Is This Madness?

Two years ago, I sewed along with Taryn's Tiny Nine Patch Challenge. It was so much fun to use my scraps and create a gorgeous quilt that I simply adore. I also enjoyed the community of other quilters as I saw the wide variety of quilts they were making along with me. Taryn hosted the quilt along on her Repro Quilt Lover account over on Instagram.

A new quilt along has begun called Fancy Four Patch Challenge. I printed off the introductory packet and made my first block. If I continue with this challenge, I very well could be mad. These pieces are so tiny! The finished block measures just 5 inches, and I need 152 of these to make the full quilt. 

 

I just don't know if I'm up for it. 

This block is just as cute as can be, however I question whether or not this is a good use of my time. What do you think? When Sharon and I sew together, we always talk about projects with bigger pieces and less fussy stuff. This goes against all that in a big way. There are some positives, though.

I have saved lots of cut-away HSTs from previous projects. I suppose there may be as many as a dozen baggies of these HSTs stuffed away in various spots throughout my sewing room. When I get back home, I may find that I can use them to speed up block completion. Wouldn't it be great to use of all those HSTs  in this challenge? It would definitely lend to making a scrappy quilt, which I love.

While I think on this 'do I' or 'don't I' conundrum, here are some pics from the construction process for this little block. Use the 1" squares on my cutting mat to judge the size of the tiny bits.

 

I did not bring a great variety of neutrals with me to Florida. The finished quilt should have a variety of neutrals in lots of mismatched tones, sometimes mixed in the same block. The print I've used here is a remnant from those little snap wallets I made a week ago. It definitely doesn't take much fabric to make this 5" block.

Bottom line: I am not saying I am all in for this challenge; nor am I all out. Riding the fence currently. I might make a few more blocks while here in FL. I will definitely go to those HSTs at home and just see how it goes. It could be a great way of using them and I guarantee I'd love it. Those projects were good ones; those fabrics were pleasing. Revisiting all of them through participation in this quilt challenge would be satisfying. 

Are any of you doing this challenge with Taryn? Do you have opinions on whether a block it too fussy and small? Have you any better ideas on ways to use saved HSTs? 

So many quilts. So many decisions. But such satisfying activity any way you look at it!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne