A break from the diamonds

Okay, enough of the diamonds. Let's wrap it up - two things:

1. If you're using a template, don't assume that it will be the same exact shape and size right side up and upside down, no matter how symmetrical it looks. I'm embarrassed to say that this was most definitely the cause of most of my problems. When you're using solids it's that much harder since you can't tell front and back side... I suggest writing your name or something on the template so you can at least make sure the template is right side up. Then you can mark the fabric in some other way I guess.

2. When you are piecing your strips of diamonds together you can stretch them and make them line up pretty well. Even if they don't line up perfectly, just make it work. It's amazing how sewing at that angle can hide a lot!

I actually want to try a diamond quilt again (even though I'm not done with this one yet) because I love the look of it and learned so many things along the way! I guess I aired my dirty sewing laundry out here exposing all of my mistakes and "fudges," but if it helps someone else out then that's worth it.

IN BETTER NEWS:

I have a new addition to my family! Me and my new sewing machine spent a lot of time this weekend getting to know each other. The difference between my old machine and my new machine is huge and I'm really happy that I finally made the leap. For something that I use every day, it's probably a good idea for it to be a machine that works really well.

This is the project I was working on - and oh man did the quilting go a lot faster than it would have on my old machine!

Thanks for looking!