One of my goals for this year of quilting is to become better at technique.  Most of the quilts I have done have been pretty free-form and don’t need to be as technically precise as other quilts.  That’s one of the reasons why I like the paper piecing method.  I don’t have to be precise, the method does that for me.  But, I don’t want to go through life only making one type of quilt, so I’ve begun the Joann’s Block of the Month Quilts.

These quilt blocks require precision and are pretty time consuming.  I’m not to the point where I can eyeball the 1/4″ seam, so I have to get the ruler out and mark all the pieces.  Once they are sewn, the seams need to be pressed then the pieces marked again.  This process is repeated until the block is complete.   I’m not really enjoying it, but I know that this process will only help me down the road.

Today I completed my first block for the “Tulip Twist” quilt.  The block is titled “Rocky Road to California.”  For a history lesson on the block, click here.  Rocky Road indeed!  I was very precise- I measured my squares and trimmed the pieces as necessary.  I was accurate with my seam allowance and pieces the rows so that everything lined up.  Except that everything doesn’t line up.  I’m still pretty proud of my block, but wish I could figure out what I was doing wrong!