Monday, February 16, 2015

Square and Triangles = Circle?

When I first saw this quilt block I couldn't get it out of my mind.  (For copyright reasons I'm not posting a photo but sending you to a pinterest image with the link to the blog post where the image appears.)  I'm not keen on appliqueing and kept thinking about how I could make a similar block using only squares, triangles, and rectangles.  I doodled some sketches.


Then I saw this block and wondered if little triangles around the center square would trick the eye into seeing circles, at least at first glance or from a distance.  I'm fascinated by angular shapes that sometimes give the impression of circles.

So I laid out some possibilities in fabric creating 12" squares.  Forget the colors and just look at the shapes.  I could go with one color in a range of fabrics, or more colors in a variety of fabrics.  So forget the colors.  Also look at the backgrounds.  From a distance do the center shapes look like circles?

With a center figure.

With a plain center.

With a second "circle" around the center and a printed background.
Those little rectangles would need triangles at the corners to truly give the impression of a circle.

With a muted background.

If I were to make blocks like these I ask myself if I would like all the "blank space" filling the four "corners."   Either the fabric would have to be interesting or the the quilting would need to fill and enhance the spaces.

Is this a real block, already created by someone else?  If so, does it have a name?  Anyone know?

So, that's what's on my design wall this week.  It's all play right now.

What are you playing with?

I'm linking this post to Design Wall at Patchwork Times.  Thanks, Judy.

--Nancy.
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Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Hand Quilting Sunday Morning and Two Bibs

I thought I was making good progress on this quilt.  Then I took the hoop off to look at the back and, well, I have a long, long way to go.  Winter is a great time to quilt -- and it looks like we'll be having another 6 weeks of it.

I'm quilting diagonals across each block using masking tape for a guide.  With so many seams I knew I didn't want an intricate pattern to hand quilt.  The parallel lines are 1 1/2" apart and create a 4" square between two blocks.  I'll probably quilt another square inside that one using 1" masking tape.  I sure hope the masking tape doesn't hurt the fabric.  I've seen other quilters use it and they haven't mentioned any problems because of it.  

Looking through my fabric cupboard I happened upon this delightful fabric with vintage Valentine cards on it.  I've had it for years, probably bought on sale after Valentine's Day, and I've never used it.  Click on the image to see it larger or follow on Feedly and look at it there.  (Feedly makes the photos large enough to see details.)  Oh, and I took a few photos of some of the "cards" which you can see below.


I decided to use it for bibs for my grandbabies.  It's great fabric to camouflage all the food that doesn't quite make it to the mouth.  Can you tell which is his and which is hers?


I made scrappy backs.  I'll put the snaps on the backs tomorrow and then I can send them off.



I'm linking this post to
> WOW at Esther's Blog
> WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and
> Let's Be Social #58 at Sew Fresh Quilts.
Thanks, Esther, Lee, and Lorna.

I hope you're staying warm (in you're in the northern hemisphere) and working on something fun.


--Nancy.
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Monday, February 2, 2015

Quilts from a Sale at the Fairgrounds

The sale was one of those affairs where lots of dealers set up for a day or two to sell their wares.   

I love the vintage prints in this Double Wedding Ring but I'm not keen on the green and orange corner blocks.
Vintage Double Wedding Ring with Green and Orange Corners
The quilting in the "eyes" looks very Mary Engelbriet-y to me.
Vintage Double Wedding Ring with Green and Orange Corners


The colors of these wool hexagons delighted me.  This was not a quilt but several blocks.  They were not in very good condition.
Wool Hexagon blocks


These double nine-patches were blocks but not a quilt.
Double Nine-Patch Block


This huge tulip caught my eye, not just because of its size and color but also because of the handwork.  I think it was at least 12 inches long.  See a close-up of the handwork below.
Tulip Applique Quilt


Tulip Applique Quilt


This was a whole quilt but I could only get a photo of a part of it.  I just now realized that it's quilted with Baptist Fans.  (It's hard to spend too much time when others aren't interested in quilts, so I miss a lot of details until I see them in photos.)
Large applique flower quilt


I don't know the name of this block....


I've noticed that one needs to be very aware of the odor of old quilts.  Sometimes the smell won't come out.  Still, I love to look at and photograph them.

--Nancy.
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