Monday 26 March 2012

Paper and Padlocks

It feels like I have spent the weekend sewing on paper and then ripping it off! It means though that I am back on track with the Littlest Thistle's FPPFTT and NY Beauty QAL, thank goodness for that :) So, I can contemplate the next two blocks in the series' without panic, well that is the theory anyway. The NY Beauty blocks take me ages to do, starting with agonising over which fabric should go where, so I am glad that we are going at the rate of one block a week and I greatly admire the fellow NY Beauty blockers who are whipping up 4 of each block every week! Check out their blocks  here

 
I must be learning something in this QAL as the inner arch on this block, with only 9 pieces to contend with felt like a doddle to do and three weeks ago the same pattern was really daunting!  There were even more curved seams to contend with in this block, so I paid a lot more attention to my seam allowances and with only a bit of unpicking the block came out at the right size :)



Like several people in this QAL I am not really sure what I am going to do with the blocks when they are all finished. There are some fabulous cushions being made by participants who are making 4 of each block, and that is something I may think about, but for now I will just keep plodding along with 1 block a week and see what inspires me at the end of the QAL.

For Katy's FPPFTT block this week we were mastering "larger scale complex sectional blocks" apparently, and I took the opportunity to use up scraps left over from the Sew Happy QAL. I suspect it is down to my Scottish heritage but I have a bad habit of trying to make scraps fit when they are really not big enough, so I ended up with seam allowances that amounted to a couple of threads in one or two places! I really will have to learn to be more generous with my fabric pieces :) The finished square will eventually (hopefully in the next two weeks!) end up as a cushion and will go to my son and his wife along with the Circle of Geese block that will also become a cushion. They will then have a cushion each to snuggle under the quilt with, although from what I saw of the weather forecast for the UK last weekend, they won't be needing quilts at the moment.


It must be officially Spring here as the Laime Clock has had its winter woollies removed! So you can see it in all its natural glory.


And just in case you thought that I spent all of my weekend tied to the sewing machine or ripping out paper, I also visited the Fish Market

and walked through the park bordering Riga Old Town

It is a tradition here that when couples get married they fasten a lock to the bridge and throw away the key to symbolise that they will be locked together in marriage for ever. As you can see it is a popular tradition.

As you can also see the locks are engraved with the name (or initials) of the couple and the date of their wedding.

Looking forward to seeing the results of your weekends too.

Linking up to Manic MondaySew Modern Monday , BOM's away and Fabric Tuesday.

19 comments:

  1. Love the FPPFTT block, it is going to look great with the quilt that you finished. Great job on the NY Beauty, you have surpassed me. I haven't even been to my sewing machine in over a week and it doesn't look like I'll see it until the end of this week. I sub as a teacher's aide with handicapped children and I've been working everyday so family comes first and sewing/blog comes at the bottom. We're on break next week so hopefully I'll be able to jump back in before I get to far behind. Love the lock pictures and what it represents. Have a great week Fiona!

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  2. What a lovely tradition... the padlocks and throwing away the key.

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  3. Your paper pieced blocks are amazing. Super job you are doing and I followed your link to see the others. Stunning creations. Also liked the padlock tradition!

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  4. SO many lovely projects! I did the first NYB and need to get back to it. Life in Riga must be very interesting! The fish market......the locks and keys.....amazing! Take care. Deb.

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  5. I love your blocks and the lock tradition is so awesome :-) Thanks so much for sharing!

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  6. Great blocks! Thanks for linkng up to {Sew} Modern Monday and have a great week!

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  7. Wow, I love the arch blocks! Gorgeous!

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  8. Your blocks are beautiful! I love the colors you chose. :)

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  9. Oh that lock bridge is cool! Great blocks, and before you turn that block into a cushion, whack some fusible woven interfacing on the back so the mini seam allowances don't tear through...

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  10. Love your NYB blocks! Beautiful! Also found Katy Cameron's comment helpful. I know I will have blocks that I'm not using in the completed project....using the fusible interfacing to reinforce for pillows is a GREAT idea!

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  11. Your blocks are looking fantastic so far! Loving the purple background fabric.

    I enjoy seeing the photos you post from Riga too. What a great wedding tradition at the bridge too!

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  12. The picture of all your NY Beauty Blocks together looks great! I have the same issue with a few mini seam allowances. Sometimes it seems as those smaller pieces will manage to stretch themselves to fit properly! Love getting to see Riga through your pictures! The wedding locks are such a great tradition. I hope to see one of those bridges someday!

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  13. You're doing a great job on the paper piecing and the NYB blocks! I love the wedding locks tradition.

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  14. Just started the FPPFTT. It left loopy stitches. After seeing your block, I think I'm going to need to get that fixed before moving on. Your NY Beauty is looking great!

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  15. Wow, your NY Beauty blocks really are beauties

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  16. Wow! Those are really coming out gorgeous. :D What a fun bridge, too.

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  17. I love your FPPFTT block and you NY Beauty blocks are fab!

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  18. loving your nyb blocks no way would i want to do 4 of each this last one was bad enough :))) though i am trying to keep up !!how long will that last .
    love the mini tour of riga and the pad locks what a great idea .

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