Dear Diary Quilting Challenge Daily Log Day 1

This is the first of the 31 days of making blocks from the class I am currently taking over at CreativeBug called Dear Diary Quilting Challenge. I am taking advantage of the 3-months for $5 and will be going through this quilting class for a few reasons. 

• One: I am in need of small daily creativity fix in between breaks and after work just to separate my “work from home” and breaks. 
• Two: I love Anna Maria Horner. And to be able to take her class even virtually is definitely on my list. Thank you Creative Bug!
• Three: since I am still picking up my sewing mojo, I believe this daily block sewing will be a great start.

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The idea of the Dear Diary Daily Quilting Challenge is also great as to process your thoughts while quilting. I am journalling this over on this blog and even if I don’t get to post every day, I will be sure to journal the thoughts and will be mindful as I go through the quilting process.

But if I get to, I’ll surely post here cause this blog has been a great quilting journal for me. I love looking back at the process of quilting and how quilts are made. They really bring me back to the memories of that moment in time. 

Since it will be a sampler quilt, this is also a great time to practice some of the quilt piecing techniques that we rarely use or never learned before. I love a good sampler quilt. 

Other sampler quilts I have done before and in progress:

• About a Quilt Sampler Quilt-As-You-Go Sampler
• Community Sampler Quilt
• Half Square Triangle Sampler Quilt
• Blue Patwork Barn Quilt

First 2 blocks of Dear Diary Quilt

The quilt begins with very simple piecing and will level up as the days pass. 

For the first two blocks, they are just simple straight stitches. 

I didn’t spend much time picking fabrics although I was a little hesitant at the beginning mixing prints and colours like this.

But I have always loved looking at Anna Maria Horner’s work and the maximalist style she has. Whether I like it or not, I am challenging myself this time going a little out of my comfort zone. 

We would never know if we never try right?

I am also testing out a DIY starch spray this time. I never starch before, but after seeing Kimberly’s (owner of FQshop) crisp and stiff looking rows of blocks, I am intrigued! Totally love the idea of having less wobbly fabric to deal with while piecing, especially little pieces. 

Recipe DIY Starch:

• 1 TSP of cornstarch + 1 TBSP of water (mix well)
• 1 cup of water, boiled
• Essential oil (optional) 

add the mixture of cornstarch and water into the boiling water and keep stirring. Make sure there’s no lump. Cool it off. Add essential oil for a good smell. I love peppermint.

What I learned:

I should spray the starch earlier elsewhere, not around my cutting mat as it will make tiny drops on the cutting mat which is not good. I heard that Kimberly actually sprays all of her fabrics first then come to the ironing board and iron them all. 

Overall, I like the finish crispy blocks. I might continue using the starch for a little longer to see if it would be something that I would like to add to my usual quilt making process.

How about you? Do you starch your fabric?

If you would like to make a sampler quilt too, why not along join in the class? The 3-months for $5 is not going to last long, and I think it is a great time to test the platform. Here is the link direct to the class: Dear Diary Quilting Challenge.