Westering Women - Y-Seams and Other Fun Things

Our Westering Women block for August was named for Chimney Rock in far northwest Nebraska along the Oregon Trail.  This seemingly easy appearing block is actually a tough one for many quilters with a multitude of Y-seams.  I've always dreaded avoided blocks with Y-seams but didn't really know what the source of my angst was until fairly recently, when I finally figured out that the issue is spatial dyslexia!  But not wanting to wimp out and choose the supposedly easier substitute version with no Y-seams but a gazillion tiny triangles, once the printer (and operator) finally figured out how to print the templates the proper size, we tackled this block just before supper today.  And, of course, the Y-seams were a piece of cake, but arranging the puzzle pieces with the proper angles facing - not so much!

Anyhoo, after a few minor episodes of frog-stitching, here's the finished block, almost perfectly square and even the right finished size - yay!

And the year's tally to date.

Now, for the real fun part of this post - Kyle Redente of Timeless Reflections blog hosted a blogaversary giveaway a couple weeks back, and I was the lucky winner of one of the prizes - this sweet charm pack of holiday fabrics and a quilt pattern!

Christmas placemats are now on my list of projects for later this year as soon as the two grandbaby quilts are finished and gifted.  This morning I showed the pattern to our quilt ministry group and they are all wanting to try this pattern for some of our comfort quilts! Thank you Kyle!