first shady Blocks

Tapestry Garden in the winter

Today we have snow. The world is winter white and city gray and the roads are dirty brown. On a walk I notice that the sky is churning with a myriad subtle shades of blue, lavender and white as snow threatens to fall again. I never realized before how lovely the winter sky can be.

In this context, how fitting to sew with these muted shades. I have cut squares for my Patio patchwork, the January assignment for our Tapestry Garden block of the month club. The medium value squares are at left, low value squares at center and my solid squares at right.

It was ages ago that I learned to sew the half square triangle block (HST). Still, it never fails to charm me how they are produced 2-at-time from squares. Like magic. These sharp angles feel right.

But the hourglass block is my favorite. I’m glad there are more in this quilt coming.

Tapestry Garden is one of those quilts I could sew again and again and again. Each of the groups is unique. I really like that they aren’t a collection of 12” blocks or some such regular shape, as well. That makes it so much more interesting.

These are the finished Patio patchwork elements. There are 4 parts, although parts B/C actually become continuous in the finished quilt. We don’t sew B/C together now because keeping them separate is key for the final quilt assembly.

Yep, I’ve done all the thinking ahead ;). Hey, and now I get to enjoy sitting back, following my directions and sewing along with you!

My first experience with these somber colors is quite agreeable. I like the subtle, earthy feel. That calm vibe also creates space for enjoying the sweet prints like those daisies or the Heather Ross crickets. And the flying bird fabric - that one always gets me. It’s perfect in a melancholy quilt.

In this thin, winter light the colors feel mysterious, yes? It’s a good beginning.

p.s. You can join Tapestry Garden by purchasing your membership here. Each month’s installment is approximately this much patchwork or less. I’m confident that the finished piece will become a treasured work of art!