Great choice! I'm in for 2.

Kate

I am so tickled you are doing this one, as I love it.....and always wanted to try it. These should end up pretty dramatic with your fabric choices. I intend to submit three, so put me down now. I may come back whining and pleading to be cut back, LOL. But I'm giving it a shot.

hello
I was interested in doing this but had a few questions.

dose one person get all the blocks?

and when do you want them sent in by?

I would probubly say I will do 1 or 2 since I have not done this one before, do you need to know how many right away?

thanks
michelle

1. Solstice98- 2
2. Calliope- 3
3. Micyrey- 1-2
4. Woodenzoo- 1

Michelle, I went ahead and put you down 'cause we'd love to have you join us! But if you find you do not want to, I can remove your name.
To answer your questions, yes, one winner takes all.
All blocks must arrive by Jan. 31st.
And no, we don't have to know for sure how many you are in for.
But please do let us know if you are in or not. I need to send you my address if you are in and aside from that, we just like to see how many members sign up and the approximate # of blocks one could win. ;)

Calliope, I couldn't decide if I wanted bold and black or pastels and white! (Or pastels and black or bold and white! LOL Decisions, decisions!)
Cathy

Okay - I am goint to try this one. I will say one and see how it turns out.....

Marie

1. Solstice98- 2
2. Calliope- 3
3. Micyrey- 1-2
4. Woodenzoo- 1 (Here)
5. Wynative- 1

I guess I had the advantage this month. I've got mine complete and ready to go.
Cathy

hello all
I'm gonna try and do my blocks this week, I'll let you know how it goes. but don't worry I will get in at least 1, this sounds like so much fun.
michelle

Cathy,
Can you post a picture of the one you've completed? It might be inspiration for the rest of us!
Kate

1. Solstice98- 2
2. Calliope- 3
3. Micyrey- 1-2
4. Woodenzoo- 1 (Here)
5. Wynative- 1

Michelle, sending you an e-mail!

Kate, good suggestion!
Here you go...

Cathy,

Wow! that is sooo pretty! Mine are cut and ready to put together but my DH's dog (that 'D' doesn't stand for darling) ate my last 2 spools of quilting thread!! so I am waiting for my sister to bring more home more from Joann's and it is on sale :)

Marie

Cathy, I SWORE that I was NOT going to do another lotto until I finished some of the stuff I already have - then you go and pick one of my favorite blocks! I can't win - that wouldn't be fair ... but I will do 2 blocks! I love blacks & brights!
Sue

1. Solstice98- 2
2. Calliope- 3
3. Micyrey- 1-2
4. Woodenzoo- 1
5. Polardream- 2

Marie, I know that the dog isn't so 'dear' to you atm, but I hope he didn't really 'eat' the thread! LOL I am so paranoid about my dogs and especially the cat getting a hold of my threads and causing serious problems with their digestive systems. Hope the dog is ok and you have forgiven him!
Sue, I know what you mean! I'm preparing to sell my house and clearing things out for a storage unit and trying to get down to only one rolling storage bin of fabrics to keep in the house. I've got fabric cut for several projects and for Feb and Mar.'s lotto blocks and now I'm thinking of April's that I want to cut now also. So I hope no more new projects come up because once the 'extra' bins of fabric are in storage, I hope that I don't just go out and buy more since it may be easier than digging it out of storage! ;)
Cathy

Are we trying to stick to the primary colors or will any brights do?

Any bright or bold colors will do.
Cathy

Cathy,

I am sorry but please remove me from this month's lotto :( On Saturday I sewed, riped, sewed, riped, sewed and riped for almost 5 hours on my block. I threw that mess away and moved on to a couple birthday blocks - they turned out great :) Sunday.... recut, sew, rip, sew, rip and the end results were AWFUL still!! I will not lay flat and nothing will line up.... I took a picture but am to embarassed to share it.

From now on I will make the block and if it turn's out I will enter. Sorry about this.

Good luck ladies LOL
Marie

Marie, don't feel bad! Sewing along the diagonal is hard because the fabric stretches. This would be easier if you were making lots of blocks because you could sew two at once, then make the diagonal cut. That helps to control the distortion.

