Next stage of Hearts and Hands

All 12 sections of Hearts and Hands are complete.

That's 70 blocks stitched down in place.

Next step is to sew the sections together which will create three horizontal seam lines and two vertical seam lines that will require the last 47 blocks to be stitched in place.  At that point, the center of this quilt will be complete.

But.....my fingers and hands are sore, so I am setting this aside for a few days just to take a break.  I have been working on this quilt  almost to the point of obsession, so I am sure it won't be long before I am back at it.   

At the rate I have been working on this, I am sure it won't be long before this is a top waiting to be quilted (Stage III).

Making Headway on Hearts and Hands......

My 117 finished, circular blocks are in various degrees of readiness to be appliqued down to the background. 

Back when I originally started making these blocks I immediately did a running stitch around a completed block and gathered it up to make the hem. So these are pressed and  ready to go.

The later ones, I was just happy to get the applique done, so now I have to gather them up and press in the hem.

When it comes to the numerous star blocks that I paper pieced most recently I have decided they need to be stitched with a Pellon backing to get that nice curve and then turn them right side out.  There are so many layers in the seam allowance I felt this would work best.  This is how I am going about that.
I lay the star block onto a square piece of Pellon.

Then I stitch all the way around  for a 1/4" seam allowance and then trim.

I make a good sized slit and then turn the block right side out.

Give it a good press and then trim away the excess.

I am hand appliqueing all the blocks to the background.

Little by little I am making progress on this quilt.  I am trying to finish a section at a time no matter which stage each block is at.  It feels good to just get one section complete and then set aside.

At this point, I have six sections completely appliqued.

These sections don't necessarily attach to each other, but I have them marked as to their positions

Once all sections are complete, then I will sew them together and then more blocks will be placed on the newly created  intersections (seam lines).

At this point, 28 blocks are stitched down.

I really do see a light at the end of this tunnel.  I am getting excited!!