Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
After cutting a lot of pieceswrong and having to re-cut I finally finished block 1. What I figured out is that I am struggling to cut the HRT B pieces.
For the next block, I will label much better. I had a hard time figuring out which ruler to use for trimming.
I am pleased with the fabrics I chose.
It really is all about mystery quilts lately.
I finally got all the pieces I needed for the first block cut out correctly and started to sew the block together.
I am struggling with the HuRTy rulers**. I wanted to give up since my sewing time is really precious. However, cutting the background was so easy that I have it already cut out and couldn’t see wasting those strips. I’ll get there.
So far, I think it is an interesting design, but not one I would have come up with myself. Perhaps this is a stretch for me? I am definitely using my brain with the rulers.
**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this website.
The back of Old Town is done. I have sewn the binding, so it is ready to be applied after the quilting is done. With all of these chores done, the quilt is ready to go to Colleen for longarming.
I used a really nice wisteria print from Philip Jacobs. I had two pieces, which means I bought it twice, but I can’t remember where. The colors fit perfectly with the Old Town top.
The blue swirly prints were leftovers from the Half Hexie Star quilt. I wanted a little bit of that fabric on a quilt I will probably keep.
So, on to quilting. I have to arrange that, but hope to take another quilt at the same time.
I started Latifah Saafir’s Triumphant Mystery quilt. It is a lot of cutting and I have to re-learn how to use the HuRTy ruler. Well, there are three of them in use for this quilt, so HuRTys!
I cut a bunch of pieces wrong, because of my misunderstanding of the instructions. Fortunately, I have enough fabric to make a few mistakes. I am struggling to get the flip of the ruler(s) from A pieces to B pieces correct. I am trying to be more careful as I don’t have infinite fabric.
I finished the Old Town quilt top over the weekend! Hooray! I am so glad it is done.
It is pretty pink. Pretty in Pink? I don’t think it screams ‘little girl’. It does remind me of my childhood bedroom.
Now just to make the back and then I can take it to be quilted.
I couldn’t help adding a picture of the corner as I was assembling the last borders. I think the whole effect is really great.
Sorry for the strange lighting. There was actually some sun at my house when I was trying to take the photo.
DH was out of town all week with the Native Sons at Grand Parlor. I didn’t go as I had to work and hold down the fort at home. Instead of cooking dinner (hooray for microwaves!) I sewed and the Old Town second border is now complete.
I keep looking at this piece and marveling at how different it looks with borders. OMG! So much better. Who knew a border could do so much?
I continued to work in dribs and drabs to get another border on Old Town. This one is a pieced checkerboard border.
I considered stopping work on this quilt at the plain border. I decided to soldier on because I already had made hundreds of 4 Patches.
I am amazed at how different the quilt looks after adding that checkerboard border. I know I only photographed half of the quilt. I stood and looked at it for a long time trying to figure out why that one border made such a difference.
Yes, I got through all of my goals over the weekend, including putting a border on Old Town. This is the first of three borders, so don’t celebrate too much yet, but I am making progress!
As mentioned, we are all about starting projects here at AQ!
Yes, I am doing the Latifah Saafir Mystery quilt. My time has not become more free, but I am doing it anyway. It uses the HuRTy and this is a good way to get the tool into my bag of tricks.
It is a little unclear to me whether you can still join, but here is a link and you might be able to navigate your way from there.
Latifah is at H&H in Chicago (whatever that is!), so participants have a little time. I have two selections of fabric that I am contemplating. The quilt needs 7 fabrics including a contrasting background.
First, is all fabrics that I bought recently.
Most of them are from Guicy Guice, but there are a few from Alison Glass and that white is Seasons from Figo fabrics.
This is mostly cool colors, which should come as no surprise. I am not sure if there is enough contrast, but I like all the fabrics, so I am willing to go with it.
The second option is an old fabric pull for which I am still seeking a project.
I still really like this group of fabrics. I am just not sure if pointy HRTs would work with the Coneflowers & Chrysanthemums.
I do feel like there is something missing and I can’t quite figure out what. Dots, maybe?
I spent last weekend putting the blocks for Old Town together. I didn’t have the whole weekend, but the center is now complete and I like the way it turned out.
I am not sure I put the blocks together in the order I originally intended, but I never do.
Next step is the borders. I have the HSTs sewn, but not pressed or trimmed.
Since all the blocks and sashing are finished, I put them up on my large design wall. They barely fit!! You can see some blocks for my next donation quilt hanging on the right side of the design wall.
I keep moving blocks around, but I am about to start sewing the blocks and the sashing together. The different values of the pinks and blues make various parts of the quilt stand out. I also think the different fabrics move the eye around the piece.
I visited Cyndi for a Sew Day last weekend and was able to get the Old Town sashing to a good place. I had a lot of 1.5 inch squares to cut and then a lot of trimming to make a house shaped rectangle. It was a lot better to do all of that work with a friend. We were able to chat while I did the tedious parts and that was great.
I got out the Simply Folded Ruler** again to create the flippy corners of those house shapes. That ruler is a gem. I always forget, but it really makes those flippy corners easy to sew. I didn’t have to draw diagonal lines on the squares, which would have made the process even more tedious. AND there was no trimming afterwards which meant no opportunity to cut off the wrong triangle. I haven’t tried one of the Simply Folded patterns (actually Antler Quilt Designs). I remember seeing one that was interesting at the Granary, but thought I was too busy to buy it. I was surprised at how many patterns the company has. I remember them being kind of country colors and having weird looking angles, but that isn’t true. There are a variety of patterns, some with brighter colors and fewer weird angles.
The good part about Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilts is that she suggests different methods of making the various units. I was reintroduced to the Simply Folded Ruler** through this project. It is good to be reminded of how I can use different tools.
Work has been very busy. It is stressful and I have been sewing a bit at lunch and after work. I haven’t had much time, but my effort at the Retreat at block making has gotten the process down to a science. I can make each block in about half an hour. Still, it has taken me several days to make this batch.
With this group, I only have four more left to make.
I didn’t have much time to sew on Sunday due to my caregiving duties. Between Sunday and Monday, however, I sewed two more Old Town blocks. I really like having my design wall on which to lay them out.
These two blocks were possible because, first, I sewed all the HSTs I would need to finish the block assembly. Now it is just laying them out and sewing the pieces together.