2020 challenge Block 10

I have had my 2020 challenge Block 10 done for a week, but although it is early in the crazy season, I have not had time to share it. So here it is! As you can see, I had fun with this one 🙂

This was my starting point for the 2020 challenge: Block 10. When I teach crazy quilting classes,  beginners often worry over the look of an unembellished crazy quilt block. To be honest, many blocks start out looking doubtful, but by the time a block is embroidered and embellished, it looks totally different. I hope that sharing a photo of the bare block helps you to see that the stitching adds another layer of visual interest and can often pull a block together. So, if you are new to crazy quilting, don’t fret too much about how a block looks when you begin. Just keep on stitching!

Here is the basic pattern of my 2020 challenge Block 10. Feel free to use it if it appeals to you. My hexagons have 4-inch sides and measure 8 inches across from point-to-point, but you can use this pattern for other sized hexagons too.

Details on my 2020 crazy quilt block 10

Before I chatter on about these details, remember that the aim of the 2020 challenge is to use 2,020 different items on a quilt by the end of the year 2020. Items can appear twice but must only be counted once. An item can be material, technique or stitch.

The first photograph highlights a lace motif that I beaded on the block. The photo also features a curved seam of buttonhole stitch that I worked in a hand-dyed cotton Perle #5. I topped the stitches with small pearl beads.

This seam was started off with the ric-rac which I tacked down, then secured to the block with zig-zag chain stitch. Then I decided to decorate one side of the seam using a line of detached chain (not counted as a stitch because it was counted on block 1) and then straight stitches arranged in a fan-shape to give me a starting point for the pattern. Next, I added a line of amber/gold beads before adding the heart-shaped beads. Between these, I stitched a line of small butterfly beads.

I further embellished the lace-covered seam with French knots (not counted as a stitch because it was counted on block 1)  worked in yellow cotton perle #5, before I decided to go further in decorating the side of the lace. I started with a line of half buttonhole wheels. Then added the star-shaped beads.

I covered this seam in Stepped Threaded Running stitch. The threading was done with yellow chainette thread. The seam also features another technique counted in the project. I made prairie points out of satin ribbon then tucked beads into them.

This photograph features the button cluster. on this block, I went a bit overboard as I managed to stitch 13 buttons on it! I had fun here for sure. It took me hours to decide which button looked best with which, changing my mind numerous times, but finally settled on this cluster.

So the moment of truth. What is the count on 2020 challenge block 10?

Seed beads, bugle beads, and regular perle #8 and perle #5 thread is not counted. The Tally from previous blocks is 233

• Fabrics: 5
• Lace ribbon and braids: 3 lace used on seam, ric-rac and ribbon used to make prairie points
• Buttons 13:
• Techniques: 1 Prairie Points filled with beads
• Beads 6: gold beads in Prairie point, star beads, bicone at the end of the butterfly tail, pale yellow butterflies, yellow hearts, small pearls
• Threads: 3 yellow chainette, hand dyed #5 cotton Perle, gold metallic machine thread,
• Stitches: 3 half buttonhole wheel, Stepped Threaded Running stitch, zig zag chain stitch

Total 34 items on my 2020 challenge block 10

2020 challenge block 10 bring the total of items used to date to 267!

A new useful resource!

I get many questions about managing and tracking the count of items, as it’s a bit of a task in this challenge to keep track of what you use. I have some wonderful news about a shared resource that helps with this!

Janis Stoker of Journeys With Janis has incorporated all the suggestions I made for things you might count in the challenge and has created a PDF printable to help you keep track of what you use! Janis has generously offered to share it and share it with you all! If you can use it for the challenge please do so – you can download this printable  here. No strings attached – no email required or anything like that. I would like to thank Janis for making this handy tracking sheet available to the community.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my 2020 challenge Block 10.  If you want to see my other blocks you can find them under the 2020 Crazy Quilt Category. To find out more about the challenge, you will find the guidelines and list of resources here 

Have you seen my Stitchers Templates?

As someone who loves crazy quilting and embroidery, I designed these templates with my fellow stitchers in mind. With my templates, you can create hundreds of different patterns to apply to your stitching and crazy quilting projects. They are easy to use, totally clear so you can position them easily and they are compact in your sewing box.

To see what they look like, find out about the free ebook of patterns that come with them visit the information pages in the Pintangle Shop