2009 Quilt block of the month - February

[sara]

Puff~ you did a great job!

 

[ChevygirlBeth]

Ok, here's what I've been working on for the last week or so (I think that's all the longer it has been).

What I'm trying to decide is if I should quilt anything in the green squares with the floral print. I've been debating maybe quilting a flower or a heart in those blocks, but I'm also kind of tempted to just leave them be. Each of those squares is 4" and the diagonals I have quilted (in the darker green and the white) make the un-quilted area about 5 3/8." What do you think?

 

[seminolewind]

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Thanks, it will get my sewing and skills out of the closet more.

 

[seminolewind]

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WOW!!!!!
Well that person might be able to get away with making an 1/8 of an inch seam instead of a quarter inch. Or you could add a narrow strip around the edge, or you can send it to me for my first block and I can deal with it.

 

[Marlinchaser]

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SEW what your saying is you'll be coming out of the closet because of this thread.

 

[sara]

Beth~ I love the greens! It looks great!

 

[PortageGirl]

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WOW!!!!!
Well that person might be able to get away with making an 1/8 of an inch seam instead of a quarter inch. Or you could add a narrow strip around the edge, or you can send it to me for my first block and I can deal with it.

Yep! It's a really nice block Puff!! That happens sometimes, and there’s a couple ways to handle short blocks. I would look over the back, see if there are easy seams to get to that have wider seam allowances… it may be possible to pick a few seams apart and re-do those. That has NEVER been my experience though…

for me it always seems to be either pulling it all apart, or making a whole new one. If your recipient is going to make an individual item out each of their blocks, maybe size won’t matter too much! Or something linear like a table runner! Or if they're sewing the blocks together with sashing, they can adjust the sashing!

The other thing you can do, is try to get it smaller STILL, which might involve picking apart a few seams as well, and re-sewing so if you sew a small border onto it, you can do it in a balanced way on at least two sides. Really though, since any seems another person sews, will normally be ¼ in, the border has to be at least a half inch or more, so they can sew it to the next piece of material. It might be best to let them deal with it, but it depends on how you feel about it.

The other thing, if this is your first block, you can save it (like I did my first one) and either tuck it away, or sew it into a pillow or a table runner, or something decorative which you can pat occasionally and smile when you remember how far you get after some other projects! I actually treasured my first block, The pillow I turned it into got badly damaged though, and I finally let it go.

I wish I could have saved it though.)

I hope that wasn't too much of an answer! Anyone else have ideas?

 

[Chicken Woman]

Chevygirlbeth

The amount of quilting you do depends on the batting that you used. If it's poleater it will be fine but some of the cotton battings call for quilting to be every 3 inches to keep it from breaking away and balling up when washed. Look at the instructions that came with the batting and if you don't have it anymore i would call the store and ask them to go look on the label for you.

I love green and your colores are beautiful !!!!

 

[FrChuckW]

Puff, thanks for the suggestion on the MaMaHen.

Beth, I think alternating hearts and flowers in the squares would be nice. Good job on the quilt it looks really pretty.

Welcome Seminole to the group.

 

[PortageGirl]

Wow ChevyBeth! That is beautiful! When I saw that, at my very first glance, I thought of a corn field in the spring or early summer when you're going past it! Not sure if that's what you had in mind, but it was my very first impression! Having grown up in Ohio too, it just seemed a natural thought.

If it was me, I would consider quilting it with the alternating hearts and squares, or whatever pattern pleases you, in the green squares too if time allowed. If you have time to make a couple more squares, that could be converted into a small pillow, you could try it out for looks. (If you have extra blocks cut, could probably take very little time at this point.) Sometimes less is more though, so leaving it plain could be a very good thing.

One thought, if your DH's G'ma is still 'with it', you could ask her advice! And if she thinks it would be good to quilt more, you could sit with her and do it a little at a time, even if it's still actually being used. Sounds crazy, but you know, time spent with her might be worth the effort. (I'm taking care of my 90 year old father now, and am learning what a treasure it can be to spend time with our loved ones...stressful though it may be.)