Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
This is my second attempt. The first attempt used a nine patch in the same violet as the four patches and triangles.
I probably would have used a different color for the four patches, but I decided to make it a little different and keep the violet.
Mrs. Lloyd’s Favorite pattern, in case you want to make one of these.
I love this one. It came out really well, I think. I really like the combination of blue and green. I don’t think I have anymore of either, though I have to look in my cool solids box in the Fabric Closet.
In case you want to make one of these, here is the Star Puzzle Pattern.
In EQ7 this block is called Nameless (it’s Barbara Brackman number is 2047). I don’t know if that means that its name is ‘Nameless’ or that it doesn’t have a name. It is possible that the name is just not in EQ, though they are pretty good, so I think that is unlikely. If it doesn’t have a name, that is kind of sad. I think it looks like a prism or a crystal, so that is what I am calling it. I’ll look it up sometime and see.
I am, however, not making as much progress as I wanted. I really wanted to make all 12 blocks over the holiday weekend, so I would be caught up. That isn’t going to happen, though, I have made a dent.
I also have to select the next four blocks to make and I haven’t even begun to think about that.
I have to say that my attempts at choosing fabrics were a bit feeble before I started making blocks. I am using the fabrics from the group I chose early on, but I have been finding that I have to add to them as well. I grabbed that light purple dot for this block and have used it in one other. I also have a batik that I think I will add to the group. I didn’t have enough darks (but I think I knew that), so I have added some darker solids. I don’t want to overwhelm the aquas and light purples, so I am trying to use them judiciously.
This is an excellent exercise in contrasts and in making sure that the stars are crisp.
We are working on on the Oh My Stars quilt-a-long, though it was started awhile ago and everyone else is done!
I have to say that this is not an easy project. I keep cutting and recutting. I have various parts of Sawtooth Stars that didn’t work laying all over my sewing and cutting tables. I don’t know what my problem is. I blame it on the cold.
I was, again, trying to play with the idea of stars within stars. The block in the pattern was not colored this way. The patches around the turquoise star were different than the very largest outside legs. Even though the green print on the largest star is busy, I think it works and I am pleased with the way this one came out.
We are working on on the Oh My Stars quilt-a-long, though it was started awhile ago and everyone else is done!
This block was an unexpected success! I was very pleased with the way it went together (no ripping or recutting) and also with the serendipitous use of fabric. I am out of that blue, which is too bad, because it is a great blue.
3 down 9 to go.
We are working on on the Oh My Stars quilt-a-long, though it was started awhile ago and everyone else is done!
I made this block after finally finishing the Barbershop Quartet. After the drama of that block, this was a breeze and I got on a roll trying to catch up with the blocks.
I was kind of sad about that as as I wanted to work on the back for the FOTY 2012, but it is fine.
I wish I had used a darker print for the smaller Flying Geese, but that will be the reward to the viewer for coming in closer.
We are working on on the Oh My Stars quilt-a-long, though it was started awhile ago and everyone else is done!
This block took me over a week to make. I don’t think it has taken me more than a week to make a block since my first quilt project when I was learning. The first Swoon block, when I was working out the details, may have taken me a week.
I think part of the problem was that I was trying to use the Wing Clipper (some further info about the technique is in the 1/24/2013 blog post) to make the Flying Geese units. That is no problem, except that I didn’t have the finished sizes of the units and had to guess a bit, because I didn’t want to draw out the block to scale and measure. My own fault, definitely. Guessing didn’t work very well for me, so I wasted a lot of fabric and took a lot of time.
I also have a cold and was very tired yesterday, which I am sure didn’t help my thinking very much.
Anyway, the block is done and I like it. I played a bit with the negative space again and think that looks cool. You can see TFQ’s version on Flickr.
This is the second 12″ block I have made for the Star Sampler, which I think really should be called the Sawtooth Star Sampler since we are using all Sawtooth Stars. I think I am now only 10 blocks behind – or maybe 6. I’ll have to see.
The last block I made for this project was Mosaic No.19.
This is a block made from leftovers of the Swoon blocks. I’ll probably donate it if I get asked for a block.
These are the last two Patchwork Wheel blocks. I can now prepare the top and back and finish this project.
I needed a venue for the large Joel Dewberry prints. I decided that I would use the All Washed Up pattern called Sparkling Cider to which I was introduced at the November BAMQG meeting. I really struck by the pattern, because of the wonderful way the pattern showcased large print fabrics. Mallory kindly loaned me the pattern, though the pattern is very straightforward and I had already designed a version in EQ7.
