The third annual Stay At Home Round Robin (SAHRR) is starting this week and I am joining in. I have never done any sort of round robin but I am looking forward to playing along with Gail (Quilting Gail) and the other bloggers that are presenting during this event. Several years ago, Gail decided to do a riff on the traditional round robin (where a quilter makes a center block, it is passed along to the next quilter who adds a border of their choice and passes it to the next quilter who does the same). Instead, Gail has lined up five other quilters who have each designed a border for us to use as we see fit. It is very flexible in that a person might choose to use part of the border, to change it a bit or skip it altogether if it doesn’t work for them.
This is my center block. I had a stack of these HST’s and made this star block with them. They were from a quilt I started a couple of years ago and decided I didn’t like where it was headed. In the project bag, I have loads of cut pieces. Several colors of the batik (red, orange, blue, green and purple) and tons of the polka dot fabric cut into various size rectangles and strips. I am hoping to repurpose many of the pieces in this project. If I need to tame it down a bit I may add some solids to the mix. The star block measures eight inches square.
This feels like a mystery quilt since I don’t know what is coming next week. Because I don’t know the plans for the five rounds we will be offered, I have no plan for the size of this project. Wall hanging? Baby quilt? Lap quilt? Who knows! Not being one who is known for spontaneity, this is a reach for me. But this is a way to use lots of pieces that have been sitting patiently waiting to be put into a quilt!
If you want to join in, below is the list of bloggers who will be posting for one round each. If you click through, you’ll be able to see their starting block. For more information on the event itself, click here.
- January 23: 1st Round: Roseanne & Sue @ Home Sewn by Us
- January 30 : 2nd Round: Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
- February 6: 3rd Round: Chris @ Chrisknitssews
- February 13: 4th Round: Anja @ Anja Quilts
- February 20: 5th Round: Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
- February 27: 6th Round: Gail @ Quilting Gail
- March 13: Parade – showing all of the finished SAHRRs!
For those who are participating, there is a link up to share your center block. Click here to find that link. I am excited for the next set of instructions which will be provided in a week by Roseanne and Sue. Join in and sew with this group. It is going to be a lot of fun!
Bernie, that’s a pretty block! I love the dotty fabric – it looks like it would go with anything. I’ve participated in the SAHRR the last two years, and had fun with it, so hope you will, too. It is a bit like a mystery, but after you see the weekly prompt and what the host bloggers have done, you get to make the design your own! I’m still figuring out my center block, so have yet to post. It will be fun to see how yours develops!
Hey Diann – I am sure you’ll find a fun block to start with. I watched your projects the last two years and they were wonderful. I was thinking it would also be fun to do a child’s quilt with this little panel I have. I actually pulled fabric for it and just have to decide if I want to do two of them? Hmm….
Oh, I love this block, and I’m so glad you’re joining in with us! It is a bit of a mystery, but we choose border ideas that are easy and familiar. So have fun! I look forward to seeing your progress!
For sure! I remember from the last two years it was interesting to see the interpretation of the prompt each time a round was released. Really no two looked the same. It is a fun idea and I am super glad Gail came up with it.
Just love this… I won’t be able to participate this time around, but will surely enjoy the eye-candy of the work of other quilters. Thank you for this. It’s just what I need — a stress reliever!!! Hugs… T
Hi Carol – Half the fun of reading these blog posts is for the inspiration and ideas – just take it all in and when you have your new sewing space set up, you can get right into a project!
Hi Bernie! Oh, I’m so glad you decided to play along. I love your center block. It always amazes me at just how versatile HSTs are. I look forward to seeing where your project ends up. It appeals to me very much as those lovely polka dots warm my heart. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
Thank you Roseanne! Any hints on what the building blocks are for the first round? HST’s, strips, squares, flying geese? I am so curious!!
I love your block…and lots of colors to work with as the SAHRR progresses. You will find it fun…and you don’t have to do every round (or can add it to the back)….its pretty loosey goosey!
Thanks Kathleen – I am pretty excited about the whole thing. So much so that I am wishing it was already the 23rd so I could get going!
Good on you for repurposing a “not to be” project. Love the multi colour fabric as it gives lots of options on the upcoming rounds.
Hi Laura – I have really been wanting to use this project in some other way because there is a lot of fabric chopped into pieces. I hate to waste anything so this feels great for me. It will be super bright and cheerful. Polka dots are always cheery in my book!
I like your block! Lots of possibilities with colors and a good one to add on borders. It really does feel like a mystery quilt! Glad you are joining in Bernie. 🙂
Me too Linda – I haven’t been too involved in these sorts of things because the shop and then the move made it impossible to keep up. So now I am diving in!! Yippee!
Oh, I love that you already have fabric grouped together for an old project that you can repurpose for the SAHRR. Your center star looks great and I hope you have a lot of fun. I look forward to watching it evolve.
I had done so much cutting for that previous quilt. I have two stacks of HST’s made – two different sizes and so many strips of various sizes. Surely I can utilize them somehow!!
Your centre block looks great! Have fun playing with each round!
Great starter block Bernie! I, too, am joining in this year; I’ve watched it with such interest and desire to join in, but just haven’t been able to. Well this year’s the year! Now what centre block do I do…. And the fun begins!
Great minds think alike! I have been watching and not participating as well. Here we go! Another project – another QAL. Now we just have to wait for our first instructions!
Not only a challenge for you because of the mystery, but a challenge to use the pieces you have. Great idea.
Exactly – My stack of fabric is ever growing and this is a way to use some of it.
I just put a little two inch frame around my star block. I thought it would be good to frame it off before the first round is published. 🙂
Love your centre block!!!
You’ve got the perfect attitude for the SAHRR!!!
It will be fun to see how your quilt grows!
Thank you for linking to the SAHRR Centre Block!
Thanks Gail. I am so excited for this event. Also – isn’t it cool how it has become such a popular QAL? Thank you for getting it started!!
Last year I decided to participate in the SAHRR. I had my center block ready and I was prepared to make simple shapes, HSTs or checkerboard squares and such. Then the first clue was to make diamonds. I wasn’t interested in making those but I did find some fabric with diamond shapes and added that to my block. The following weeks all seemed to want to do something strange and I lost interest in the project.
I’ll try again. I’ve found my block and I look forward to seeing what is presented. Maybe this year I’ll get enthused to continue.
Hi Ann, I am trying to keep an open mind. There are certain blocks I am not very comfortable making. And paper piecing – I hope there isn’t any paper piecing. But if there is, I am going to give it a try. My thought is this – I can change out and made a block I like. OR – I can make one or two of the suggested shapes and blocks with a lot of added negative space – meaning put in a border with the suggestion added into the border. Does that make sense? So just see what you think and hopefully you will have fun making it your own. 🙂
Well, week 1 comes with making little 1.5″ HSTs. I think I will simplify that with making 3″ HSTs instead. At least I’m still in the game.
Love that centre block. Great colours.