Still Up-To-Date - February Paper Chain Block Done

Lately, my quilting has been all over it seems. I’ve been working on cutting this, piecing that, binding this quilt up, buying supplies to finish up some mini blocks…the list goes on and on. The ability to focus on one project was left in January it appears.

However, I have managed to complete my February Paper Chain BOM Block.

This block in my Paper Chain BOM is called “X Spot.” You can see the foundation pieces were four blocks that we sewed strips on. The finished length of each strip is a finished 1”. I did take the suggestion of cutting my strips into 2” strips to start versus the exact 1 1/2” that the “expert” paper piecer could do.

This was how my pieces were sewn on to the foundation piece. Then, I cut down the piece to what is below.

After I sewed and cleaned up all four blocks, I pieced them together to form the block. What I wasn’t expecting (otherwise known as I forgot) to happen was all of the bias/wiggle room I had in the material after I removed the paper foundation. It was nice and did actually help align all of the seams, but when it came to aligning my middle seam, I had a little too much bias and it is a bit off. But one seam for all that were in this block was an okay ratio for me. I’ve been going back and forth between starching my material since it these are foundation pieced. I really don’t feel I’ve had problems not starching up to this point - what do you do? Do you starch your material when you paper piece?

Of course, when I was done, I had to put it up with January’s block and see how they looked together.

Verdict - I am in love and cannot wait for March! I love the pop of the bright blue in February’s block and the bold navy from January’s. I’m also falling in love with using the solids. Now, while it isn’t photographed very well, my white is a tone-on-tone pattern with small circles, so it isn’t 100% “solid” material. But this is the first time I’m doing a “solids only” quilt.

What do you think? There’s still time to join in this BOM and get caught up - these blocks I’ve cut and put together on a week night so they’re quick! If you do, head on over to Freshly Pieced to pick up the pattern!

Any one else participating in a BOM? Let me know below!