DSQ10 Top...

 I'm pleased with my work.  I like when that happens.  It doesn't always

I've finished the sewing I needed to do for my DSQ10 swap quilt.

Inspired by the pattern Blissful Day in the Fab/March 2011 issue of Quilt, this mini is made from a charm pack, 3/4 yards of solid fabric and 4 yards of rick rack.  Where the original designers used Bliss (her own fabric line) by Moda on an off white solid, I selected Sunkissed (also by Moda) and a soft grey.  I wish I could show you the inspiration mosaic that helped me choose this line.  I believe it would blend right in.  On the off chance that my partner reads this...too bad...I'm not going to spoil the surprise.

This mini measures 24"x27".  It is about 1/4 the size of the original quilt, Blissful Day.  (56"x61 1/2")




To make this mini:

CUT
42 2.5" squares from the charm pack.   Ideally you use one square from each charm.  I chose to make a few substitutions - I didn't see the point of appliqueing grey on grey.

42 3.5" squares from your background fabric.

 4 3.5" wof strips of background fabric and set them aside for your borders.

MAKE a template using something stiff.  I used plastic template material, but a piece of card board would work just as well.  To do this cut a piece of stiff stuff 2.5" square.  Use a compass and draw an arc with a 2.5" radius using a corner of the square as the center of your circle.  Trim the stiff stuff to make a little wedge that looks like the green shape in the picture to the left.

Use the template to trim the 42 2.5" squares.

Put the stack of wedges next to the stack of 3.5" background squares.

Take one wedge and one square, place the wrong side of the wedge on the right side of the square and aline the corners.  Top stitch about 3/8" from the raw edge of the curve.  (If you go slowly, and hold the pieced carefully you don't need to pin)  Make 42.

Arrange as desired in a 6 block by 7 block grid.  I tried to disperse the colors and patterns evenly,  although I don't write it down.  The blocks often get moved in the process of sewing them together.  I like it that way.  If you don't, snap a picture of your final layout with your phone and  refer back to it as you piece the blocks together.

Piece blocks together in rows of 6 using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Piece rows together, being careful to match seams.

Add borders.

Pin rick rack as desired and sew on with matching thread.

To this point the project took the better part of an afternoon.  I was multitasking.  It might go quicker if you give it your full attention.

The next step is to fluff the curved edges....but I'm multitasking again...