Good grief--what was with Blogger the last couple days? I've been trying to upload these pictures since early Sunday morning and kept getting server error messages. I think it was their server and not mine, judging from the comments on the Blogger User Forums...
Anyway, things seem to be working once again.
Well now, it's a good thing I have dependable kitchen help. That really frees up a lot of extra time for me for sewing and knitting.
With the housework in good hands, I've gotten down to business on the vintage blocks I got a couple weeks ago from my friend Casey. But as most projects go for me, there are steps forward and then steps backward too.
Saturday was sunny and no snow was in the forecast, so I drove over to Sun Prairie, WI to JJ Stitches, a quilt shop specializing in vintage-look fabrics. I knew I'd find just the right antique-y prints that would mimic the little shirting prints in the block backgrounds. And I wasn't disappointed. I also got a red plaid for a sawtooth border. And came home very happy!
Then to the sewing room.
There were two good sets for these blocks. This one was my first plan:
This one was suggested by Polyquats on Flickr:
Both pretty interesting.! I finally went with the top set. The four blocks make a suggestion of roundness and I kind of liked that.
I decided to sew the blocks together in groups of four and then sash the groups with some vintage-y fabric I had on hand.
Then began the usual round of second-guessing. I decided that the sashing was too heavy-handed. I ripped it all apart and just sewed the blocks together. I want to add more size to this piece, but decided the best way was to leave the blocks alone and add size with borders.
Outside the blocks, I added a narrow inner border with a fabric similar to the backgrounds in the blocks, just to give the blocks a bit of breathing space before adding a pieced border.
(Do you think the original maker of these blocks would have done that? Probably not.) Next will be a sawtooth border in the red plaid. Then a wide border in an antique-looking light will bring the top to about 60 or so inches square.
Half-square triangles are made and pressed. Now to square them up and get them sewn together into the border.Saturday was sunny and no snow was in the forecast, so I drove over to Sun Prairie, WI to JJ Stitches, a quilt shop specializing in vintage-look fabrics. I knew I'd find just the right antique-y prints that would mimic the little shirting prints in the block backgrounds. And I wasn't disappointed. I also got a red plaid for a sawtooth border. And came home very happy!
Then to the sewing room.
There were two good sets for these blocks. This one was my first plan:
This one was suggested by Polyquats on Flickr:
Both pretty interesting.! I finally went with the top set. The four blocks make a suggestion of roundness and I kind of liked that.
I decided to sew the blocks together in groups of four and then sash the groups with some vintage-y fabric I had on hand.
Then began the usual round of second-guessing. I decided that the sashing was too heavy-handed. I ripped it all apart and just sewed the blocks together. I want to add more size to this piece, but decided the best way was to leave the blocks alone and add size with borders.
Outside the blocks, I added a narrow inner border with a fabric similar to the backgrounds in the blocks, just to give the blocks a bit of breathing space before adding a pieced border.
(Do you think the original maker of these blocks would have done that? Probably not.) Next will be a sawtooth border in the red plaid. Then a wide border in an antique-looking light will bring the top to about 60 or so inches square.
I'm so psyched about this simple little quilt!
9 comments:
I have the same kind of kitchen help. I hope we don't get busted for hiring illegals!!!
What a fun quilt!
I love what you're doing with these blocks. Looking at the top I can't tell which ones were the originals.
I liked the sashing - I can't believe you ripped it all back out. Looks good without it too. Still love these blocks. I see kitties looking at me.
You've captured the spirit of the blocks...they've been waiting for so many many years to come together...thanks for sharing your design process...
Wow, love watching you work through this. Amazing!
I like the idea of the sashing, but I think it's the dark color that made it seem a little too heavy. On the other hand, no sashing is great, too! That's one of the fun things about quilts, there's no one right answer.
So much fun to see the process! I'm looking forward to seeing this with the border.
I have kitchen help of that variety as well. Not only does he like to make sure the plates have been thoroughly rinsed, he wants to make sure the inside surface of the dishwasher door is clean too!
I like the way there's a secondary pinwheel created between the groups of four blocks now that you've removed the sashing. (So does that mean there are tertiary pinwheels in the center of the groups of four?!) Anxious to see the quilt with its' sawtooth border!
When I first saw the photo, it looked like your helper was stuck in the dishwasher. Phew!
I like the quilt without the sashing as well - the secondary patterns show more
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