Green String Blocks--March RSC Complete

Some of the strings available for the blocks

Green is the color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for March. Green is a color that is abundant in my strings, scraps and stash. I knew I would have no problem pulling enough materials for the dozen string blocks that are my goal for each month of the challenge. 

I find piecing four blocks at a time is a good number. I can easily work through four blocks and see results fairly quickly. Seeing the results is the part I most enjoy! I find that having a variety of fabrics in the color of the month produces more interesting blocks.

In these blocks, there are a variety of greens: olive, lime, grass, spring, pastel, blue green, sage, moss, yellow green . .well, you get the idea that I've used it all! In one of my small group Zoom sew days, I was asked if I used only tone on tone or solid fabrics for this process. My answer. . Nope!

Finished blocks and removed paper  

There are batiks, tone on tones, Christmas, novelty, landscape, florals and geometric print fabrics in the blocks. If the strip is the correct length, I sew it into the block! I don't pay too much attention to what fabric is next to each other. I do make a feeble attempt at varying strip widths. Although, if all my strings were the same width, I believe the blocks would look fine. I like using strings that vary
from 3/4 of an inch to about two inches wide. Although, I have a few strings in these blocks that are wider than two inches.

Four blocks using a variety of green fabrics

In another small group that I Zoom with the first Sunday of the month, one of the gals commented that she doesn't deal with a string that is narrower than 1 1/2 inches. Some of her strings are five inches wide. She makes lots of string quilts and finishes tops much faster than I do. Her string quilts are dynamic looking too. String piecing parameters contain a wide range of factors which makes piecing strings attractive in many quilt patterns. 

I LOVE sewing these bits into useable blocks. I like these green blocks just as much as I liked the January and February blocks! The pile on my cutting table came from Martha's string baskets. She would shake her head in disbelief that of all the fabrics in her studio, the strings were what came home with me! I believe had I not taken these strings, they would have ended up in the landfill.

Finished 12 green blocks

Over a couple afternoons, I pieced a dozen blocks. My pile of green strings is smaller; but, not completely used. My husband would say that I left some "seed stock" behind so that I could make more blocks later. He says this about cookies too. He rarely will eat the last cookie because he is concerned it will be just that. . .the last cookie!

Next month, I'll cut more neutral fabrics; but that will be easy! In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the view of these green blocks! I'm linking to Oh Scrap/Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

Regarding COVID:

Worldwide: 119M cases; 2.65M deaths

United States: 29.4M cases; 532K deaths

Oregon: 159K cases; 2,328 deaths

President Biden reported this week that the vaccine will be available to all people beginning May 1. The Oregon governor, Kate Brown, said on Friday, that the timetable for will remain in place which means all people will be eligible for the vaccine in July.

Regarding the vaccine, I've received an e-mail for the person that I'm helping to get an appointment for the vaccine. The only option available to her right now is to go where she doesn't want to go. I check in with a several pharmacy chains every morning; but, so far, there have been no appointments available. As of Friday, 800,000 Oregonians have received at least the first dose of the vaccine. At this rate, it will be July before the remaining 3.4 million state residents have a chance to get the vaccine. 

We are still cautioned to continue wearing masks and social distancing. The governor said that if we stay the course, it is likely families can gather for the 4th of July.