quilting

Mr. Manatee

Today I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Manatee, the 8th block of the Awesome Ocean Sew Along hosted by Kathleen McMusing. I am delighted to be a guest host today, and I have a few tips to share with you.

Mr. Manatee - Block 8 of the Awesome Ocean pattern by Elizabeth Hartman - piecefulthoughts.com

Manatee or ??

So I took a poll in our family – three of us participated. Two of us think Mr. Manatee looks more like an otter (including the family scientist), and one thinks Mr. Manatee is a seal. So there you have it. What do you think?

Scrappy Tips

I’m making my Awesome Ocean blocks from my batik scraps/stash. Let me show you the little amount of fabric these blocks require. This photo shows the little stack of scraps I used for the teal block. The largest piece in that stack is approximately 6″ wide.

Mr. Manatee - I have my Island Batik fabric scraps, my Alphbitties and Wonder clips ready to start this Awesome Ocean block from Elizabeth Hartmann's pattern - piecefulthoughts.com

Note that I have my Wonder Clips* and Alphabitties* ready to go . Be sure that you have your favorite labeling ready to go – you’ll need it.

Here are my manatee body pieces cut from that scrap stack.

Mr. Manatee - Finished cutting the manatee body, which uses very little fabric and is easy to do with scraps - piecefulthoughts.com

I had plenty of scraps for the body, with a little bit left over. If you use scraps, be sure to avoid the bias; you don’t want to have to fuss with that while sewing little pieces.

Tip: When I cut from scraps for this pattern, I cut the widest cut first, then work down from there. For example, if my largest piece is 3″ x 5″, I cut a 3″ strip, cut my 5″ piece and use the remains of the strip for as many of the other cuts as possible. Hope that makes sense.

Labeling is Key

Okay, here are all my pieces cut and ready to go.

Mr. Manatee - All my pieces cut for Mr. Manatee's body and snout. Labeling is key - piecefulthoughts.com

Actually the background pieces are missing in this photo! However, you can see why labeling is key with these blocks.

Tip: Even though the pieces are small and many, it is quite easy to cut multiple blocks at a time. It saves time. I often cut the pieces one day, then did the sewing the next.

Stop, Look and Read

Be sure to read the instructions. There are several tips along the way. For instance, don’t miss the “Important Note” boxes on some of the pages. They include important tips and alerts to unusual cuts.

Mr. Manatee - It's easy to miss a step if you don't pay attention. Time to fix that snout! - piecefulthoughts.com

I was buzzing along on my second Mr. Manatee block, only to find that I had missed the folded corner on the snout. I had a ripping good time fixing that. You want to avoid that, so be sure to look at the photos, read the instructions, and don’t rush. And keep an eye on the orientation of those folded corners too!

Tip: Speaking of folded corners, there are several rulers on the market to make them easier to sew. The rulers are helpful if you find that drawing the diagonal line and stitching doesn’t give you a square corner. The rulers also eliminate the step of drawing the diagonal line, as well as giving you a visual of the 1/4″ seam. If you Google “folded corner rulers” you can watch a video or two. Another nifty tool is the Diagonal Seam Tape* by Cluck Cluck Sew if you’d rather use that method.

It’s Hip to be Square

As I’ve constructed each of the Awesome Ocean blocks, I find it has been so much easier if I measure, square, and trim up the pieces of each step. This is especially important for those unusual steps where you sew the strip first, then trim it. The measurement needs to be correct or it throws everything off, and ripping the small pieces is time consuming and tricky.

Have fun!

I have thoroughly enjoyed constructing the blocks for this pattern. Each one seems to have a personality all its own. Even though there are small pieces, the pattern is well done and well illustrated. The final construction of the quilt top is simple and quite fast.

Mr. Manatee - My Mr. Manatee blocks for the Awesome Ocean SAL with Kathleen McMusing using the Awesome Ocean pattern by Elizabeth Hartman - piecefulthoughts.com

If all goes well, I’ll be taking my finished Awesome Ocean baby quilt to the ocean for a few photos this coming week. Fingers crossed I get the quilting and binding done!

Thank you, Kathleen, for a delightful project and for all the tips and encouragement along the way! Are you sewing along with us? Leave me a comment and let us know how it’s going!

*I have no affiliation with any of these products, I just enjoy using them and wanted to share that with you.

Happy quilting, my friends!

Wendy

23 Comments

  • Cindy Pieters

    I agree with the poll Mr. Manatee does look more like an otter, but he is still cute! I can’t wait to see the finished quilt.

  • karenfae

    I think more like a seal but I am not real familiar with any of them so who am I to say LOL – cute what ever it is!

  • thedarlingdogwood

    I admit, I don’t think the pattern looks much like a manatee either, but husband does. I asked him what it was without telling the answer and that was his guess. I thought otter until he pointed out the tail. I like the seal guess!

    Your manatee/otter/seals are super cute! Thanks for the tips! I hope to make mine soon.

    I LOVE that diagonal seam tape! I just bought some with a Christmas gift card and it’s fabulous! I’ve used it for all my Awesome Ocean blocks and think I would have been driven batty without it!

  • Linda

    I voted for “something else” on Kathleen’s blog since it is missing arms – lol! I especially love the fabric you chose for the head on the orange one and fussy cut the center of his forehead. Really cute Wendy.

  • Quilting is in my Blood

    They have an otter vibe to me. Thanks for the tips about folded corners. I’m about to start a project with over 50 snowball blocks, so I just treated myself to a folded corners ruler. I really love how this project is coming together. Have a great day, Mary.

  • Barbara

    Oh my gosh…they are just too cute. I recall the lengths we went to to see the manatees when we were in Florida. Now I realize I could have made my own! Silly me.

  • Kate

    I like blocks that can be “interpreted” by the viewer of the quilt. It makes it much more of a conversation piece. No matter what the viewer decides the blocks are, they look great. Very colorful and well pieced.

  • lapaylor

    welllll having grown up in Florida, I’ve seen a lot of manatees and they seldom stand right up on their hind fins lol! There is something not manatee-ish about the pattern… but it’s aquatic!

  • rl2b2017

    Hi Wendy! You’re the hostess with the mostess, and a very cute block to share. I agree with the otter-esque look of these two. But they sure have personality whatever creature they are. They make me smile and I love the fabrics you chose. I can’t wait to see you finished quilt . . . by the ocean or not. ~smile~ Roseanne

  • Louise Hornor

    Very cute sea mammal! I think he looks like an otter because manatees have much bigger snouts and much smaller eyes. Oh well! As long as they are happy and healthy, it’s all good 🙂

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