Marie, so sorry you had so much trouble with this block. Don't feel bad, it's not the easiest block around.
I paper pieced my block and I think that helped a little with keeping the fabric from stretching too much.
Solstice is right, making two HST's out of one square makes it a lot easier too, but I can't remember the formula to get the desired sized HST's...
I think you will like the blocks for the next couple of months though, so I hope to see you back in the game for them. I'm sure you will have much better luck with them.
Cathy

I would love to join in but i live in the U.K. - is it possible - it is one of my favorite blocks. Please let me know

hello
sorry you are having trouble marie, I worked on mine last week and the 1st one came out at only 10 inches not the
10 1/2 required
so I moved my needle over and the 2nd came out ok, but I did have to rip out a few times.
so you can put me down for sending 1
I'll get it off to you next week

thanks
michelle

For those having trouble with the diagonal stretching while sewing: try using a little spray starch on your fabric when you iron it before you cut it out. It will stabilize it just enough and help the pieces stick together a little while stitching. (An old trick from an old quilter!)

Kate

1. Solstice98- 2
2. Calliope- 3
3. Micyrey- 1
4. Woodenzoo- 1 (Here)
5. Polardream- 2

Annabelle, please send me an e-mail. I think we can add you to the list...
Kate, thanks for the tip on the starch. Hadn't even given it a thought...
Cathy

Starch? - ooooh this is a great idea :)

making two HST's out of one square? - not sure what HST stands for but I think I will try this if it is where you sew 2 squares together then cut them apart. I am sure it wont come out as 10 1/2" but this is driving me crazy and I am going to try again just for me own peace of mind LOL

I am looking forward to the future months :)
Marie
PS
The dog is a garbage gut and she is fine.

Here's the instructions for HST - half square triangles. You have to cut two squares (one of each color) a little larger than the finished square - add 7/8" to the finished size of the square. Put the squares right sides together and draw a line from corner to corner on one side. Sew 1/4" on either side of that line. Then you cut on the line. Presto! You have 2 lovely square made! And you didn't have to deal with the stretchy diagonal.
Cool, huh?

See the attached link for a much better description than I just gave you and pictures too.

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: easy half square triangles

I made a couple of these blocks last night and have to admit that I messed up the first one. A little seam ripping and it all worked out OK though. That's what I get for not reading the directions! Once I paid attention to how the triangles went together, the second block went pretty fast.

I did use some spray starch and I'm sure that helped.

It was fun to try something new and I think this is going to make a truly cute quilt.

Kate

1. Solstice98- 2
2. Calliope- 3
3. Micyrey- 1
4. Woodenzoo- 1 (Here)
5. Polardream- 2
6. Annabelle1941- ?

Updated the list.

Thanks Kate! 7/8th's was what I thought, but since I wasn't sure...
Cathy

thanks for letting me join in. i cut my fabric yesterday and what i do is lay it all out on an old pillow case to see if it all fits, have had a few problems, but think i am now there and ready to sew. So put me down for one - if i get inspired i may do another one. Hopefully will go in the post on Monday. Have fun.

Done! I'll be putting 3 (not 2) in the mail to you on Monday.

Annabelle, welcome to the lotto! I'm so glad you joined in and I think you'll enjoy working on this one. I like your idea of laying it all out before you start sewing. I do that too, but sometimes get confused between the table and the sewing machine. I really need to pin more often so I sew the right seam! LOL

Kate

1. Solstice98- 3
2. Calliope- 3
3. Micyrey- 1
4. Woodenzoo- 1 (Here)
5. Polardream- 2
6. Annabelle1941- 1

I hope the only problem has been with the half square triangles (HST) stretching and not the instructions or my color changes. Though, when I paper pieced this, I had to write the color by each number to keep it straight, so I can only imagine how difficult it may be to piece it together without a color printout on hand.
I agree with Kate though, it is fun to try something new. I think that these blocks would look great in table runners, placemats, pillows or as a wall hanging.
Cathy

Wynative, if it makes you feel any better, I my first one is a reject too. Your directions were perfect, Cathy. I thought I did everything just right, and the block was beautiful. But, when I measured it, it was a full one inch too large in height as well as breadth. So, I cut a stencil out on a gridded paper and measured the triangles I'd already cut and they were spot on.

I figures it just had to be in not getting a good quarter inch seam and that's where the problem was. I had lost my marker and was one digit shy. Just that teensy difference over all those seams adds up. You can get away with that if there are only a seam or two in a block, but the error gets compounded for each seam you sew, and this one has a lot of seams, if you stop to think about it. The second one I made was lots better and the third is spot on. So I shall make a fourth and send the last three.