The blocks required for this quilt are 4 large Sawtooth Star blocks with no borders and 16 8″ Sawtooth Star blocks that have multiple borders that bring the 8″ blocks up to 16″. I have made the large Sawtooth Star blocks and about half of the smaller blocks.
I am using the Joel Dewberry Notting Hill prints and very much enjoying them. I am tempted to purchase more of them, but perhaps these are enough?
I am including some other large prints in addition to the Notting Hill prints. The Notting Hill prints have some orange in them, so I have added some orange as well.
I wanted to make this as a quick and fun quilt top. I have so many fun pink fabrics that I thought combining the Notting Hill prints with them would be a great opportunity to use a variety. I didn’t want this to be a Joel Dewberry quilt, and, though, I think the Notting Hill prints are prominent, I don’t think the blocks, so far, scream Joel Dewberry.
I wanted to get this top finished before I went back to work, but it wasn’t to be. I have made good progress, and will finish it soon.
Here are some more Patchwork Wheel blocks. I am a bit stuck on the last few, because I misplaced a stack of fabrics. Sigh. I hope to have found it and be back on track by the time you read this.
I am having fun with Ribbet. Sometimes I don’t want to deal with the formatting of multiple photos and Ribbet is a good alternative. I can do some quick collages, basic editing and pull from Flickr. It is free, you don’t have to register (though you get more, if you do) and it is relatively quick.
I pretended for a long time that I was just playing around with blocks, but after posting Swoon Block #13, I had to admit that this was a project.
I decided that I would finish up the last few blocks, put them together, make a back and see what would come next.
I am pretty pleased with the way the blocks have come out. I don’t know if this will be the permanent arrangement. I am considering and will have to see.
I am hard on the heels of bordering this quilt top. I had hoped to have the border, the back as well as the back for the Spiderweb done by the time I go back to work tomorrow, but I can see that isn’t going to happen. Life interferes. I have to eat, play chauffeur, spend time with DH. I am fortunate that life interferes. It is work I could really do without, as long as they would pay me not to show up. 😉
The first thing I did was put a framing border on the top. The variety of colors needed to be contained and the pinky orange did a good job.
Next on the agenda, which I know is going to cause me problems is the larger outside border. I am taking elements from the Swoon blocks (the corner piece, the house shape, or as Sarah calls it: the Turkey Butt) and making them to insert in the corners and middle of the borders. I am pretty sure I don’t have enough of the border fabric, so we will see how that works out.
Lack of planning with rending of garments or design challenge?
You can read about preventing sickly sweetness in the last post about this project.
I sewed the last two blocks. They look great, I think. I did have some challenges picking the fabrics for the last two blocks.
I had picked out a certain crop of fabrics for these blocks. I didn’t want to add in any new ones that I didn’t have to add, because they wouldn’t be in the rest of the quilt.
If you zoom in you might see that I pieced some of the fabrics to make sure I had enough. That odd piecing doesn’t really show even in person, so I am happy.
Block #16 was a bit of a challenge, because I couldn’t decide if I wanted to use more of the blue Sophia fabric that kind of started me on this journey.I finally decided that I liked it enough to use it. I also decided that it wouldn’t scream out of the quilt that I had used too much of it. The blues are relatively strong in this piece, but I don’t think they overwhelm it. I think the blues keep it from being too sickly sweet with pink.
Now I am done with these blocks. I have decided that 16 is enough.
The last post was about the other Swoon block I made recently.
I am on a roll. I want to try more color combinations. I think I get more wild each time. I also have a certain number of fabrics I designated for use and don’t want to expand very much before I finish.
Yes, I am thinking about finishing, but how can I finish when a project isn’t really a project?
I have never counted this as a project, but I think I have to admit that it is. I now have 13 blocks, this one being the latest. I also have #14 on the Design wall.
I decided that I would make the last few blocks and sew this piece together. I have had my fun and would like to finish this piece.
I don’t hate the process, so it won’t be a chore or anything. I just want to move on, especially with the Star Sampler looming.
I guess I also have to admit that, while I am pleased with the progress I have made on clearing out old projects, I want to clear out more lurking projects. I don’t want anymore 10 year+ projects hanging around.
You can take a look at Swoon blocks 11 & 12.