When I initially looked at my grandmother's work in progress, it consisted of 2 strips of 7 or eight blocks each.
The pile you see was a little more assembled than what you see now.
Each strip had a final block segment consisting of the red calico you see here. I realized that I couldn't continue in the same method my grandmother did. I do have a machine which I could quilt on, but that would mean sitting up in my craft room away from my husband and what he was doing. I chose instead to hand piece the remaining blocks.
I attempted to find a common measurement amongst all the blocks. What you see here is my best attempt. do so. I determined that I'd need about 56 blocks, with 8 top to bottom and 7 across. I had only about 30 pieced blocks, so I needed to make more. At this point - I don't want pillow shams.
In the beginning, I left all her blocks alone, and just made up new ones from the fabric that was left. I soon ran out of the calico print near the center. I reviewed MY stash and found this color. It carried over the same theme and had that scrappy look I like.
About halfway through, I realized I'd transposed the block centers. Some were oriented one way, some
the other way. I don't have a problem with this, as it represents a learning process, as well as an opportunity to arrange the blocks in the way I see fit. It might not look the best, but at least I tried!
I had to buy more white fabric - I accomplished that by buying some pillowcases at a thrift store. This satisfied my requirement for being "scraps" and also being frugal. I paid $2 for 4 cases, I got a lot of fabric from just two. The remaining two I just might use!
When I finished with the white, I realized that 1) my grandmother had used bias cuts on some of the blue strips. Not wanting to make it any harder on myself, I ripped all the blue out. That way, I could resize some blocks and verify that I could finish the quilt with some measure of accuracy.
So, that's where I am today. I've got about 20 blocks to add the blue units to, and to make sure that they all end up reasonably square. Some are a bit smaller, but I believe I can make that up with the blue or red.
I haven't decided yet whether or not to add the red units to the block. I'm thinking I will, but I'm just playing it in my head. Sashing with that color might look ok too. I just have to get there first!
I do know that I can't piece the top as a whole. I don't have the frame to do so. I did pick up a smaller one at a yard sale a while ago, but haven't yet used it. I think quilting the blocks and assembling is what I'll do.
Having worked with these blocks, I still can't imagine not being able to see, yet managing to put these together by machine!! What intrigues me is that she used the courthouse steps variation on the log cabin, but didn't continue it outwards. I really can't wait to see what comes out of it.
The pile you see was a little more assembled than what you see now.
I attempted to find a common measurement amongst all the blocks. What you see here is my best attempt. do so. I determined that I'd need about 56 blocks, with 8 top to bottom and 7 across. I had only about 30 pieced blocks, so I needed to make more. At this point - I don't want pillow shams.
In the beginning, I left all her blocks alone, and just made up new ones from the fabric that was left. I soon ran out of the calico print near the center. I reviewed MY stash and found this color. It carried over the same theme and had that scrappy look I like.
About halfway through, I realized I'd transposed the block centers. Some were oriented one way, some
the other way. I don't have a problem with this, as it represents a learning process, as well as an opportunity to arrange the blocks in the way I see fit. It might not look the best, but at least I tried!
I had to buy more white fabric - I accomplished that by buying some pillowcases at a thrift store. This satisfied my requirement for being "scraps" and also being frugal. I paid $2 for 4 cases, I got a lot of fabric from just two. The remaining two I just might use!
When I finished with the white, I realized that 1) my grandmother had used bias cuts on some of the blue strips. Not wanting to make it any harder on myself, I ripped all the blue out. That way, I could resize some blocks and verify that I could finish the quilt with some measure of accuracy.
So, that's where I am today. I've got about 20 blocks to add the blue units to, and to make sure that they all end up reasonably square. Some are a bit smaller, but I believe I can make that up with the blue or red.
I haven't decided yet whether or not to add the red units to the block. I'm thinking I will, but I'm just playing it in my head. Sashing with that color might look ok too. I just have to get there first!
I do know that I can't piece the top as a whole. I don't have the frame to do so. I did pick up a smaller one at a yard sale a while ago, but haven't yet used it. I think quilting the blocks and assembling is what I'll do.
Having worked with these blocks, I still can't imagine not being able to see, yet managing to put these together by machine!! What intrigues me is that she used the courthouse steps variation on the log cabin, but didn't continue it outwards. I really can't wait to see what comes out of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment