Stay At Home Round Robin

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.

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!

27 thoughts on “Stay At Home Round Robin

  1. Diann@LittlePenguinQuilts

    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!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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….

      Reply
  2. Wendy

    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!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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.

      Reply
  3. Carolyn Westover

    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

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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!

      Reply
  4. Roseanne

    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

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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!!

      Reply
  5. Kathleen McCormick

    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!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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!

      Reply
  6. Laura

    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.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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!

      Reply
  7. Linda

    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. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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!

      Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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!!

      Reply
  8. Sandra Walker

    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!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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!

      Reply
  9. Chrisknits

    Not only a challenge for you because of the mystery, but a challenge to use the pieces you have. Great idea.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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. 🙂

      Reply
  10. Gail Sheppard

    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!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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!!

      Reply
  11. ANN D

    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.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      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. 🙂

      Reply
      1. ANN D

        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.

        Reply

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