It was nice to have a really simple block for a change. It’s been several complicated blocks in a row, and I was ready for a slam dunk.

I cut out this beginner block on the night of May 10th and had it done mid-day on May 12th. No wonder I could get so many more blocks done in the early days!

There aren’t too many beginner blocks left (seven after this), but I’m glad I still have a few easy ones to sprinkle in.

Early on, I was doing all beginner blocks, but I figured if I didn’t start working on some more complicated ones, I was going to finish all the easy blocks and then lack the motivation to move on with the rest of the quilt.

So, I have self-imposed rules for choosing new blocks:

• Every fifth block, I need to do an advanced difficulty block
• Every third block, I need to do a triangle block
• Every fourth block, I need to do an appliqué block

But I break my self-imposed rules all the time, constructing whichever block strikes my fancy, which is how the third rule came about earlier this year. Appliqué struck my fancy so rarely that the appliqué blocks were really starting to stack up.

I’m getting down to the end now … only 50 blocks left to do after this, and I don’t want to be stuck with all appliqué in the last dozen blocks.

Despite my rules, I do get to mix in a beginner block once in a while, and I sure was glad to do this one: a beginner difficulty, square, non-appliquéd block. A relief after the previous (advanced difficulty appliquéd triangle) block.

The downside is that there doesn’t seem to be a lot to say about the beginner blocks – no assembly challenges, no feverish pattern redrafts, no dramatic last-minute pivots … this one wasn’t even using a new and interesting fabric.

It’s just a couple of four-patches, with some sashing around them, joined with two more squares to make a bigger four-patch. Nothing to report here.

That’s one advantage of the block-choosing rules. They force me to periodically work on blocks that are more challenging. And never fear – I’ll have plenty to talk about on my next block: an interesting fabric and a new technique!