Experimenting with Layouts

While I can plan string quilts on EQ8, the pictures never show the real variety of string blocks.When I made Multi-Color Stars, I mentioned that I was going to make an experiment to see if I could show the layout to better effect. Here are the results.
 

String Stars 65" x 75" (straight layout)

String Stars 65" x 75" (offset layout)

Other than the layout, these quilts are alike in overall size, size of blocks (4.5" finished), mix of strings, and fabric for the stars. With the straight layout, the string diamonds come together in fours (focus on the shape formed by the diamonds).

Straight

 

With the offset layout, the string pattern includes diamonds and zigzags.

Offset

Because they are string blocks, they are busy and the secondary pattern of strings can be hard to see. Done in two colors, it would likely be more obvious, but I like the variety of scrappy string blocks.

I finished both with the same backing and binding.

Straight

Offset

 

I am pleased with both layouts, and I really have no preference for one over the other. What do you think?

Happy Quilting! 😸

Very Traditional

 This is a very traditional quilt.

Traditional QST on Point (64" x 72")

Traditional QST on Point (detail)

Traditional QST on Point (back and binding detail)

 

 

I had a bunch of scrap squares and decided to make QST (Quarter-square Triangles) blocks with them. I knew that somewhere down the road, I would find a home for them. This is one of two tops in which I used them (the other still needs to be basted and quilted). I set them on point and used alternate neutral QST squares to add depth.

Nothing fancy here--just a very traditional quilt.

Enjoy your Labor Day holiday! 😊

No Passport Required (Part 1)

I recently completed a Trip Around the World quilt. It is about as big as the world (112" x 122") and nearly as heavy! :)

This project took a lot of organization and planning, so I'm breaking the post about it into two parts.

I've wanted to do a Trip Around the World for a long time. However, unlike most of the patterns I found, I wanted to do it on-point. (I know--I'm crazy!) I found a pattern, not so much for the instructions on assembly, but for counts of the squares I needed and for planning the size.

The pattern is from Everyday Quilts designer Sandra Boyle. Because she is an Australian designer who doesn't have a business website, I went through broderie on Etsy to find the pattern. Lizzie, the shop owner in Melbourne, Australia, carries many Everyday Quilts patterns, and her shipping charges are very reasonable. The pattern is entitled Square Dance.

Click the photo for information.

As I mentioned, I wanted the pattern, in part, for the cutting instructions. It outlines how many squares of each of the thirty-one different fabrics you need to cut. I realize that I probably could have figured this out on my own, but having the list made it so much easier!

The pattern indicated that the quilt would be 65" x 71". Because I wanted to feature the prints with international themes, I decided to cut my squares larger than the pattern indicated, so more of the individual prints would be visible. Lots of math later (remember this quilt is on-point, so it takes diagonal thinking), I found that if I cut the prints the size I wanted to, the quilt would finish at around 109" x 128" (my final measurement was pretty close to that). Okay--that's HUGE--but to get the effect I wanted, it had to be done.

I needed to decide the order of the fabrics for the layout, so I pulled out what I planned to use and started lining them up.

Fabrics 1-9

Fabrics 10-21

Fabrics 22-30 (plus the yellow print for the setting triangles)

I tried to take both color and value into account in the arrangement. I also had to think of how much of each fabric I had. The outside rows take much more fabric than the inner ones.

I then further organized it as shown here.

I glued swatches of fabric on a file folder labeled by number.

I cut the number of squares of each fabric as indicated on the pattern and placed them in plastic bags labeled with their numbers in an open bin for ease of access.

All of this before I sewed a stitch! Looking back on the process, I'm glad I took plenty of time to get everything ready--it made the assembly so much easier.

Part 2 can be found HERE.

Stringy Lanes

I decided to make another traditional pattern but with the addition of string blocks.

I made a Sunny Lanes pattern in the past using calico in place of the usually solid "lane" fabric. My post about that quilt can be found HERE.

Calico Sunny Lanes

This time, I replaced the four-patch blocks with string blocks.

Stringy Lanes 74" x 94"

This is a larger quilt than the first, and I'm not really happy with how the lanes at the edges worked. Next time, I need to take a bit more time in the planning stage, to create a more symmetrical pattern.

I do, however, love the colors and fun fabrics.

Stringy Lanes (detail)

Stringy Lanes (detail) Two little monkey faces

Stringy Lanes (detail) Nutcrackers and chocolates

Stringy Lanes (detail) Inspector Clouseau and a chicken

Stringy Lanes (back and binding detail)

This was a fun project. It is easy to replace traditional blocks with string blocks to make a new variation on an old favorite.


I'm almost finished with the top of my Good Fortune quilt (Bonnie K. Hunter's Mystery). I'll have pictures soon.

Happy quilting!

Another Leader and Ender Donation Quilt

I tried a different layout with this one (#9 of the project). It is also only two colors which is something I rarely do. For me, the more different fabrics, the better!

Two-Rail Fence Donation Quilt (62" x 74")

Two-Rail Fence (detail)

Two-Rail Fence (backing and binding detail)

I do like the simple effect of only two colors. Sometimes it is good to push your own boundaries a bit!

