Maggie’s First Dance BOM, Block 4

Happy Labor Day everyone! I hope you have had a good weekend so far. For those on the east coast, I hope you haven’t suffered too much damage from the storm. If it’s rainy where you are, it’s a good time to make Maggie’s First Dance, Block 4 by Jacquelynne Steves. This month’s prize is being sponsored by Deannne of Snuggles Quilts.

She is also a guest blogger this month and I’ve added her to the blog hop list. Read to the end to find out how you can win these great quilt patterns. Now for Block 4…

This is my embroidered version.  The fabrics are Bright Sun by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life. As I have done with the other blocks, I’ve added a little extra to the embroidery based on Jacquelynne’s note cards.

The main parts of the design are worked with 3 strands of DMC floss, the running stitch in the flower is done with 2 strands and I used 3 strands for the satin stitch inside the leaves. Now that the blocks are finished, I can color the cards and use them.

Notice the darker blue in Block 4. (Sorry for the tiny threads. I didn’t notice them until the pictures were on the computer).

When  I looked at the other 3 blocks, I thought they were all very close in value and I needed to add something darker. However, when I put this block with the others, I thought it stood out too much.

I had already made one of the setting blocks so I could see how the fabrics in that block were going to fit with the others. I looked at them on my design wall for a few days.  There was something about the combination that I didn’t like. I am using the blue dot in Block 2 in the setting blocks. The problem was that the blues were all the same value and the one in Block 4 was so much darker. I decided to make a change. Not to Block 4, but to Block 2.

I carefully removed the seams around the blue triangle, cut a piece of the new fabric the same size, then sewed it back onto the taupe piece.

Much better, just enough darker to make a difference.

Here they are all together. I am much happier with the new combination. I guess my point is, if you’re not happy with something, then change it. I would hate to spend all the time required to make and quilt something, then 2 years later wish I had changed it every time I looked at it.

Now for the appliqued version.

As you can see in the applique, I changed the combination of colors a little. Instead of the red/white print in the flower, I used the grey. I changed the leaves, too.

I think I’ve changed the applique color placement in all of them. The combination of fabrics Jacquelynne chose are beautiful. I just need to be a little different, make it my own, which is okay. Speaking of the fabrics, they are Hometown Girl by Pat Sloan for Moda. A few weeks ago, I was fortunate to meet Pat and do a workshop with her. You can read about it here. She is an awesome lady and has accomplished so much in her quilting career.

Now, to win this month’s prize…

…leave a comment and tell me what size quilts you like to make. Do you like to make full size and larger, lap quilts, baby quilts, wall quilts, minis? You get the idea. I’ve really gotten into making minis. I also like to make lap size for us to snuggle under in the winter. The contest is open to all readers; US and international. You have until 11:59 on September 11 to leave a comment.

Make sure you visit all the other bloggers and leave a comment for your chance to win and see all the creative goodness that is going on with Maggie’s fourth block.

http://www.snugglesquilts.com/index.php/blog/

http://greydogwoodstudio.com

https://farmhousequiltsblog.wordpress.com

http://thecraftyquilter.com

http://www.evapaigequiltdesigns.blogspot.com

http://gogokim.blogspot.com

http://lilypadquilting.blogspot.com

https://thequiltingnook.wordpress.com  (That’s me)

It’s always so interesting to see how everyone completes their blocks, so be sure to share your completed blocks at the following places:

• Jacqulynne’s Linky Page
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Instagram #MaggieQuilt

Just one more thing. As I’ve said above, I enjoy making minis. Sherri McConnell at A Quilting Life hosts a monthly Minis and More Parade. She is trying to up the participation so this month’s mini is a  Scrappy Fall Place Mat. She designed it and we are using it for September’s mini. Sherri has a free tutorial for it here. I plan on making mine into a table topper. I hope some of you will decide to join us this month.

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy making Block 4.

Brenda