Spectrum Quilts

Last spring (yes, over a year ago!) I was lucky enough to participate in Bianca's (Sweet Diesel Designs) rainbow charm swap. Perfect opportunity for someone like me - relatively new to the sewing scene - to get a wide range of fabrics quickly and inexpensively. Well, it has taken a long to decide on a project! So many possibilities for one set of charms.

Here are a few of my favorites....

Spectrum Half Square Triangle Quilt

Circle of Geese - Colorwheel block - link to paper pieced pattern

Starflower Block Quilt - with tutorial - Ellison Lane

Jeni's Color Wheel Mini Quilt - based on Purl Bee's free pattern

And a few more that you'll have to go see:
Modern Drunkard's Path
Color Wheel Wall Hanging

See? How could I decide on just one project? So many cool options.
I knew I just had to dive in.

I landed here, combining several features of my favorites:

This block should eventually become something like this...

I was inspired by the "Wheel of Fortune"block in 5,500 Quilt Blocks Designs. (I love this book!) If you google this, you will find about a million variations and a few free patterns. But I wanted something very specific, requiring a few adjustments - like touching outer rings, just the right proportions, and it had to be sized for good use of charm squares, so I set out to make my own pattern.

I knew this block's detail would require paper piecing. 

Paper piecing? Yeah, I had heard of it and wanted to give it a try. But designing your own pattern for a first try? (And in Photoshop?) Probably not a great idea. A bit ambitious. It was a lot of trial and even more error. But eventually, I was able to produce what was in my mind.

charms sorted - and encroaching on someone's space :)

Now with all that time invested and charms sorted and ready to go, I am committed!

I just hope I can pick up speed! :)

 -  Click here to see the "Over the Rainbow Charm Swap" flickr group - some really neat projects there. (And it didn't take these ladies a year to cut into their charms! Amazing.)