Playing Games in my Sewing Room

Step #1 was sewing small pieces to adding machine tape

 Quilting with no pattern, no real idea of what the finished quilt top will look like, is a lot like playing a game.   The biggest difference is that there are no rules!  I can make it up as I go and play as long as I want to.  One of the biggest advantages is that I don't even have to have anyone to play with.  I can play alone or with friends, it doesn't matter. The biggest hinderance is that one's mind goes faster than the project at hand. As soon as you are up to your hips in one idea, several others are chomping at the bit to get your attention.   

Trimming makes the magic happen!

Here I am adding the "Shoots" to the "ladder"  Looks like Butterfly wings!

Again....the Magic of trimming!

My "game" at hand is "Shoots and Ladders" and I am having a ball making the blocks.  Initially I thought I would make the top totally of Shoots and Ladder blocks, but it is sort of crazy busy, so now I'm playing with alternate blocks of two different colored solids made using thrift store cotton sheets.  I checked out images of the real Chutes and Ladders game board and you can find it in many alternate colors, yellow and white, blue and white, even green and white.  Since I don't have yellow (yet), I may go for green...blue seems too predictable.

The totally cool benefits of a design board.   It makes it so easy to play the game and change the rules!

Tips for beginners:  

1.The sky is the limit for quilting!  Don't be afraid...a seam ripper is a quilters priority tool and there is no shame in using it! 

2.  Squaring up is vital.  It should be done frequently.  Square up each block to the desired size and then be sure to square up anything you add to it.   If your sections or pieces are not the proper size or straight on the edges, they will not fit well.  If you are going to only have one square quilter's ruler, choose 12.5"  

3.When setting rows of blocks together, I have found it much easier to set four blocks together in a four patch and then put those patches together. Fewer long, long seams. Working with larger sections makes it all line up easier than trying to put long rows together...  See the photo below.  You can see the four blocks sewn together in a 4 patch.  At this point I will square each of these to a uniform size, which should be 15.5" each.    Note:  I have an uneven amount of rows in this little top (5) so the bottom row is pieced with only blocks together instead of 4.  I will add a 2 patch to the four patch above it once all are squared up.