From the Outside In

I'm playing with the Children's Garden quilt now.  Except it's not all play because the blocks are different sizes:  the churn dash blocks will finish at 7 1/2", the flowers at 8 1/2".  I'm going to have to work to make the blocks fit together.  Math is not my strength, especially when I have to consider those 1/4" seams on two sizes of blocks. 

I've never made a quilt from the outside toward the center.  Of course I'll sew this from the center toward the outside but I need to calculate the outside measurements before I can know the sizes for the sashings, corner blocks, and border for the center.  I've always sewn quilts where the border was the last thing to be measured, cut, and stitched.  This will be a new challenge for me.

My plan of attack is this:

• Calculate the difference between 2 flower blocks and 4 churn dash blocks.  That will tell me how many inches I can use for the sashings and borders on the narrow side.
• Calculate the difference between 3 flower blocks and 5 churn dash blocks which will tell me how many inches I can use for the sashings and borders on the long side.
• Sew the the end and side churn dash blocks together (but not the corner blocks) to be sure I'm close to accurate.
• Measure, cut, and stitch the corner blocks and sashings for the center blocks.  Add the border around those blocks.  Add the churn dash blocks, and add a final border.

I've done preliminary estimations and know that the measurements available for sashings/borders for long and short sides are not equal.  But if I want to use square corner blocks the sashings will have to be equal and I'll have to make the borders between the flowers and the churn dashes unequal.

I'm still playing with flower placement and fabric for the inside border.  You can see two possibilities in the images above.  I thought the dark red might not work but I think it's better than the dark green.

My intention is to finish sewing the top, choose batting and backing, and have it sandwiched by the end of April.  I plan to have it completely quilted and bound by the end of June (or before if I can manage it).


I'm linking this post to:

W.i.P. Wednesday at Lee's Freshly Pieced.  It's being hosted this week by Natalie from Greenleaf Goods.  Thank you, Lee and Natalie.

A Lovely Year of Finishes goal-setting party for April at Fiber of All Sorts.  Thanks for hosting, Shanna.

2013 2nd Quarter Finish-A-Long with Leanne at She Can Quilt.  Thanks, Leanne.

Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Lynne.



Thanks for visiting.
--Nancy.
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