Clamshell quilt patterns

I started quilting a few months ago after a friend taught me how to hem my own pants. So far I've made two quilts for other coworkers baby shower gifts and each was better than the last. I think I'd like to make one for myself now.
Background: I'm trans and even after I came out I still held on to one of my favorite dresses. I loved the fabric and look of it. I'd like to repurpose the fabric from the dress for my quilt that way I can have it forever.
It's a Michael Miller fabric in the nevermore collection called Goth bugs.
I'm going for a black and white theme to match that. What pattern or style would best feature this fabric? I'm aiming for a full or queen size blanket.

Especially with a walking foot.
I am taking a beginners quilting class from my LQS and this week our homework is to draw out our quilting pattern/grid and pin baste our quilt sandwich. Knowing that we're supposed to use a walking foot in class for this part, I immediately started to grid out a variation of an orange peel pattern (from Walk 2.0 by Jacquie Gering), only to be told by my teacher that we weren't going across the whole quilt but would be going block by block so I would be doing a lot of turning of my quilt to do the pattern I was gridding out.
The default pattern our teacher is expecting is a simple crosshatch that intersects in the center of each block, making Xs through individual blocks.
Is...is there a reason for using a walking foot to go block by block vs going across the quilt? Is this so I get used to wrestling the weight of a lap quilt through my machine in small pieces instead of sending long sections of my quilt through the machine at once?

Anyone else find that “easy” quilt designs are harder for you than ones that supposedly have a higher difficulty?
Why are the harder things easier for me and the easier things harder?
Does it have anything to do with my perfectionism and anxiety over things being more obvious/noticeable in easier projects that makes me fuss more and take longer and my puzzle solving skills and eye for detail that ease more complex patterns for me?
Am I alone in this or do you struggle with this too?

On my longarm I always do an all-over quilting pattern because I like to begin and end off the edge of my quilt. This obviously limits any more custom quilting, and I’d like to branch out to doing more types of quilting within one quilt. How does the stopping and starting work so that it doesn’t unravel? I know there is a knotting function on the machine. Do I just use that, or will that leave a visible knot? Just so afraid I’ll do all this work and then have it come undone!

Vaping is no longer just a smoking cessation method; it has evolved into a lifestyle. Whether you're into chasing clouds or savoring flavors, knowing the ins and outs of traveling with your vape e-cigarettes across the European Union (EU) is vital. While there are some requirements, think of it as preparing a Swiss army knife—stay ready for anything, and you'll breeze through. Let's explore the essentials to ensure your vaping style stays intact and your journeys hassle-free.
Traveling with vape e-cigarettes can seem like navigating a maze of regulations. With each country in the EU having its unique rules, it's like playing a game of chess—strategy is critical.

Understanding EU Regulations

The EU needs a unified approach to e-cigarettes so the rules can vary significantly from one country to another. It’s like a patchwork quilt—each piece with its pattern but part of a bigger picture.

Air Travel with E-cigarettes

When flying, always keep your e-cigarettes in your carry-on baggage. Storing them in checked luggage is against airline policies and could lead to safety hazards.

Handling Airport Security

Security protocols may seem overwhelming. Approach them as you would when preparing a gourmet meal—everything must be meticulously arranged for a seamless vaping experience.

Train Travel Considerations

Are you traveling by train? Each rail company has its guidelines, similar to restaurants' dress codes. Know before you go!

Road Trips and Ferries

The freedom of a road trip comes with a need to understand the rules of the road and the sea. Think of it as tuning your instrument before a concert—essential for a flawless performance.

Country-Specific Rules

Navigating country-specific regulations is essential. It's akin to adjusting your watch to a new time zone—necessary to stay in sync.

Packing Tips for Vapers

Packing your vape gear correctly is as important as packing a parachute for skydiving. Safety and convenience are paramount.

Battery Safety During Travel

Batteries are the heart of your vaping device. Handle them like you would a delicate ornament—carefully and with great attention to detail.

Where to Vape: Know Your Zones

Not every place welcomes vaping. It’s like knowing which fork to use at a formal dinner—knowledge is power.

Cultural Considerations

Being culturally sensitive about vaping is as essential as knowing the local language. It helps in blending in smoothly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problems can pop up unexpectedly. Think of them as puzzles to be solved on the go.

Traveling with E-liquid

For example, choosing the right fuel for your car and picking and packing your e-liquid for travel are crucial for a good trip.

Legal Restrictions and Penalties

Awareness of legal boundaries is as critical as knowing the road rules. It keeps you safe and sound.

To Wrap It Up

Traveling with your vape e-cigarettes in the EU doesn’t have to be complicated. With the proper preparation and knowledge, you can enjoy your journey as much as your destination.

I'm on my third quilt and I'm struggling with nailing down what my style is in terms of color palettes and patterns. I follow a lot of quilters whose work I admire and I do a ton of pinteresting/online window shopping at patterns and fabrics, but I end up feeling overwhelmed and pulled in a lot of different directions creatively. I guess my question is: has anyone else experienced this and how do you move through it?

A family friend of mine recently went to the store to get me some yarn (shoutout to her, she's lovely), and came across one of the pioneer woman crochet kits- specifically the tea towel crochet topper. She misread it and believed that it was an already-assembled product. Because of this, it ended up in my hands as she has no idea how to crochet and trusted me to make it for her! I saw the kit, gave it an overall glance, and figured it would be a smooth process...boy was I wrong.
For starters, I will say that the kit comes with pretty much everything you'd need to make the towel. It comes with a tea towel, sewing needle and thread, two buttons, a crochet hook, and two skeins of yarn. This kit is supposed to make two towels.
I will say, for 15 dollars, the materials aren't horrible. The hook is ergonomic, the yarn is soft, and you get quite a lot of thread. The buttons are also super cute!
My problem though? The pattern. It is quite clear that the producers thought more of the materials than the pattern.
For the towel portion, row one already starts off with a "Chain one, sc 32". Excuse me? The more that I went through the pattern, more and more did not line up and the directions were unclear. By row 7, I was already scratching my head. The pattern claims to have 20 rows total, but the last two rows are simply "19: Cut string 2 inches", and "20: Weave back through top".
I figured that I could at least troubleshoot and make my way through the pattern, but I found myself giving up and tossing it aside. Determined to make my friend a cute towel, I decided to consult another video on how to make a towel topper.
Do not waste your money here. If you want to make a towel topper with a cute pattern, just buy a towel at the local dollar store, dig out some yarn from the back of your stash, and with the materials you already have along with some spare buttons, this project is infinitely cheaper.
I know that at the end of the day, you pay for the pioneer woman branded materials with the towel designed after her theme. The pattern claims that the project, in total, takes 2H 40MIN to complete, but due to the absolute garbled (and probably AI generated) pattern directions, I spent more time trying to figure it out and inevitably discarding them for directions I gathered for free.
I also want to add that I am not a beginner and have been crocheting for over ten years. I will admit that I do better with video instructions than a written pattern, but usually I can figure out even the trickiest of patterns.
What I gather from all of this is that I am tired of companies capitalizing off of the crochet trend and not even doing an ounce of research. The pioneer woman is known for cooking- she doesn't knit, crochet, sew, quilt, or anything within the fiber arts realm. She's better off just selling the cute branded towels.
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TL;DR: Pioneer Woman crochet kits are a waste of money considering that I could understand my doctor's handwriting before I understood the pattern. If you try one yourself, good luck.