I think this was the hardest block so far. Those jagged outside edges of the leaves were so challenging for me. At the inner points there was nearly no fabric to turn under on the sides. Whew! I didn't succeed very well but I'll take the results this time (and work to do better next time).
Coxcomb (also written cockscomb), or celosia cristata by its Latin name, is an interesting flower which often looks like it is made of ruffles gathered into a little vase that is the stem. The fresh flowers are fairly stiff and somewhat bristly and they can be dried to use in everlasting bouquets and arrangements. There are several varieties which vary somewhat in shape and color. The flowers are usually in the red/rose range but I chose the coloring in the one below for my block.
The fabric color I chose is not spot on to duplicate this flower; is, perhaps, a little too bright; and probably not primitive at all. I'm hoping the pattern will carry the primitive look.
This is a group photo of my completed blocks so far.
I can see how important it will be to carefully choose the colors I use in the triangle/squares sashing to help unify the blocks. Yikes! Will it work?!
I'm linking this post to Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts. Thanks for hosting, Myra.
--Nancy.
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Your blocks are looking great and your appliqué looks good to me. No reason you can’t unify these blocks with the setting half square triangles.
ReplyDeleteYou're so kind, Jennie. Thank you. I think I need to choose a constant for the triangles on one side of the squares (maybe tan or brown or putty or some other color...) and then use colors from all the blocks for the other side. That seems to be what others are doing.
DeleteI love your latest block. You are coming right along with this. Hugs
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy. Coming along, but more slowly than I thought. I guessed this block would be quick and easy and I'd have it done in a week or so. But progress, however fast or slow, is still progress.
DeleteBeautiful block, beautiful sewing! I think I'd make mixed colors for the sashing, maybe mixed up and scrappy or sections of all one color but different [like 6 red, 8 blue etc.] Then I d lay them out to see what looks good where in the end. Maybe make triangles featuring the main colors of each block but don t put them by their inspiration flower block? Or I might [may, bec this is on my to make list] do all blue triangles or shades of blue scrappy?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lizzy. I'm leaning toward triangles on one side of the squares being one shade/color (tan, putty, brown?) but not all the same fabric and then using fabrics from the blocks for the triangles on the other side of the square. One of the things that will complicate the sashing a little is that I want to make the quilt wider than 60" so I'll have to either make the triangle/squares larger or make a double column of them. I suppose that will take some figuring on my part.
DeleteI know you love blue and I'm sure your quilt will look great with blue sashing triangle/squares.
This is such a cute block--I can see that those leaves would be tricky though! I think you did great with the colors and the blocks all look wonderful together!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Karen. This is another favorite block in this quilt, but those leaves! Most others who are making this quilt with the sew-along are not using such a wide range of colors. I hope I can pull this together!
DeleteAnother great block! You sure keep busy. I've been trying to do my SLOL blocks for this month. My heart isn't in applique right now but that's the only way I'll finish the quilt top. Love the hearts.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Robin. Busy, yes, and I'm feeling a little pushed with two sew-alongs and the other blocks I'm making on my own. I must remind myself to do only one sew-along at a time. There are just so many that are appealing. I wish they didn't all come at the same time!
DeleteI absolutely love this block. Seems whimsical to me somehow. Can't see any reason why it won't play nicely with the other blocks. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janet. Yes, I can see whimsy in this block, maybe because of the combination of the flower pattern and the color I chose for them. I love the coral/salmon/apricot/peach color range but it doesn't always work well. I'll probably have to be a little more careful about the colors I choose for the rest of the blocks.
DeleteI love this block! And, I agree that those inner corners are hard!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Wendy. This is another of my favorite block patterns in this quilt.
DeleteI can see where those leaves held a certain amount of grrrr! 8) Glad you didn't let it daunt you!
ReplyDeleteI've always thought celosia looked like weird scruffy brains...
Hi, Gayle. I'm glad those leaves are done but I think they are not the end of the challenges in this quilt. I see another block or two with some tight corners and tiny pieces. I hadn't thought about celosia looking like brains but I can see what you mean.
DeleteNancy, I think those inside curves look perfectly done. Interesting reading as always.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jocelyn. You are so kind. I suppose we are always most aware of our own limitations, aren't we?
DeleteThe coxcomb is a very attractive finish, and I see nothing wrong with any of your curves. Thanks for showing the grouping together. If I'd seen these blocks when all the patterns were available, I'd have bought them, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your generous comment, Susan. I'm grateful other kind blogging quilters turn a blind eye to all the faults I see in my handiwork. I actually didn't buy these patterns but joined a Facebook group where we get the next after finishing the previous. There are some of these flowers I like better than others but they've all been fun or challenging or I've learned something.
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