This is block C, "Glories," of Linda Brannock's Flowers quilt pattern. I think it is my favorite of all the blocks (but I admit I would have liked it better with blue morning glories).
I tried about two dozen different fabrics for the vase. Three were close in color to the flowers and I liked them but they didn't offer much contrast or interest. When I tried lighter fabrics with colors that I thought worked with the flowers, they seemed to disappear into the background. While this vase fabric may not be perfect, I don't think it shouts "wrong choice."
Those little finger-like centers? Oh my gosh what awful stitching! I attribute it to the fact that I glued under the edges and the glue was really stiff and hard to stitch through. Next time I will use less glue and I should probably think about buying a large magnifying glass.
As I was stitching down the last leaf it occurred to me that I could have used a different green fabric for the leaves or the stems so there would have been some contrast. But too late to change them all. I changed the placement of the leaves for this block. In the pattern the points were turned up toward the flowers. I guess I'm just too much of a realist: heart-shaped morning glory leaves point down or outward. I don't know that my changes improve the block at all, but done is done.
When you make large blocks (this one is 15½ x 20½") for a quilt along what do you do with them while you work on subsequent blocks? Fold them in a box? Hang them on a wall? Lay them flat somewhere? I have the blocks for this quilt pinned to a bulletin board with about six pins across the top, hoping not to distort them. What works for you?
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Thanks for stopping by.
--Nancy.
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I love your block. It is going to be a beautiful quilt. Hugs
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy. I hope it will be. I'm a little uncertain about the colors for the half-triangle squares for the sashing. I hope I can get those to enhance the blocks.
DeleteWhat a pretty pretty block! I got some big cookie sheets, and have them stacked up, with several projects on them. That is how I keep my pieces and parts all together.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie. Those large cookie sheets are a great idea. I'll check into getting one.
DeleteMorning Glories are one of my favorite flowers and for the first time ever I have them coming up around my yard without me planting any at all. I've been digging them up and moving them into the garden--hopefully they will survive! Your block looks great--I know what you mean about the glue--I've done the same thing many times. I am doing an Edyta Sitar sew along and some of the blocks are huge. I had them on my design wall, but needed to use it for another project, so I folded them in quarters and put them in a plastic tote where they won't get squished. I'm hoping they won't need too much pressing later--I hated to do it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen. I'll have to be careful about the blue from now on and keep it away from the fold and only near the edge to be turned under. After I cut away the backs I think I might be able to pull some of those stitches tighter so they don't show so much.
DeleteAbout your volunteer morning glories. If they're white, they may be bindweed and not morning glories. Bindweed is a very invasive plant that will kill other plants. See photos at https://www.google.com/search?q=bindweed&client=firefox-b-1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjxmvuJlJHcAhXl4IMKHZl6BwwQ_AUICigB&biw=1207&bih=643
I thought about folding these blocks but hesitated. You'll have to let us know how that works. I have mine pinned, one on top of another, to a bulletin board but I'm concerned about them sagging. I may resort to folding. Your Edyta Sitar blocks are beautiful!
It turned out very nicely!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brenna.
DeleteI think it is a beautiful block, Nancy.
ReplyDeleteAnd for finished blocks that are too large to lay flat in my storage containers, I clip them to skirt hangers and put them in my sewing room closet.
Thank you, Janet.
DeleteWhen you use skirt hangers do you notice whether the fabric shifts out of square. I have these blocks pinned, one on top of another, to a bulletin board and my concern is that there will be sagging in the fabric between the pins. Have you noticed a problem like than with the skirt hangers?
Terrific! The leaves pointing down was a good design choice. The color doesn't matter in a folk art quilt. It's what pleases you that matters. The fabric for the vase looks great. Having a design wall is what I like best for hanging up large blocks but there isn't always room for everything as I go along. I have some 18" blocks all stacked together and laying flat in a seldom used closet. (Speaking of which, I need to get back to those blocks) I like Janet's idea of hanging them up.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Robin. I know my leaning toward "realism" poses somewhat of a contradiction with folk art style but in the end, I agree, liking what I make is more important than following the pattern exactly.
DeleteHanging blocks on a design wall is ideal! I wish I had one. I have two small sections of wall where I use tape to hang blocks, a bulletin board, and the floor. But I did find a roll of flannel-backed vinyl that I brought home with the intent of hanging it on an empty section of wall -- which I hope will work. But laying them flat in a closet is a great idea. Or maybe even under a bed in a large box.... Thanks for the idea.
I think that block might be my favorite from the pattern set too.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a great one, isn't it, Karen? I can imagine it as a center in a medallion quilt.
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