After sweating over the applique, I decided it was time to relax and just piece some straight lines. A6 is perfect for that since it is a simple 9-patch with a larger center.

B3, a modified Drunkard's Path, can be pieced or appliqued. Since I am doing the entire top by hand and applique is not proving to be my strong suit, I pieced it.

The traditional 9-patch finally crops up in the last row of blocks in the quilt as M10, and turns my total completed blocks to 11 on 8 July. Pretty good considering I started at the beginning of the month!

Since starting this quilt, I have become very fond of what I have taken to calling "X-Blocks." Leafing through the book, I was immediately intriqued with this one, D7, and am thinking of doing an entire quilt with this block (although NOT hand-pieced!)

Another X Block, H13. Jane was certainly fond of little skinny pieces, although some block have skinnier ones. The light pieces which form the X are 1/2" after piecing and it shows every ripple if you don't sew exactly straight.

I was thinking that thicker bars would be easier to handle, especially after the skinny bars in H13, but if A8 taught me anything, it was to respect bias edges, even if you're stitching by hand.

"One more attempt at X Blocks," I told myself, "and I'll go on to something else for a while." F4 was a little better than H13, but some good pressing will have to straighten a couple of the wobbles. At least the corners all line up!

And now for something completely different. I love stars and I have been having trouble piecing stars like G8 by machine, because of the inset, Y, seams. I was thinking that it would be easier by hand, and it was, but my big problem turned out to be: do I press the seams open, making it easier to inset the side pieces, or do I press them closed, making the center a little less bulk?