Lancaster Diamond: End of January Update

It occurs to me that the end of the month rather than the start of the month is the right time to record an update about my progress on the Lancaster Diamond quilt. 

I made a lot of blocks in January. They provided a most welcome distraction from difficult things going on.

Techniques used thus far include paper piecing, regular piecing, and hand-buttonhole applique. I've completed all of the applique blocks. For the pieced blocks, I began with the very first block in the book and decided for each one whether to simple piece or to paper piece. I know that our group leader is doing far more paper piecing than I am. While I'm competent at paper piecing, I enjoy the challenge, sometimes, of working out the math to make the pieces, 

All through school, math was my weakest subject (well, then there was gym, too) and that has only improved a little bit (the math, not the gym). When I'd measure a piece to go into a block, with bits that involved 3/8" or 5/8", sometimes I'd mess up on adding 1/2". The search for the Least Common Denominator remains a bugaboo. So I did very careful arithmetic and checked my work, and checked it again, and made a chart of what size to cut a piece, including the seam allowance. This has served me well (when I remember to use it). I've only had to remake a block twice so far.

Now I need to pack Christmas in Lancaster away until February, because I have other things I've neglected too long and my Bee has resumed so I need to get Lisa's fun blocks together.

My old friend passed away yesterday; today I'm swamped with memories that are both funny and tender. While we didn't manage our video chat, her daughter was able to read my message to her, and the report is that she laughed more heartily than she had in recent days. So I'm good with that. We continue to hold our niece and her family in the Light.