Test Block

Before I cut up my shibori fabrics I thought I'd do a test block of the patchwork I have planned, about double the size of what I'd done for that little tote. For this I raided the scrap bag and pulled these fabrics:

Once I ironed them I cut all the scraps into 4-1/2" strips.

I then cut and laid out the blocks to make the card trick design:

Once I sewed the blocks together I realized I'd gone too large with the block sizes, and the patchwork would end up huge. I was hoping to end up with blocks about half this size.

This is why I test my designs first with scrap fabric. :) I might try another test block with 3-1/2" strips and see how big that turns out, and then one with 2-1/2" strips to compare.

I also solved the mystery of why my blocks for Oliver's birthday quilt were off an eighth of an inch. The needle position on my sewing machine is adjustable, and somehow the dial got turned to add an eighth of an inch. I never noticed until tonight. :)