I love this quilt for the challenges it offers me as a new-to-primitive-style quilter. The casualness is probably really good for me even though it feels (maybe) a little stressful at times.
I wasn't sure I'd enjoy making the Snail's Trail blocks but they turned out to be fun, if just a little time consuming with so many seams and presses between. They make me think of ocean waves, perfect for a quilt called Sweet Land of Liberty, which makes me think of the song, "America," in which we sing "from sea to shining sea."
I don't enjoy making the Economy blocks much but I love them when they're finished. I might love them so much that I'll make a whole quilt of them. You'd think that a block with 8 seams would be a piece of cake to make, but lining up the triangles required care and was time consuming.
I'm looking forward to the time when I have sections of this quilt that can be sewn together. Those who started the quilt in January are half finished. I may not finish "on time" but I'll work to catch up and eventually finish.
I love the unpretentiousness of this quilt. It doesn't take itself too seriously, adapts to imperfections, and encourages a bit of improvisation when needed. I think Cheri Payne was a masterful quilter and quilt designer. As I work on this quilt I am impressed with how she made things fit together yet kept the casual, primitive look. Unpretentious, yes, but also very busy. There will be so much to look at when it's finished.
This is a quilt I know I would not have made without the support and encouragement of others working on it at the same time. Again, thank you, Loir.
--Nancy.
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Yes, I also enjoy the free spirit techniques I have learn from doing this quilt along with the encouragement of the other members. I agree I would have never tackled this without Lori holding my hand through the journey. Your blocks are looking great Nancy keep going :0)! Happy Sewing
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kim. I appreciate the kind words.
DeleteLove how it's looking so far--the plaids add so much warmth! I'm with you on the economy blocks--my least favorite block ever!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. I love using plaids. Maybe one of these days Economy blocks will come more easily. I'll have plenty of practice by the time I get them all made for this quilt!
DeleteMy quilts always tell me what they want but I don't always listen and then I really regret it. Your snails trail blocks look great. I don't really enjoy making them but I always love them when I'm done. I'm thinking about adding some more lyrics to the "My Country 'tis of thee" song. There doesn't seem to be many words from the song in the bottom half of the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI understand, exactly, Robin. I don't always listen, either, or sometimes I just don't hear them.
DeleteI have this section of quilt hanging above my computer monitor so I see it when I walk into the room. The snail's trail block on the left shows now contrast so I'm thinking of changing it. I won't yet, though -- will wait to see how the next section looks and whether it still seems like a dark hole. (Is my quilt telling me what it wants?)
I hadn't noticed the lack of words at the bottom but I see what you mean. "Freedom" and "Victory" are the only words I see below the middle. I wonder if "land that I love" or "from sea to shining sea" or any other part of the song could go across the stars or houses across the bottom, or along one of the sides. That's a great idea to add more. For me, I'll have to see if I can catch up with all the sections before I think about adding more. Ha!
It all looks good to me! Love all the plaids you are using!
ReplyDeleteYes, my quilts talk to me, but like Robin, I don't always listen.
Well now there are three of us who sometimes don't listen to our quilts, Janet!
DeleteI love using plaids, just wish I had more that didn't have so much white in them.
Love the stripes and plaids of these economy blocks. My quilts talk to me too - I think it is best to wait to see what it wants, otherwise it acts like a spoiled brat! I have been wanting to start this quilt but have been waiting until a less busy time. It may be coming soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shasta. This quilt is such a busy quilt, I guess I subconsciously decided to make it busier with the plaids and stripes.
DeleteI should not have started this quilt or not started Linda Brannock's Flowers quilt. Working on two quilts that require lots of applique is not smart! I hope you find time to work on it. It will be fun to see your version
When I make the Utility blocks, I pinch at the center line of where I want the fabrics to line up, making a tiny shadow to guide me so they come out square. Perhaps that will help in making more?
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning this, QuiltGranma. I tried this and it helped but I was still off sometimes. I will persist, though, and see if I can master these blocks!
DeleteDo you have a blog? I'd like to visit if you do. When I click on your blogger profile there's hardly any information there.
not a blogger, didn't know how to sign up so got that big B next to my name and don't know how to fix it.
DeleteHmmmm. I don't know how to get rid of that B either. It seems strange that it's there if you don't have a blog. What if you sign in to google and leave comments that way? Gosh, I'm sorry I can't help, QuiltGranma. But maybe you could start a blog?
DeleteYour colors coordinate so well. I sewed one of my snails trails backwards and just left it. Who's going to notice? Ha
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kinds words, Nancy. I hope the colors continue to work well throughout the quilt!
DeleteI think I would have left the backwards Snail's Trail block, too. I'm sure no one will notice--this is a very busy quilt--and even if they do, it will just add interest. (I just went to your blog and I agree. I would not have noticed except that you'd already mentioned it.)
You will beat me, as I'm not starting until late August or early September. =) I think not using two obvious plaids on your ocean waves kept them looking clean and crisp! I really like your blocks, and I think my block might tell me no stars are ever needed. LOL
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. You may not be starting till August or September but you may work faster than me.
DeleteYes, I think two large plaids in the same block would really have muddled those ocean waves. I'm not sure about the block on the left, anyway. In real life it looks like a dark hole because the values of both fabrics are so close. I'm think about remaking it. I'll wait to see how the other blocks around it work for or against the dark hole.
I'll look forward to watching how you create this quilt, Susan. They are similar and yet individual, too.