Strips that Sizzle

I took a one-day class with Margaret Miller today. My guild sponsored the class and it was called "Strips that Sizzle" after the book that Margaret wrote back in 1994. To prepare for the class we had to select and cut two color families in gradation into strips of varying widths from 1 1/2 inches to 2 1/2 inches.

Margaret spent little time getting us organized and at our sewing machines within minutes of the class starting. And she did what no other instructor has ever done for students--she did the ironing. Now there were about 20 people in the class and we had to sew five strip sets about 7 inches wide in total from each colorway. YOU do the math and figure how many strips she ironed. Anyway with that help we began cutting squares from the strips and triangles from the squares, and yes, she continued to iron for us. There was a wonderful class helper, Ellen, who helped with all of the ironing. And that was all BEFORE lunch.

For those of you reading this and aren't quilters, you can stop reading now, because I've probably lost you by now.

After lunch we 'played' with new squares by putting them on our design walls to see what design we could make. The pictures are a few of my examples. If you look close you can see a 'square in a square' in one example; 'arrows' in another, 'windows' in another. As Margaret said, the hard part is knowing when to stop re-arranging. I didn't have time to make all of the blocks, but now that I know how, I will finish them up and hopefully have a lovely "Strips that Sizzle" quilt when I'm done.

I haven't done a quilt pieced like this in a very long time, but it was fun and I would do it again. But I think I'll take a break from taking classes for now. I've taken three classes from three different teachers in as many weeks and I think it is time to take what I've learned and put it to good use.

And Doris and Wendy, if you are reading this, I haven't forgotten about you. I'm working on the last 'tie' quilt for you. Please be a little more patient with me to get that one finished.

Whew, I'm tired . . . . . who said retirement was when you had more time then you knew what to do with......we need to talk!