OCTober LOTTO Block - Birds in the Air - Winner's Received Blocks - Closed :) :) :)

[Marilynsgrammy]

I was going to join this and enter my elf for the secret Santa swap but with all the emphasis on perfect points I had best bow out...

I bet this will be a beautiful quilt when it's put together....

[QuiltGram8]

I clearly do not understand this "block party" thing. If you sign up, you make four of the designated pattern, in the colors suggested, send them in (to what address?) along with a $2.00 fee for postage, etc. Then what?
Are the blocks judged? Is it a block exchange? Or are you just sending them in as a donation for something?

The rules and expectations are not clear. I guess I will just have to read and watch what it happening here. Not sure what the game plan is.
Velda
(just a newbie who is confused )

[gramajojo]

Velda, first of all WELCOME! Don't be concerned as I was confused at first also. This is a block lotto. You make multiples of 2 of the block that Teresa picks. This month, it is best that you make 4. Then you send them to Teresa with $2.00. At the end of the month, she figures out how many blocks she has and divides them up into a nice sized quilt. Some months there are only 2 winners, and I remember one month we had 5 winners (must have been a super easy block). When you send in your blocks, Teresa puts a "ticket" in the "hat" for each item that you have accomplished -
if you tell Teresa that you are in before the 1st of the October you will gt a ticket, for each set of 4 blocks that you send, you will gt a ticket, if you send you blocks so Teresa gets them by the 30th, you get a ticket - I think you get the picture

After she divides up the blocks, she sraws the appropriate number of tickets out of the hat and those are the ladies who win the blocks for that month.

It really is a lot of fun. I have won several times and I usually put the quilt together and then donate it to Toys for Tots to raffle off in November.

Please join, the more the merrier.

If you have any other questions, just ask, the ladies here don't bite and are very, very, VERY helpful

Jo

Teresa, did I get it right?>

[TeresaK]

Sorry Pals - Took a spur of the moment mini vacation with DH and just got back.
THANKS JO - You nailed it pretty well!!!!

PERFECTION is NOT NEEDED and never will be but it is FUN to practice and see how close we can get knowing that only THE ONE will be perfect and that is when I reach Heaven.
Chriss I hope you will consider it again. I am in no way a perfectionist and I apologize if that is what you think I was asking for. All I ask is that come as close as you can. I think we all agree on this. This is the fun part of the Lotto. Being able to practice a new block, a new technique, an old technique and be able to win a whole quilt. Pretty much ... make a block that you would love in your quilt and send it in. Nothing major. Just practice and FUN!!!

Velda ... WELCOME!!! My apologise for not being clearer. Most months you would be making a 12.5" block and sending them to me. It is your choice to make as many as you would like in denominations of 2 to win tickets for. THEY ARE NOT JUDGED

This month because of the way the quilt is laid out I thought it would be easier for you to NOT sew them together to make the usual 12.5" block. Easier to send them in (sets of 4) smaller 6.5" blocks = one 12.5" block = 1 ticket.

Most Pals send 2-4 blocks so this month you would be mailing in 2 or 4 sets of 4 smaller blocks or more if you would like. The winners would have more flexibility to place them where they would want them in their quilt. The more blocks you send the more tickets you get the more chances to win!!!

Always feel free to ask questions. They are welcome!!! I will PM you my address with hopes that you join us this month.

[maryq]

So....

I made a couple practice blocks today....

Here's what I did.

made HST's out of 3" squares
cut 3" in 1/2 on diagonal
cut a 10" square in 4ths on diagonal

laid them the out like a puzzle and put them together.... BUT for some reason, and I could be off on measurements... the triangle peices when sewn together don't seem to match up correctly with the bottom diagonal pieces.

So if any of you have made these and can help me out, I'd appreciate it. AND when each smaller block is done, what should it measure? Mine are measuring about 7" square untrimmed... but if I try to square them up to 6.5" I lose some of points.

I'll post a picture tomorrow of what I've tried so far. If anybody else has one done that you can post a picture of... that would be great. Can't figure out what I am doing wrong.

Thanks
Mary

[gramajojo]

Ack, Ack, Ack. I used the underground railroad book and did practice blocks. Practice is putting it nicely. The top part just barely squared up to whatever it said in the book (it is downstairs and I am now upstairs). Then when I put the "nest" part on, it just didn't seem to line up right. I did use a 1/4" seam (I measured some of them) so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I cut more to try again and I will try to post pictures either tomorrow or monday and y'all can tell me if they are up to snuff enough to send in.

Between this block and the last block of the treasure chest mystery on facebook, I believe I will be totally gray by the end of the month

Just wanted everyone to know that they aren't the only ones having "issues" with the block. Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully a new look on the blocks.

Jo

[TeresaK]

Mary and Jo -
Now you know why I started early to give you some practice time. After making mine I see some things that might help ...

* HST's are squared up to 2.5" making sure the diagonal line is on the center seam?
* I gave myself a bit of breathing room by sewing 2.5" squares to the ends of the HST's rows instead of triangles to make sure I got the 1/4" seam before adding the large Triangle to make the block.
* I also made the Large Triangle 1/8" larger to make sure it would square up.
After making mine ... my blocks squared up to 6.5"

I dearly love Eleanor's directions but felt I had more control using the other directions which just means I need more practice

Let me know how it goes ;

[gershwin64]

Teresa, Thanks for the picture ) I'm a visual person and that really helps me a lot! What I was getting out of the instructions and your picture .......... well let's just say they weren't even close ;o) Now I can "see" so maybe now I can put 2 and 2 together LOL
Tina

[zfatcat]

Pretty blocks Teresa. I have those same fabrics.

I pulled some different fabrics last night. I will make some blocks up on my days off.

[Oasis]

Beautiful blocks/fabric Teresa!!!

Here are 2 sets, I'll probably make another set later after a trip to the fabric store!

I followed Tereas's instructions and it went together nicely. Except:

1.) I cut the "basket" at 7 inches.

2.) The 3 triangles that connect diagonally to the "birds" and the basket I cut at a generous 3 inches then in half (Like Mary's). This way I had plenty of "tail" (like El shows) to help keep the 1/4 inch all around to keep the points sharp. You will see better when you are actually doing it.

3.) The "Birds" are cut to 2 1/2 like Tereas's.

If you sew with "scant" 1/4 seams, then the edge after the points are also going to be scant 1/4 inches. Cut the fabric 1/8 larger and sew your full 1/4 inch seams and the edges will give you the 1/4 inch needed to sew them together properly.


[/img]