My tip for this month is to make sure your pinwheels are spinning in the right direction. In other words, watch the placement of the Kona black triangle! It's so easy to get it wrong (ask me how I know)! ;-)

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Just for fun! This was the inspiration behind this month's block pick. For those that have been playing the lotto for awhile, you may remember we did the Dutchman's Puzzle block (August 2016) in Kona black w/ a light and dark batik. It looked stunning!!! Even though we are using the same color scheme, since the ratio of fabric in the blocks is different the result will be different (our March 2018 block and resulting quilt will not be quite as dark since there will be 25% less black in it):

Black 50%, Light Batik 25%, Dark Batik 25% - Dutchman's Puzzle

Black 25%, Light Batik 25%, Dark Batik 50% - Pinwheel

Can't wait to see everyone's pinwheel blocks!

Aaawww I see my block :)

Started sewing mine, might even finish them this weekend and actually get them in the mail next week! No promises though!

I have no batiks in my stash, so I'm off to my LQS today to add some. I really like this block, and fingers crossed I pay attention & it spins the right way the first time! My oldest is home from college this week (very early Spring Break this year!) so I don't know if I will get the chance to sew them together until next weekend. Happy Stitching, y'all!

Any new pictures? :)

I have two “Pinwheels” finished after a confused start. I am working on another one this morning.

I was a bit “sidetracked since I’m trying to get April’s “Baby Bud” blocks finished also so I can mail both sets at the same time.

I thought I had Kona black, so I took it with me to Joanns to compare and it did not match what they had. Theirs was the end of the bolt, all wrinkled up, kind of flimsy and falling off the cardboard and I was not too comfortable that it was Kona, so I passed.

When I got home, I started looking for the Kona (I thought I had marked it.), but still couldn't find it. I found some black that I know is not Kona, as it has a selvage. Then I found a new one yard piece that has that fuzzy edge like Kona, but it has what appears to be a very tiny white line right at the fuzzy edge of the selvage. Can anyone tell me if that describes it? Otherwise, I have to go to Hobby Lobby or another Joanns to get some Kona black.

bkay

Edited 30 minutes later:

Never mind. I remembered I had one of those Kona fabric color charts. I compared it and it doesn't match.

bkay - I can mail some Kona black to you tomorrow, if you'd rather not head to the store. Just pm me your mailing address.

Caroline - I get sidetracked all the time!

Hareball - I see my blocks in that photo, too! Except I cringe because it was my first time buying batik fabric and first time making flying geese! ;-)

Thanks for the offer. I had to go to the LQS today, so I stopped by Hobby Lobby and picked up some. Then, I cut my light batik the wrong size, so I'm only sending 2 (hopefully I can get 2 finished).

I'm sure I will be a better quilter when this year is over.

bkay

Bkay: The lotto, the help on the forum and your own desire will most definitely raise your skill level...plus we have fun! No stress and no judging!.

Can I expect some blocks this week for the March lotto?

I mailed two March Pinwheels on Thursday. They should be delivered by this Monday.

I am reconstructing a third Pinwheel block after finally getting to town yesterday to buy more black fabric.

I’m going to do everything in my power to get this third block mailed on Monday but the first two will already be there by Monday.

Fingers crossed I can finish at least one, maybe two this evening to pop in the mail tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest. I have to eke out some space to get to my machine, as all the furniture is crowded into 2 rooms as floors are being refinished.

Thanks again for all your support. As usual, I've learned a lot from this block lotto.

Mine are going in tomorrow's mail.

Please leave me out of this drawing, as I really don't care for batiks and I'd never get the quilt finished.

bkay

BKay, those are beautiful blocks!

I love all these blocks! So sorry I didn't get any made.

My lesson this time (besides Kona black) was how you re-seam/rearrange the blocks so they meet in the center. The first one was great. The second one had one point off. I just kept messing with it until I figured it out.

This is a great way to improve my skills without committing to a whole quilt.

bkay

Will be mailing mine tomorrow!

This is a stunning block! I wish i had time to get some blocks done. Maybe next month.

Here are my 3. You should have them by Friday.

I got the followup call from Robert Kaufman Co. The black fabric I bought as Kona is not Kona. So, whomever wins the lotto can choose to use the squares I sent or not. It will probably not wear at the same rate as the other blacks when laundered. I just want whomever wins to know.

