Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
The Octagon 9 Patch, the Stepping Stones n.2 and the BAMaQG Color Round Robin are all at the quilter. I took them on my way to Sisters. It was kind of a ridiculous stop, but I had to take the time when I had it. We did the speediest dropoff ever and then got on the road to Sisters.
It is so great when this blog and what I am doing inspires YOU!
I was thrilled when Mrs. K sent me photos of the Spiky 16 Patch on which she was working.
She is also using the Split Recs ruler. I really like the gold.
What will you make?
This is a photo from the Alden Lane Quilt show from last September. I picked it because it is so cheerful looking.
First, I had to pick out the candy colors. You know I love the brights.
I did another palette of brights, because I thought I could. I think this palette is a little brighter. There are a lot of greens in this image, so it is a challenge.
This is sort of an ode to a more traditional palette. Perhaps 4th of July palette?
And I seem to have to do a monochromatic palette. This week’s is green.
What’s your favorite palette?
After seeing my Spiky 16 Patch quilt, Mrs. K asked that i give the math on putting blocks on point. This post is an addition or adjunct to the Sampler Class tutorials. Different quilt, but you can use this information to put your sampler blocks on point as well.
There are two aspects to putting blocks on point: the setting triangles and the corner triangles. The setting triangles are on the inside of the quilt. The corner triangles are on, shockingly, on the corners.
In the photo, right, the corner triangles are indicated by the orange half circle. The setting triangles are shown with a purple circle.
Setting Triangles
Setting Triangles, also called side triangles, are giant quarter square triangles. You want to use this method, because the bias will end up on the outside of the block.
1. Measure the block.
In the quilt above you want it to end up looking like it is shown. The Spiky 16 patches.
The Spiky 16 patch measures 16.5 inches.
2. Take the finished block size and divide by 1.414.
Note: the finished block size is different than what we measured. You need to remove .5 inches for seam allowance, which gives you a finished block size of 16 inches.
16 x 1.414 = 22.624
3. Round up
I rounded up to 22.75, but you can round up to an eighth of an inch, if you want.
4. Add 1-1/4″ to the resulting number for the correct size to cut squares for side triangles.
22.75 + 1.25 = 24
5. Cut this square in half diagonally twice in the shape of an X to produce four side triangles.
Nota bene: Cut one square for every four side triangles needed for the quilt setting.
6. Lay setting triangles next to your blocks to make the quilt square.
YAY! You did it!
Corner Triangles
1. Measure the block.
In the quilt above you want it to end up looking like it is shown. The Spiky 16 patches.
The Spiky 16 patch measures 16.5 inches.
2. Take the finished block size and divide by 1.414.
Note: the finished block size is different than what we measured. You need to remove .5 inches for seam allowance, which gives you a finished block size of 16 inches.
16 / 1.414 = 11.315417256
3. Round the size up
Take the number you got and round it to the nearest quarter or eighth of an inch. I rounded up to 11.5.
4. Add 7/8 inch
11.5 + 7/8 = 12 3/8
5. Cut two squares the size determined above.
6. Cut both squares in half diagonally.
Now you have four triangles.
7. Place on each corner.
YAY! You did it! You cut corner square triangles. Sew them on. You may need a quick trim and you are done with corners.
Lay all of the setting triangles and corner triangles out with the blocks on your design wall. When you are ready to sew, sew. I fold the blocks and the setting and corner triangles in half so I can line them up properly.
Trim once the whole piece is complete, if necessary.
If you don’t believe me, you can find Bonnie Hunter’s tutorial on Quiltville.
I have been thinking more about dream projects again lately. I have been working on so many UFOs that my mind is straying to fresh, new, unstarted projects.
Art Institute of Chicago Fusible Applique’ (Ticker Tape Style) Quilt
Art Institute of Chicago Fusible Applique’ (one sheet of fabric) Quilt
Blue Rectangles Gradation Quilt
Blue Lemonade
Easy Street
En Provence #2
Feathered Star Block (or quilt?)
