The Lion's Cotton Patch: May 2009

This is a scrap challenge for the yahoo quilting group Quilting For Dummies. In the group I am the issuer of this challenge. I had started another quilt complete with pictures but in the life of a mother your attention gets turned and things get put on the back burner. Then the children take those things off said back burner and pictures get erased. Upon finding that you are upset about it they look at and say:"Were those really important????". To which you respond "Is your allowance really important??????????".

Any-hoo, here is the second challenge quilt I started. In loo of digging more cotton scraps out of the storage shed I decided to use some very special fat quarters that I have been saving. About a year and a half ago I traded a box of vintage lace to Diane Knott for these and have been waiting for that very special project.

The fabric being used is: Kitchen Memories by Diane Knott for Clothworks.

I pull out a piece of paper. I usually use Printing paper because that is the only unlined paper in my house. I know that some people like to use graph paper. Use what ever you are comfortable with.

Next on the list is to draw out the design. Since this challenge is a four patch challenge I just did a simple design. You do not have to use the pattern that I am using. Use what you want to do. There are all types of four patch patterns out there.

As you can tell from the picture my lines are not straight. When I am in the planning stage I free hand all my drawings. Its not a big deal as you will use the ruler to measure your patches to cut.

My four patch blocks are going to have 1 inch x 1 inch patches. So I cut my templates. I use cardboard for my templates. I know that there are lots of short cuts but this is the way my grandmother taught me and I have been doing it this way for a long time. I like the short cuts but I never remember to use them. I just fall back on old habits. That is just what is easiest for me. Do what you feel comfortable with.