Two More Sets of Blocks.

I was able to sew 2 more sets of Framed 9 Patch blocks. They both sewed up without problems. These are really easy blocks but some of the previous blocks gave me some small problems, all user error. There are always some mishaps that happen when I haven't done much sewing for a while. It is really because I don't pay enough attention to precision. 


A long time ago I realized that what frustrated me the most was when everything did not fit together without "fudging".  I identified the habits that led to imprecise cutting and I pursued the precise quarter inch until I had it down pat. I make it a habit to check my seam allowances after each step instead of waiting until the block is finished.  I like knowing that all my blocks are "right on" when it is time to sew them together. It just  makes things so much more enjoyable.

However, some days for one reason or another my skills are not up to par and I spend more time fixing that I consider fun.

Today was not one of those days.😊 

26 Blocks

I now have 26 blocks. They don't take a lot of time to sew but it seems that I can't get more than 2 pairs done in a day.  Nevertheless, I am making progress.   

These are the 9 locks I finished in the last 2 days. The all measure exactly 8 inches square though the photo doesn't look like it.

I am missing photos of 4 more blocks. I had 13 in my last post and now I have 26. I thought I had shots of all the new blocks........ oh well, I guess not.














Here are all 26 blocks. The more blocks I make the better I like them. I can't believe that I have usually avoided solid colors in my quilts except for narrow inner borders or sashing.

After I had a few blocks finished to put up on the wall, I thought I would have to make sure that I had a fairly equal number of each solid color. With a small number of blocks the yellow seemed to stand out too much. With more blocks that no longer seems to be a problem. I am beginning to think that there are not going to be a lot of  picky rules about the final layout.  I am also finding that I don't have to agonize over each choice of the solid color to go with the prints; the solid only needs to contrast enough to show up well.  This shot of all the blocks doesn't show the contrast as much as the ones in the collage of the newest blocks; in real life the colors of all the fabrics are much more vibrant.. Blame the photographer!

I am already starting to cut solids and prints for Double 4 Patch blocks. I have had a long love affair with the Triple 4 patch quilts and I have made at least 3 for myself (which have somehow all found new homes). I made many blocks for the monthly request for members of the Friendship group. I cut leftover fabrics for the blocks all the time and I have a box of squares cut for Triple 4 Patch blocks and instead of making the smallest 4 patches with black/dark and white fabric, I will use 2 1/2 inch squares in a variety of solid colors.

Three More Blocks

I sewed 3  Framed 9 Patch blocks even though I am still cutting for them. I just want to sew and see how they look. So far I have completed 13 blocks and I realized that I need to see them all together in order to make color choices for the solid fabrics.

These are the 3 blocks I sewed today. I think from now on I will  use different solid colors for each block when I make 2 or more of the same print.

These are the 13 blocks I've completed.

Wow! Lots of green prints so far.  I consider green a neutral and I apparently like it but I am not aiming for a predominantly green (or blue) quilt, I see a lot of blue too. I have a lot of both in my scrap and leftover bins. However, it is early in the process and now that I have this up on the wall I will be  better able to make those visual decisions.

I am also noticing that the smaller scale prints look better, for the most part, that the medium scale prints,  I know that for overall interest I need to use different scale prints in my fabric choices so I will not be eliminating the blocks that look a little chunky.  I am, after all, working mostly from my scrap supply and my objective is to pare it down to something manageable.

 I am having fun doing it

Fussy Cut or Not?

I have bee busy going through my scraps and left overs and cutting for 3 different blocks.  Every so often I have to just sew something.  The Framed 9 patch blocks are the easiest to "just sew" because  fabric choices have already been decided, I don't have to put them up on the design wall and play with them, they go together pretty fast even when I am only doing one at a time. Once I get the cutting finished I will not be working on one at a time but when I need to sew and see something finished "one or two at a time" works.

I found some sizable left overs from these 2 fabrics and decided first to fussy cut the green.

 I wanted the roses to show up more but after I sewed the block I didn't like it so much. I didn't fussy cut the pieces  for the one on the right and I like it better.







I had 4 fabric sections of the blue cut 3 stripes wide in lengths that must have been for borders. I don't remember what I cut it for or why I didn't use them.  I had enough to cut up any way I  might need. The stripes were not quite 2 inches wide so I cut about an eighth of an inch into the opposite shade stripe.
This time I was happy with the results.

I believe  the reason the fussy cutting worked better for the blue is the scale of the pattern in relation to the  size of the block. The block will be 7 1/2 inches in the quilt and the roses fill a 1 1/2 inch patch I think the fussy cut green looks kind of clunky.

I will probably use them all because I think overall when everything is put together in the overall look it will be the solid fabrics that draws the viewers eye.

We'll see!

OOPS!

Our quilt group at church met last Saturday and I brought home some odd sized/shaped pieces of fabric to cut into squares and strips. This time I am concentrating mostly on 6 inch squares trying for multiples of 4 or more  that will coordinate for large 9 patch blocks for quilts that will go to Jamaica. I was able to use some of the small scraps from cutting for the Donna Poster blocks and 8 inch Framed 9 patch  blocks.

Today, I made these 2 blocks with smaller odd pieces of one purple print and some of my own solids.

Oops!
I made the one on the right first and I didn't like it as well as I thought I would. I had enough small scraps to make another with a different color solid; when I compared them I saw my mistake. I hesitated to fix it because it meant unsewing 5 seams and moreover the block had measured a perfect 8 inches.  I had lunch and did the dishes and came back to my sewing room and picked up my seam ripper and I did it!

I was bothered enough to know that if I waited to do it and forgot and sewed it into the quilt I would end up taking it out and it would be more work in the end. It went together almost as perfectly with about 1/16 of and inch space where  the side strip was sewn on. Because it is not on the corner it will not be a problem.

The background purple is really dark but it comes across as purple and not navy.  I was happy to  be able to use the small scraps because my own stash is not heavy on purple.

These are some of the 6 inch squares I cut. The unicorns were pretty far apart as were the bunnies and birds so I only got 2 unicorns and the bunny square is only 4 1/2 inches but it can go into Donna Poster scrap blocks that is kind of an ongoing project..
I think the purple shows up a little better in this photo because I found some dark gray fabric to put beside them.

I will be making more of the Framed 9 patch blocks. I love the way they look in the quilts on Lynn Dykstra's blog. The solid fabrics in the blocks add cohesiveness even though the solids and prints as all different.
After I cut the rest of the 6 inch squares for our church group I will  get back to some sewing of my own again. 

Inspiration or Obsession

Yesterday while visiting  Wanda (Exuberant Color) on my usual morning list of blogs, I was led to Lynn Dykstra's  blog, klein keisje quilts.  Oh my goodness; I am enchanted by her use of solids with prints.  My sewing room is in total chaos with piles of scraps to be cut and organized and piles of squares and strips that I had cut and sorted.  In the midst of all that, I cleared a space to work and put together 3 - 7 1/2 inch  blocks. I think I have a new obsession.















I started out thinking I had to pull multicolored prints and these were close at hand. When I took another look at Wanda's blocks I saw that I could use monochromatic or 2 color prints. That will give me a lot more choices.

I started with the Framed Nine Patch blocks because I have had a love affair with nine patches since I learned strip piecing but there are so many more blocks to explore. I like simple traditional blocks and I am addicted to scrappy quilts so who knows where this will take me.

If you visit Lynn's blog you will find "solids on prints" on her labels list.  Be prepared to spend some time as there is so much to see.