Good Night Irene Quilt
Interlocking Triangles Quilt(s)
Jack’s Chain Quilt
Music Quilt
Pineapple (Hunting and Gathering)
Quick Curve Ruler Quilt
Silk Colorblock quilt
Spin Wheel
Stepping Stones #3
Windmill (Hunting and Gathering)
Out of the Dream State: Below is a list of projects that were on this list at some point that I actually made or am working on:
I’d love to say this piece was in the finishing process, but it is so far from the finishing process that lying wouldn’t even cover what I was doing. I am, however, working on this piece. It is slow going, which is fine when I don’t have other handwork that I must do.
Recently, I bought papers to fill in the border of the half hexie piece. I needed some triangles and some diamonds. I want to create a full stop at least on one side, so I picked out a dark grey (charcoal) with small white dots and basted some pieces. The fabric is not a pin dot.
It is a little bit of a shift to insert these extra shapes, but I got into it. It is kind of funny to see the edge done. I wonder if the grey is too dark considering the overall cheerful look of the piece.
I plan to put another straight border on the sides, once I get all the diamonds and triangles attached.
I am making progress. It’s slow, but I am making progress.
Finished 2018 Quilt Projects
The list is finally getting to the point where I feel like it matches what I am feeling. Five quilts is not shabby for 5 months.
Finished 2018 Non-Quilt Projects
Doing Good
In Process
The ‘In Process’ is used to denote projects on which I am actively working or pretending to stitch. I try not to put away projects, because that will ensure I never work on them
Still WIPs
I still have WIPs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled. A nicer way of saying UFO is a WIP. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.
Small Projects in Process
Most of my progress involves thinking or just cutting.
Ready for Quilting
In Quilting Process
Binding
Hunting and Gathering
Other
I bought some fabric, so I am down on net usage. Still gross usage is just over 113 yards. My net calculation isn’t working, though I think I must be at 50 yards net now. I am pleased, but I want to confirm my guess. If I could make it to 100 yards NET used by the end of the year, I would be ecstatic. It is good to have goals!
What’s on your list?
The other day, I was thinking about the Snowball Wreath block. In the process of linking to that post and looking at the post photos, I found that a number of my older photos were still on Blogger. What I mean by that is that photos displaying here on WordPress actually live on Blogger.
Yes, Artquiltmaker started out on Blogger. When I migrated, I migrated all the posts and links and, I thought, the photos. No such luck.
So, I have embarked on a project to move the photos over. Fortunately, I only have to move 3 years worth of photos and not 13 years worth of photos. Yes, AQ is 13 years old!
No normal person would do this but the incongruity of the photos being in two places nags at the librarian in me. I have been thinking of deleting the Blogger site as it is redundant and the photos are taking up space on my Google account. I am also afraid somehow the photos will get deleted or become unavailable, making 3 years worth of posts worthless.
It has taken me awhile to find a reasonable process for the project. I have tried a few different methods of getting the photos where they need to be. I have uploaded a lot of photos from Google something, but apparently not all lived there. Some, from the first days of the blog are living on a webspace associated with my personal email! I didn’t even know I still had access to that space! Access is a misnomer. I don’t remember how to get to it or what the password is. I was also linking to some photos from Flickr, which had to be moved. Finally, I had to find photos on my hard drive and backup drive as well.
Basically, the photos were a mess.
As you can see, this is a big project, but it is also fun to look back at what I was thinking about in 2006 (the year I am working on now).
I was thinking a lot and posting a lot about Thoughts on Dots, which I am fixing now. You must have been bored stiff with those posts! I moved one patch and wrote about it. They are serious process posts.
I had forgotten about Kay Khan’s work. I love the 3D teapot.
I also was interested to see the recap posts I did. In one post, I picked out the best quilts I saw at all of the shows I visited that year. That post had a lot of photos, which was a pain. I was interested to see that my fabric choices have stayed consistent as have my design sensibilities. That post also had some quilts that look like they could have been made by MQG members, though it was made LONG before the MQG came on the scene.
This project will take me awhile, but the good part is that I get to revisit my quilt past.
In going through old photos, I found photos of the Handbag Sampler I have been talking about recently.
I haven’t actually found the blocks, but, at least, I have a photo and sort of know what I have.
I found a photo of a Nosegay block that I made (or am in the process of making as well. The 9th block is good, because that means, if I find the blocks, I can just put the quilt together. I don’t have to search out fabric, which is all very distinctive. Of course,in terms of learning, it isn’t quite as comprehensive a Sampler as the Aqua-Red Sampler. There is no applique completed.
