The block is made up of 4 smaller blocks, 2 x 9 square blocks, made into snowballs, and 2 paper pieced blocks made up of 4 small individual blocks. Although I have foundation pieced before, and I am no expert, I have enjoyed it. And, I love English paper piecing my Liberty fabrics. This did however really fox me. I see from another bee's blog post, Cheryl, she struggled with it too. Tracey and Katie herself came to my rescue on ig. The problem was in the printing. I had printed the pages "to size" rather than at 100% so this means the templates are a smidgeon smaller. This explained why my finished 4 block came in at 1/4" smaller. Now, 1/4" is nothing really over 4 blocks but, when joined to the next block 1/4" is a helluva lot. In this case size is very important!
So, I had a solution, but I didn't really. My printer is a photographic printer and it wouldn't cooperate. Last week was so, so busy and I didn't get the chance to visit my local library to reprint. One reason why I shouldn't have left work! So, I tried to enlarge each square a tiny amount to keep to the finished 3.5" individual blocks. But, the points don't quite match. Like the ballerina, I tried and tried to get the points but this was the best I could manage Katie.
I hate to admit defeat.
Next month it is my turn to be Queen Bee. And for once in my life I'm organised. Practice square is sown and tutorial is written. Its fun, I hope. Bright, I hope. The excitement is mounting ....
As Katie had requested purple, I have included my favourite poem, "Warning" by Jenny Joseph.
Warning
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
4 comments:
Oh Helen -- the block is lovely and I do appreciate all your nearly maddening work. Several of my points do not line up either and being close on this is just as good when it comes to scrappy. I anticipate your block and I know it will be a wonderful addition to my husband's very purple quilt.
thank you Katie. Hopefully it will be with you very soon. I look forward to seeing the completed quilt.
This is a wonderful poem!!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
By the way, I also pieced the Wanna Fanta block for another Quilting Bee. My points also did not match up and having studied the other blocks the queen bee received, it appeared to be a common problem. I say don't worry about it, as the pattern hides these small problems in the repeat easily. =) Wonderfully graphic block by the way.
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