Sometimes I don’t realize how challenging a block was to make until I try to attach it to other blocks.

Block C7 was definitely the problem block in this batch. If I tried to mark new stitching lines from the points near the centers of each side, then I ended up with very skimpy seam allowances in some corners, and the appliquéd diamonds were not centered in each corner.

But if I tried to mark the stitching lines around the edges of the block based on the location of the appliquéd diamonds, then the points near the center of each side would get cut off.

I just had to come to terms with the fact that this block is off-kilter. And I made this block relatively recently, so I can’t even blame it on being inexperienced.

Looking back at the construction process for Block C7, I’m not sure where it went wrong. Maybe it was the decision to not use Avery labels for those tiny pieces, trusting that I was being accurate enough in my piecing without them.

Or possibly it was the decision to modify how the corner triangles were done, assuming they would still line up and leave me with a square block of the right size.

Or it could be that I was just sick of the block by the time I attempted the way-too-pointy diamond appliqué work at the end.

Whatever the reason, I had to deal with the block I had. I opted for making sure the points were not cut off, which left the bottom left diamond way off center, and the bottom right diamond nearly caught in the seam allowance.

The rest of the blocks in the section were a breeze compared to that one, and went together relatively quickly. And once I got that top center section sewn together, I decided I wanted to sew it to the center, top right, and center right sections.

Sewing the longest seams to date (almost four feet) seemed like the perfect time to use my sewing bird. I got it set up, holding the fabric to the left.

But it turned out to be really awkward to sew this way. I looked for videos online of people using a sewing bird, and they were all extending the fabric out in front of the bird (rather than to the side), and doing a whipstitch along the seam.

It’s possible that sewing birds aren’t ever used for straight stitching. It certainly wasn’t working well for me. I kept stabbing myself in the left palm with the pins to the left of where I was stitching.

After trying multiple other bird positions, I declared the bird the wrong tool for the job, and started looking around for the right tool.

And it turned out the right tool was no tool at all. Instead, I just bunched up the pinned part of the fabric in my left hand, and let the rest of the fabric to the left of the pinned section dangle below my left hand.

Using this new method, I made quick work of assembling the four completed sections:

It was too late to go back and choose a different tool for Block C7, but choosing the right tool (in this case, my own hands) for the sashing made all the difference.