I have to find the blocks before I decide what other blocks to make.
Yes, I am behind in reporting on June. Life is busy and I am heading to a week long quilt retreat with Friend Julie, so I am preparing to have a whole bunch of posts for you to peruse.
It is fun to see all the different blocks I make. I like remembering where the fabric came from and what I used it for.
The group of blocks are the blocks I turned in at the June meeting. I know you have seen all of these blocks before, but I thought it would be great to show all of them together.
My donation block production has slowed as my work schedule has ramped up. I am spending less time at the machine, which affects my production. Still, I have money, which is nice. Don’t worry, I am not giving up, but other guild members will have to step up and fill in the gaps.ell
I am revisiting old posts and came up with this Dose of Daily Art post. I thought it would be a good ColorPlay – kind of revisiting old friends.
The default is, for once, not all neutrals.
I like this one. It reminds me of the circus, but not a primary circus.
I wasn’t quite done with that fuchsia. I like it with the various violets and blues. I can see actually using this palette for something very cheerful. I also noticed that one of the colors was white. I hadn’t seen it before.
I had to try a blue and green palette. The two greens on the end are bit much, but I am not much of a fan of green so that could be part of the problem.
This is a warm palette I felt I needed to try.
I wanted to try a monochromatic palettes. First was blue.
I felt like I needed to make a neutral palette, so I gave up. This was a great picture to use. Although there was no variations in the colors used in different parts of the painting, there were a lot of colors and that was fun.
I was so thrilled with the cutting of the Tool Tote the other day that reporting today is kind of depressing.
The good news is that I am making progress. The bad news is that I am having trouble with the directions. This is a weakness of mine as I have mentioned, so I am willing to take some of the blame. However, I had Gerre try and help me interpret one step and she agreed that she thought something was missing.
As the pattern suggests, I emailed the designer and have not heard back. It is a sort of holiday week so she may not be at work.
Regardless, I will finish this bag. I know enough about bag making to make up some parts, if necessary. It won’t be done by this weekend, which is a shame, but can’t be helped.
In the photo above, you can see the pieces with their little tags as well as the work that I have done. Quilting on all the pieces is complete, though I would have made the pieces bigger, quilted and then trimmed, if I had been thinking. Some of the pockets are sewn on. Handles are partially sewn (this is the problem step).
So, yes, I am making progress.
For those of you who celebrate, Happy Fourth of July! For those of you who do not celebrate, have a great day.
For the first time that I can remember it does not feel good to post this sentiment. My wish for this 4th (although it is not a gift giving holiday) is that we return to kindness, civility and working together to make a better future for our children.
I have been thinking about the Tool Tote a lot lately. Since I finished the Stepping Stones n.2 last week, I thought it was time to work on a bag. I have a lot of bags on my project list and never enough time.
As you may recall, I bought the pattern at QuiltCon from Elk Horn Quilts (great shop, BTW). I took some time several months ago to cut a few pieces at a Sew Day, but hadn’t made any other progress since. It was time to move, so I took out all the pieces and started cutting.
OMG! The Quilts Illustrated pattern was fantastic. You have probably seen the post-it notes I attach to the pieces I cut for bags. This Quilts Illustrated pattern had a sheet of bits of pattern chits included. they were already made!!
These made life so much easier. I took the sheet, cut off the chits as I cut the pieces and when there were no more chits there was no more cutting. I didn’t feel frustrated and exhausted. It was awesome.
As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I have the Aqua-Red Sampler on my design wall and I am trying to figure out what block to make as my last block.
I was thinking of the Nosegay. I have a great version for the Handbag Sampler, so it isn’t pressing that I make another one. Still, it’s a good block. Then I remembered the Tea Basket block. It isn’t very popular. In fact I don’t know if I have ever seen a quilt that included that block. It is in Jinny Beyer’s The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns, so I was able to find it. I also found it in BlockBase and made some adjustments so the BlockBase version looked more like Jinny Beyer’s version. I also added some color to get an idea of how it would look. Looking at it now, I think it is more of a contender than I thought.