ROW L

 I finished all of my row L blocks in a week.  All of them, with the exception of L-13 were machine paper pieced and applied to 4.5" paper to finish with EPP.

L-13 was appliqued and EPP

Of all the blocks in this row that look difficult, L-10 was the worst.  It too 3 tries to finally get is remotely acceptable. 

The first attempt was machine paper pieced using Susan Gatewood's pattern.  I like to do Y seams, but they were very hard to get right, to set the diamonds in on the sides of the center block.  So for some reason, I thought I would try appliqueing the diamonds instead

Nope.  That attempt looked very clunky to me.  

So I got out the EPP version that I got with my kit.  The block was modified, and looked nothing like the original. Other than my first EPP blocks, in earlier rows,  I've been trying to do as close to original as a can, so this one was a total last resort.  

Finally, I went back into EQ and re-drafted the block.  In the original, the solid blue at the top and bottom of the block are made up of 3 diamonds of the same color.  At this point, I really don't care.  So this is how I did it.  I made the 2 diamond units, which gave me a y seam at each corner, four.  Much easier to do.  Then as much as I dislike raw edge applique, that is exactly what I did to apply the six little triangles.  

Well, that's it.  I can't  believe that I am 13 blocks away from finishing the center.  Of course, I still have to sew them all together by hand and set them into the rows..  the end is in sight..

 

Row K

 Row K is all finished.  All machine paper pieced. Even K-7 which was pieced in 4 parts with the upper edge of the blue hand appliqued. 

 

This is my progress as of today.  I'm thinking of finishing up the last two rows of blocks and then I'm going to put them all together by hand and be done with it.. Then it's on to the last 3 borders!!!
 

ROW J

There were a couple of more difficult blocks in this row.  Mostly including applique.  I sat the Basket for the J 12 block right side up.  when you look at the original quilt when it is layed out, it depends on what row they put at the top.  Sometimes this block is a completely different number!  I would have done it exactly like the original, but I have some blocks above it that are definately directional.  one with Abe Lincoln, the other with a drummer.  So I put this block right side up in this row.
 I did it in 3 paper pieced rows.  The top row with the handle was caught in the seam of the middle section. 

This is how I prep for EPP.  I use a 1/2" seam and glue onto a 4.5" paper. 

Next row!

ROW i

 

Sorry, I got behind with putting up rows when I finished them  

I have started to make most of my blocks by machine paper piecing whenever possible.  I then sew the sashings on by hand and join them by hand using EPP

The block that was the most difficult in this row was I5.  I think that I have more problems with blocks that need applique than any other.  I just can't get it as precise as I do the other blocks. 

I have been using Susan Gatewoods layout of patterns as much as possible because I like that her patterns include all of the details of the original ..  More to come!!