I had to take a break!

Hi everyone! Happy Sunday to you. I've done a little sewing this weekend. I started quilting a top to put in the Etsy store and I did the same thing I always seem to do. I made the quilting in the background too small. Now it's going to take forever and, if it sells, I'll make about $1.00 and hour...maybe. I always do that to myself. I've got it about 2/3 finished but had to take a break. For some reason, when I quilt, I do it with my shoulders about level with my ears. I'm always having to tell myself to relax my shoulders. So I took a break and started making X and O blocks from my scraps. Here are the first 4 - not sewn together but you get the idea.

I've been cutting squares from my scraps for quite a while and this is the perfect block for using those up. And I have a ton of leftover charm squares and you can make this block just from charms. I guess you could use a coordinating charm pack to make these blocks. I just want to use my leftovers and have a super scrappy look. People on Instagram have been asking for the pattern for these blocks. I don't have one but here's what I did. To start, cut one 5" x 2" rectangle for the center and two 2" squares for the side. Those make the cross in the center. You can see here with the green center. You can cut these from one charm square.

Then cut four 2" squares from a high contrast color and sew them to the ends of the center pieces. They are shown here in black dot. You can get 4 of these squares from one charm square.

Next I choose four different print 5" blocks. These are leftover charm pack squares. You don't even have to cut those if you have some charm pack leftovers around.

I MAKE myself choose without matching up. It's hard for me to do. I used all colors in these blocks, including black. The last thing you cut is eight 2" squares that are a contrasting fabric from the 5" squares. I can cut these from 2 left over charm blocks. Just sew them diagonally onto each of the 5" squares, trim the excess and press. 

I first sew the 2" squares onto the 5" squares, trim and press. Then I sew the 2 contrasting squares to the middle rectangle and squares that make the cross (in this block, the orange and teal print pieces). Sew them altogether and press. That's all there is to it. I have to make one complete block and then have it by my sewing machine so I can keep it straight. I thought these blocks would be a much cooler way to use my leftover charm squares than just making a 9-patch with those squares. 

This was a nice break from the machine quilting project. So what are you working on? Anything fun? Hope you have a wonderful weekend with family and friends. Today is Jason's birthday and he's skiing at Mammoth in Cali. Happy Birthday Jason! 

Have a great day! XO from Bev