Bow ties 2021

Here is a stack of 2” blocks that will become bowtie blocks.

I did not use my accuquilt to cut these, because I do not have a 2" strip die, but I LOVE my Shape cut ruler that my mother in law got me from Jo-Ann's.  It allows me to cut a lot, really quick.

I have been cutting up left over fabric from making masks. The left over pieces work really well for these little blocks. 

I generally use these bowtie blocks as leaders and enders.  Leaders and enders are blocks you keep under your presser foot.  They are great for a few reasons.  1) you don’t have those long strings to cut. 2) you get two (or more) projects done at once 3) For me, at least, it seems like it’s easier to sew the blocks when I am chain piecing instead of starting new each time.

I actually used to use a scrap of fabric to keep something under my presser foot.  But ever since I heard of leaders & enders, I was hooked.

The other thing that is nice about the bowtie blocks is that it’s sewing 3 times and then the block is done.

I have actually been using these as blocks that are not leaders and enders, but just as something to sew.  With school being so different this year, I have not had as much brain power for my quilting as I would like.  So having these ready to go are nice.

This bowtie quilt will be for my friend Christine.  She is saving some scraps from things she is working on, and I save stuff from mine.  So in essence her bowtie quilt will not take as long as mine did.  Mine took 6 years.  If I make hers the same size as mine, mine had 672 bowtie blocks, 24 blocks by 28 blocks.  I currently only have about 115.  Which means I have A LOT more to make.

This pile of 2” squares will end up making close to 200 bowtie blocks, which is not quite enough to finish the quilt, but definitely enough to keep me busy for a while!

I need to get them up on the design wall again so that I can count how many I have!