I did it. I made it through an entire year of trying something new every month and I’m quite pleased with it. There were some things I had hoped to get to but didn’t, but I still challenged myself a lot and did a lot of things I had been nervous to try.

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This month’s project falls into the “nervous to try” category. Last year for Christmas (yes, I’ve had this sitting around for almost a year…) my mother-in-law got me a Sizzix 659500 Fabi Cutting Machine*. It’s been sitting on a shelf because I was so intimidated to try it. I felt like I didn’t have a handle on the whole quilting thing yet, so it seemed crazy to add a machine to the mix.

Well, I feel like a fool because this thing is amazing! One of my favorite types of quilts has always been half square triangles. I love the simplicity of them. I’ve made a handful of blocks but haven’t done anything with them because of all the trimming required.

I used the 2″ Half-Square Triangles* die and they cut perfectly. You can use up to 8 pieces of fabric at a time, which is pretty spectacular.

I didn’t actually have a project in mind but I got to cutting. I quickly had a big stack of rainbow scraps and low volume whites. I started randomly pairing them together and they make absolutely perfect HST that don’t require trimming.

These ones are tiny, 2″ finished. So it’s doubtful that this will ever become a quilt, but I do want to make a bag or pouch with them. I want to get the Half-Square Triangles, 4.5 Inch Finished Square* and actually make a scrappy, rainbow quilt.

This was definitely a TSNEM where I felt really silly for having waited so long. It ended up being so easy and can make my life so much simpler. I’ve made three quilt tops this month (I can’t wait to show them off!) but the cutting was definitely my least favorite part!

Check out my past TSNEM posts –
January – Woodburning
February – Sashiko Embroidery
March – Macarons
April – Foundation Paper Piecing
May – Biscornu
June – Log Cabin Pillows
July – Knowing When To Give Up
August – August TSNEM – Sewing with Knit Fabric
September – Quilting with a Walking Foot
October – Stumpwork Embroidery
November – Binding

Read more about TSNEM here.

See what other bloggers made this month:

• Kristy at Simply This Life tried tatting
• Rebecca at Hugs are Fun tried using a fabric die cutter
• Stephanie at Swoodson Says tried quilling