Thanks to all of you for your indulgence of my little tantrum.

bkay

P.S. The gentleman did say that they sell Kona to both Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's.

Either way, your blocks are beautiful. The pairing of your fabrics are so beautiful.

Your blocks will be a wonderful addition for the person who wins the March drawing!

I sent two more blocks out yesterday. I needed the practice on this pattern.

The USPS receipt says they will be at Little Helen’s on Wednesday. Going by the last three envelopes I’ve sent - that means they’ll really be delivered on Thursday.

I messed up on this second set almost as much as I did on the first the two I finally corrected and mailed mid-month.

I cut carefully and added 3/4” of wiggle room. I carefully (?) seamed the pieces...and still managed to trim one black triangle section wrong on each block.

On the purply block I could carefully frog stitch and reseam. On the orange block I made things easy and simply cut more pieces for a new lower left section.

All my messed up patches and miss-sewn blocks are going to be cut down and sewn into 9” square Pinwheel mug mats. I will conquer this simple block!

Is it too late to add one? If not, I will mail in the morning. If it is, no worries.

PS...I liked this block pattern, though my daughter was wondering why I kept muttering, "sew the short side, black on the left..." this evening. :)

Another nice block!!! It shouldn't be too late. I would go ahead and mail to Val.

K8Orlando, it was so good to see your name in the thread again. We missed you. i guess we all need a little break now and then.

Thanks for all the nice “welcomes”! I’ve had a rough couple of years but feeling much healthier now. And I’m retiring in May so I’m looking forward to lots of quilting time!

K8Orlando, welcome back! I think I joined the board after you dropped off, but have seen many of your posts when searching the forum. Glad that you are feeling better!

Larri, in looking at your photo, is your block laying on a quilt? Maybe a whole cloth?

K8Orlando, nice to meet you. I'm new this year, and look forward to learning all your quilt secrets! :) Here's to your good health and lots of quilting!

jlt37869, that's a store-bought quilted bedspread...gasp! Until I get that stack of Beujolais fat quarters cut up for an Irish Chain, it will have to do for covering our bed. That's been pushed back until at least June. Life is incredibly full at the moment. All our furniture is stacked up in the front 2 rooms of the house, as we finish a den addition/remodel in the back. Youngest son graduates HS in May, so any big project quilting/sewing is going to have to take a backseat for a few more weeks.

Oh my heavens...So sorry I'm late with the winner posting, yikes. I retired last week and jumped into to partying and sewing room renovation- what a combo. Replacing the carpet in the sewing room with laminate....what a mess to clear out the room and I'm nowhere near done! This retirement stuff is hard work :-)

Without further ado...the winner of these beauties is Carol S in Larimore ND., I'll mail these to you by weeks end....these will make a stunning quilt!

Stunning for sure. Congratulations.

Theresa

Beautiful :) Congratulations Carol :)

Congratulations! Enjoy your sweet pinwheels!

Larri - no gasping! A whole cloth quilt is on my someday list, so I was just being nosy. I love their simplicity. Irish chain is also on my someday list, so I'm looking forward to seeing yours!

Val - thank you for posting the group shot, it's awesome seeing all the blocks together!

Congrats Carol S. Looking forward to seeing the final creation!

val - happy retirement! Good for you!

Kate - happy to see you back!

Congratulations, Carol. Have fun with your beautiful blocks.

Val, you know the old saying. "How did I ever find time to work." Congratulations on your retirement.

Oh my; what a bright surprise on this gloomy day. Thank you.

I have a couple pieces of batiks on the table. I was going to make “just one more” Pinwheel block to see if I have the process down pat.

Now to decide how to set these!

Those are going to make a gorgeous quilt. Congratulations, Carol!

Val, maybe i missed it. Did you receive my block? And Happy Retirement! Enjoy filling your days with your newly found FREE Time! :)

Hey Larri, please shoot Val an email at: vgmcneese (at) comcast (dot) net so she can follow up! Thanks!

Hi Larri, Your block arrived today, but please email me as you have the wrong mailing address.

Valarie

Email sent. Thank you!

PS..And thanks for being gracious about my mistakes. .Honestly, I'm not this airheaded in person. I usually have it quite together. I'm going to blame my addlebrain on my den remodel and middle-aged hormone fluctuations! Haha!