an intimidating block!! I bet a lot of quilters feel that way! Curves!! How nerve-wracking. But guess what? This block was awesome to make. 

I looked at a few tutorials for this block, but in the end I really didn't use one. I just winged it! I tried to bring in some brighter and new colors with this block. I'm hoping to add more and pull it all together at the end. 

As you know, I don't measure my fabric, I free hand measure and cut all my work. I found this worked well for the curves in this block, but the block itself came out quite a bit smaller than my other blocks for the BOM. So I might add a boarder later. 

You can find the rest of the MadCatBOM blocks here. I'm linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching today. Are you?

New Block: Basket Weave

For March, I really couldn't decide what block to do for the MadCatBOM. I scoured my books, and decided that this variation of a basket weave would do nicely. 

This block came together very quickly. I've done a few blocks that were similar, but never quite this one. I could see using this block in some ways in the future. 

I've been trying to build a bit of a theme with the fabrics, but the bits I have of them is already dwindling. I'll try to incorporate some more of my stash in the blocks going forward. Here's what all my blocks look like together:

I'm not sure what I'll do with these blocks when I'm done with all twelve. But for now, I'm linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching. 

New Block: Snowball

I feel I'm doing well enough with my goal of a block a month in 2016 to call it a BOM. How exciting! I know I'm only 2 months in but I feel confident! I used this tutorial to make my first Snowball Blocks.  

Actually, I made four of them! Since I don't measure, they all came out slightly different. I like the effect for this larger block, but I think I have the hang of making them a bit more uniform in the future.  These are made with fabric from my stash, so I'm counting this post as part of my Year Of The Stash. My fabric count hasn't changed much since my last post on it. 

Fabric Added in February So Far: 0
Fabric Added Year to Date: 5 1/2 yards
Fabric Used this Month So Far: approximately 1/4 yard
Fabric Used year to Date: Approx. 3 1/4 yards

I've been tempted a few times to look and possibly buy on line, but I'm fighting those urges! Since I'm working hard to finish some well started quilts, I haven't had the chance to use too much stash up, but I hope this will change soon. 

Here are the two blocks from my personal BOM side by side. I'm trying to use a bit of a theme in the fabrics. We'll see how that works as the blocks add up. 

I'm also linking up with Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. 

New Block: Candy, a Shoofly Variation

I might have made a shoofly block before, I cant recall. But when I saw Luna Lovequilts version of this Candy shoofly variation I decided I needed to try it.  

I checked out Blossom Heart Quilts for the Modern HST QAL that this block came from and it looks interesting. I don't think I'm going to join, but I will definitely keep my eye on the QAL for block inspiration!
I used all fabric from my stash for this block. This was all new geometric patterned fabric that I got for xmas. I'm counting this as a post for Year of the Stash.
Here's some stats for my buying and usage so far:
Fabric Added in January So Far: 5 1/2 yards (I bought 4 yards for a backing and borders of a quilt I'm working on, and then some bits and bobs I thought were nice!)
Fabric Added Year to Date: 5 1/2 yards
Fabric Used this Month So Far: approximately 3 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: Approx. 3 yards

I'm also linking this hand sewn block up with Kathy's Quilts and Slow Sunday Stitching.