Vintage Kite Block and Is It Time to Replace Your Sharps?

How cute is this block? It is called the Vintage Kite block and is made by foundation piecing. Fat Quarter Shop has been coming out with a series of foundation papers that are truly wonderful. They have Square in a Square block papers in several common sizes, which I love to use for that block because it is a tricky one. They also have all kinds of size options for half-square triangle blocks. Paper piecing is great for HSTs when you need to make a lot of them. But I digress.

This block was fairly time-consuming, as you must do it in four sections and then sew the quadrants together to make the block. I love how it turned out though and I will definitely make more of them. This block finishes at 6 inches.

The paper sheets come in a pad of 42. You would need at least two or three pads to make a quilt. Just try one pad and make a table runner and see how you like it!


Is it time to replace some of your "sharp" tools? We all know we need to replace our rotary cutter blades fairly often. You know it's time when your blade skips and won't cut through all your layers of fabric.

But did you know other sharp tools need to be replaced as well? Pins get dull or bent and should be replaced. I toss mine and replace with new ones once a year.

This may come as a shock, but you should be replacing your seam ripper fairly often as well. The business part of a seam ripper is a razor, and it dulls over time. I bet some of you have never replaced your seam ripper. Am I right? I have a drawer full of them that I have acquired over the past 10-15 years and have no idea which are the old ones and which are the new ones. I just dumped them all and bought three new Clover seam rippers. I have one on my cutting table, one next to my sewing machine, and a backup. If I ever went on quilting retreats or took classes anymore, I'd put one in my travel sewing kit for sure. 

I had to rip something last time I sewed and wow, the new seam ripper cut through the threads like nobody's business.

Thank you again for your kind words of comfort over losing our Ozzie. It really meant so much that he touched so many of you over the years! That dog was something else. Gosh, our house feels empty without him. My husband hardly knows what to do with himself early in the morning when he used to walk him around the neighborhood. Ozzie had an inner alarm clock I swear. He always knew when it was 5:30 and time for dinner, and he sure had us trained. Come 5:30 my husband and I are ready to go into the kitchen and fill the food bowls. I know it gets better over time, but whew, it is a sad adjustment for us.

 

Comments

[Pamela Dempsey]

Your kite block is beautiful, love the contrast and colors. I still have my mom’s old seam ripper🤣from the 60s. So sorry about Ozzie. Yes, it’s so hard, so painful 😓 hang in there.

[Carol]

Happy you are back... time will help. When you can, write down your memories of your dear pet and make a little scrap book. xox
I made a vintage kite tablerunner-- the pad of paper was included with the January Sew Sampler box. Well, I loved it and am so tempted to make the quilt now. I found it worked better for me if I took the papers out before assembling the four quarters together-- wow, yours looks perfect, though! I still have most of the pad left.

[CarolE]

It is amazing when I replace my rotary blade; I never thought to replace my seam ripper! Love your little kite block. It's hard, I know, missing Ozzie. He will always have a special place in your heart.

[Jan]

I realized last year that my seam ripper wasn't cutting through threads very easily. What a difference a new one made! It had never crossed my mind that they dull as with any cutting tool!
I laughed when I saw orange sandals on the Vionic website last week. Your sweet pup will always be in our hearts! 🧡

[Ina]

the orange sandals....classic Ozzie. I hope you were still able to getaway last week. a change of scenery is always good.

I just can't imagine us without a dog. other days, I wonder why we got another dog...so.much.work. ;p