Previous leader and ender donation quilts can be found HERE.

I am linking to Fiber Tuesday 152 at The Quilting Room with Mel and Jo's Country Junction: Whatever Wednesday.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge--October--Pink

This month's challenge color is pink.

Once again, I made some diagonal blocks all pink and others half pink/half neutral. I also made some all pink straight-set blocks.

I've been thinking of how I will put this year's blocks together. I worked up a couple of ideas on EQ7 which I am still refining.

This one has arcs (like a rainbow!) of colors. I like it, but I'm not sure about it.

This one is straight-set--I'm thinking I like is better than the first. I would need to add a border to the top like the one I have indicated on the bottom.

More thinking is in order!

I am enjoying the challenge--thanks to soscrappy for hosting it.

I am linking to Scrap Happy Saturday Parade of Pink and Fiber Tuesday 131 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

Last Pinwheel Quilt For A While--I Promise!

Here is the last of four pinwheel quilts for donation.

You can see the other three HERE.

Pinwheels 65" x 75"

Pinwheels (detail)

Pinwheels (backing and binding detail)

I love pinwheel blocks, but I'm ready to work with something else for a while!

Another Donation Quilt

Earlier this year, I made a bunch (around 150) of scrappy pinwheels to use in donation quilts. I have finished three quilts--the final top is done, but not quilted--and I have only one pinwheel left! :)


I chose to do these quilts with different layouts; on this third one I set the pinwheel with alternate half-square triangle blocks.

Must have caught a breeze--the bottom really is straight!

Green with HST alternate blocks

These are the first two quilts:

Orange and on-point

Straight layout with sashing and cornerstones

The final quilt is a simple pinwheel to pinwheel layout--I'll post a picture after it is finished. I have enjoyed trying out the different layouts; I've never focused on just one block in different layouts before.


I've been working on several other things, but some are gifts, so I can't show them yet. I'm enjoying the summer break and being able to sew every day.

I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 115 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

Dashing

The layout for this quilt was inspired by Bonnie Hunter's "Random Ohio Stars." When I was making that quilt, I loved the layout and thought it would work well with other blocks. The chosen block would need to be easily done in two sizes (one half the size of the other), and it would need to rely heavily on contrast for effect. Churn Dash was my first choice.


Here is my "Dashing" experiment.

Dashing--75' x 88"

Two borders--a blue and a floral

A few more blocks--there is a bend in the quilt; I promise the blocks aren't wonky!

Tye-dye type backing

The backing leads me to a lesson I learned from this quilt--never assume WoF! The tye-dye was much narrower than I expected, and at the last minute, I had to add a strip to the bottom to make it long enough. Whew!



I'd like to try this with other blocks--there is something about this asymmetrical layout that really appeals to me.



I'm linking with Jo's Country Junction UFO Challenge and  Fiber Tuesday 66 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

Jamestown Landing--Part 4

Back to the landing--Jamestown Landing, that is.


I've got the top together now, but I haven't yet decided how I want to do the borders. Bonnie Hunter's has a narrow cream then a wider string-pieced border. I'm not sure if a red string-pieced border will overwhelm the top, so I'll do a bit of thinking and experimenting with it.

This has been a fun project so far, and I'm looking forward to the next step!


I'm linking to A Quilted Passion's "Whoomp, There It Is!" Linky Party.

Another Therapy Session

Since I finished Allietare (YAY!), I'm back to working on this HST quilt.



I got the top put together.

The pile on top of it is a chain of pieced squares I plan to use for the back as I did with this quilt. I'll cut them apart, press, make four patches out of them, and then join them for my backing.

I don't think I'll border this quilt; it seems to be finished as is--just a binding should complete it well.

I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 47 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

Sewing Therapy

I decided to sew some HSTs together today--nothing like mindless piecing to relax.

I have many 4.5" HSTs already made and stockpiled, so I sewed some of them together into four-patches. I'd like to do a quilt with them all going the same way (neutral top left, color bottom right).



Sewing is good for the tired body and soul.


I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 46 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

Jamestown Landing--Part 3

I finally completed all the units for my Jamestown Landing quilt. Now I'm starting the assembly.




It is a complicated layout, so I'm going very slowly and comparing each piece with the instructions in the book, String Fling by Bonnie Hunter.

Up close, I didn't feel like the overall pattern was showing up, but when I took photographs, I saw it clearly. Sometimes you have to step back to see it better!

Lots (and lots!) of pieces to go, but so far, I am very pleased with it.



Previous posts about this quilt can be found HERE (Part 1) and HERE (Part 2).


I am linking with Fiber Tuesday 44 at The Sewing Room with Mel.

Allietare--Sixth Clue and Reveal

The final clue and reveal was posted for Allietare, Bonnie Hunter's 2016 mystery quilt.

I have my blocks together (in spite of a nastynasty cold), but I haven't done the borders yet. Here is a picture of my progress thus far.




I'll post more of a summing up when the top is complete.

I'm linking with Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville HERE.