More flying birds! (aka the In Flight QAL...)

Hello! Is anyone there?! Oh dear, I've been a bit slack - its been a couple of weeks since the last post... That resolution didn't last long!

After the challenges of the Swan paper piecing for the first block of the In Flight Quilt along I got a bit addicted! I really enjoyed having to think a bit more about what I was doing and not mindlessly just sewing squares together...

Seagull

Each block/bird for the quilt is divided into four or five sections which are pieced individually then the sections are joined to make up the block.  With my Swan block (as it was my first attempt) I did each section in turn, completing one before starting the next.  As there was lots of running up and down stairs between the sewing room and the ironing board/cutting board after each bit of piecing this meant it took ages!

Once I'd done the Swan and had a bit more understanding/practise on what I was doing, I managed to piece each of the sections in parallel leading to a lot less stair running and faster block completion.

Swift

I'm still not convinced about when to remove the paper and the joining of sections.  I find that trying to join the sections with the paper still attached is just too thick and unwieldy, so I've started removing the paper first and marking/pinning the joins so they match up. I still managed to get the poor seagull out of line though, so had to unpick and re-do that one.  I should really tack the seams first, but I'm too impatient!

Curlew

As well as birds, I've also completed a March block from last year's Vice Versa QAL.  I would have done the opposite block for the month as well, but I seem to have misplaced a bear claw (one of the half square triangles) so I'll need to cut and sew another one before I can complete the block (or find the missing one under the sofa....)