2019 Monthly Color Challenge-May

Welcome to Tuning My Heart Quilts to all of those visiting for Jen's 2019 Color Challenge.  Lime Green is this month's color and I had to go searching in my stash for just the right greens for this one.  This block goes together really quickly and I will share some of my tips with you for this block-that is just what I do.  Jen chose Spider Mums to inspire our color choice this month. 
I love how we have a such a range of tints and shades of our lime green all in one flower.

After searching through my stash of greens I came up with a couple that work really well-I thought I might have to run out to my local quilt shop, but finally found some scraps in my greens basket that hit the lime green perfectly.

Now for some of my tips to make piecing this block a breeze.  When I need to mark a diagonal line for sewing I place my fabric on a piece of very fine sandpaper that I picked up from the hardware store.  I have it attached to a clipboard which I keep handy. 
​The sandpaper keeps the farbic from moving as I draw my line.

I always sew with my needle in the down position and I begin and end my piecing with little scraps of fabric.  This eliminated those long threads that need clipping and also means I get a crisp start to my sewing.  Notice in the first photo that my needle is down and I have moved my pieces into position..  I actually stop my machine, lift the presser foot, and place my pieces right up next to the needle before I begin sewing them together.  I get a nice straight start to my piecing this way and never any puckering or a wobbly few beginning stitches.

One part you need to be careful with on this block is the trimming.  Be sure and line up the diagonal line of your ruler with the diagonal seam line.  This is an important step in achieving the sharp points we all desire.

Because Jen's directions have us pressing to one side these seams then lock together very nicely which also aide in giving us sharp points in our finished block.

When the seam is facing towards my needle as it approaches-as shown here-I very rarely bother to pin it.  As I sew, those seams will just naturally be pushed together and I end up with nice sharp points.

I do however pin when a seam is facing away from my needle.  I will sew right up to the pin, stop with my needle in the down position and carefully remove the pin, then continue stitching.  Never a pretty picture to break a needle sewing over a pin so I just try to avoid it altogether.

To get your copy of this month's pattern head on over to Jen's blog: Patterns by Jen.  She has even more tips and how-to's for you.  You can also sign up to get email updates when each new pattern is released.  It has been rather fun to focus on a different color each month.  My fabric stash is definately heavy in some color areas and sorely lacking in others so I have enjoyed working with some new colors as a focal point in my blocks.

Photo by Carol Welsh

To see what some other bloggers have done with this month's block be sure and visit:
Kris Driessen
Linda Pearl -Note: Linda's is not available unitl May 6th
Sarah Myers

​And if you are looking for another free BOM to keep you busy I hope you will consider joining me on my current one-Just Desserts-which can be accessed here.

Happy Quilting!