I always seem to have more difficulty with black backgrounds because I have excellent day light quality, but no matter how much light I have at night, or where it's located, it's hard for me to work with at night. It's like staring into an endless pit. LOL. I do have some vision deficiency in the dark tonal ranges. They all look black to me.

I also switched black materials from a homespun looser weave to a stiffer, shinier black cotton with some reflection and more body and it helped tremendously.

My husband walked into the sewing room, took one look at the blocks and says WOW! I LIKE THOSE! So, I hope a few more people join in because it's going to make an awesome quilt for people who like drama.

Cathy, just went out in a snowstorm to post my blocks. I noticed when I got to the post office window the label wasn't wanting to stick and the window clerk put some tape across it, but not nearly as securely as I would have done. So, please keep a look out for them and let me know if they don't get there within a week.

hello
I'll get my block in the mail tomarrow
I was thinking about doing another one but just don't think I'll have the time
thanks
michelle

Thanks Calliope and Michelle for letting me know. I'll post an update when they arrive.

Calliope, I hope you didn't brave the snowstorm just to mail the lotto blocks!
Michelle, I just realized that I only cut fabric for one block for next months lotto. I usually try for two so that if for some reason the first block doesn't turn out right, I'll have a quick start on the second one and if they both turn out well, then I can include them both.
Does anyone else have a 'system' for doing the lotto (or Birthday) blocks?

Cathy

1. Solstice98- 3
2. Calliope- 3 (Received)
3. Micyrey- 1
4. Woodenzoo- 1 (Here)
5. Polardream- 2
6. Annabelle1941- 1

Calliope, your blocks arrived safe and sound this afternoon. ;)
Cathy

I posted mine by airmail yesterday so hopefully the pigeon will fly fast enough to get it to you on time. I really enjoyed this block and am looking forward to more monthly challenges. We dont have any snow but it has been cold and wet the for the last week or so, this morning the sun is shining but it is still cold.
Ann

I'm still working on replacing my burned squares but hope to get to it this weekend. If I don't I'll just send the one that wasn't damaged, but still hoping to send 3.

Kate

I finished my 2 last night & will post them today.
Sue

1. Solstice98- 3
2. Calliope- 3 (Received)
3. Micyrey- 1
4. Woodenzoo- 1 (Here)
5. Polardream- 2 (Received)
6. Annabelle1941- 1

Sue, that was quick! Your blocks arrived yesterday afternoon. :)
Cathy

1. Solstice98- 3
2. Calliope- 3 (Received)
3. Micyrey- 1
4. Woodenzoo- 1 (Here)
5. Polardream- 2 (Received)
6. Annabelle1941- 1

Guess I should have waited for the mail to arrive before posting earlier...
Ann, your block arrived today. Talk about arriving quickly! :)
Cathy

1. Solstice98- 3
2. Calliope- 3 (Received)
3. Micyrey- 1
4. Woodenzoo- 1 (Here)
5. Polardream- 2 (Received)
6. Annabelle1941- 1 (Received)

1. Solstice98- 3
2. Calliope- 3 (Received)
3. Micyrey- 1 (Received)
4. Woodenzoo- 1 (Here)
5. Polardream- 2 (Received)
6. Annabelle1941- 1 (Received)

I wasn't expecting the mail to make it today with all of this ice and snow we have, but Michelle, your block arrived this afternoon. :)
Cathy

I'm never going to get mine there in time so let's do this:
don't put my name in for the drawing and whoever wins will get my blocks too. I'll just send them directly to the winner (if that's OK with them). my business trip ended up starting a day sooner than expected and then with the bad weather in DC it ended up lasting a day longer due to flight delays.

Sorry...

Kate

Kate, so sorry to hear that.
I'll send you an e-mail.
Cathy

Never mind! I spoke too soon! I gave it a try tonight and was able to fix one of the blocks easily. I'll only be sending 2 but I'll get them sent off tomorrow. If they don't get to Cathy by the 31st, then they still shouldn't count for the drawing, but at least she'll be able to send them along with all the other blocks because I'm positive they'll be there by the 1st or 2nd.

Kate

Thanks Kate!
You know, I've been getting packages really quickly this month, so they just may make it in time for the drawing.
I'll keep an eye out for them. :)
Cathy