Summer Sampler 2016 // Week 5 [Sugarhouse]

Monday's are my favorite-- it means a new Summer Sampler 2016 block is released. Today's block, Sugarhouse, was designed by me. I am loving how many people are sewing along this summer!!!  I say this every week, but there are so many great blocks on Instagram [#summersampler2016], definitely worth checking out.Because I enjoy seeing how different people interpret the block each week, in terms of color, value, fabric placement, etc.,

Sugarhouse F

Sugarhouse G

I thought I would share how I have been choosing fabric for these blocks, which is a little bit deliberate, and a little bit trial and error.I start by choosing two fabrics that I know I want to include, and then cut out those pieces, plus the background. In this case, it was the orange outer "ring," the teal rectangles, and the white background. I put all of those pieces on my design wall, and then started auditioning fabrics for the center. I was sure I wanted to use teal or orange.But I didn't really like either. So I started pulling other fabrics--I didn't cut the center square to audition, but instead used scraps from earlier blocks, are cuts of fabric that I already had.

Sugarhouse D

Sugarhouse B

Sugarhouse C

Sugarhouse E

Sugarhouse A

These photos aren't especially pretty, but they do tell the story.I have a lot of this pink/plum color in the other blocks, but it didn't seem quite right. I love this acid lemon color, but not for this.This fish fabric (from Porto by Sarah Watts) is a favorite, but the color is off. I thought I had finally found it when I pulled out this navy "stripe" (its from Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis). I decided to just try white, to be sure, and I loved it. It brightened the whole look of the block, and I was sold.Since I posted this block this morning, I have seen a number of great interpretations of this block sewn, all different.I would love to know how you pick your fabrics for this quilt (and others).Happy sewing!