The smallest 4-patch blocks are made of 1¼" squares and will finish at 1½". They become double 4-patch blocks (which will finish at 3"), which become triple 4-patch blocks (which will finish at 6"). There are 88 pieces in those 12" blocks.
The larger 4-patch blocks are cut at 2" and finish at 3½". They become double 4-patch blocks which also finish at 6".
As I cut, stitch, press, and repeat making these tiny 4-patch blocks the thought keeps running through my mind, Who -- WHO? -- came up with the crazy idea to make a large quilt with such tiny pieces of fabric? I remind myself that it is because I had small pieces of fabric that I chose this pattern.
Then myself says, But you had to buy more browns because you didn't have enough for the 3½" squares! At that point I tell myself to hush and just keep cutting and sewing.
This poor photo (↓) is the layout I have in mind. The width of the blocks below, if stitched together, would finish at a mere 36"!
I refuse to abandon this quilt after having stitched enough squares to make 20 12" blocks. I think/hope it will be a good-looking quilt when it's finished, but I need to do something to alleviate boredom or generate enthusiasm. Imagining the finish isn't doing it for me -- at least not yet.
Maybe I should cut all the squares I need and use them as leaders/enders while working on some other quilt. Or, maybe I should consider a small, lap-size quilt instead of a twin bed size quilt. I've even thought of changing the layout, though I'm not sure it would help me make fewer blocks.
It's not even half a quilt yet. Maybe--probably--I should just cut and sew and "get 'er done," as they say.
What do you do when you get bored with a quilt in progress? What is your strategy for finishing it? Do you plow through, stuff it away, or do something else?
I'm linking this post to
> Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework
> Wednesday Wait Loss #102 at The Inquiring Quilter
> WOW (WIPs on Wednesday) at Esther's Blog
> Let's Bee Social #258 at Sew Fresh Quilts
> Midweek Makers #158 at Quilt Fabrication
> Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts
> Friday Night Sew-In (FNSI) at Sugarlane Designs
Thank you for hosting, ladies.
--Nancy.
I love red and brown together, and I love chains, so this is a winner in my book.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet. I hope I can make all the browns work together in the end.
DeleteI like the first layout the best. This is such an interesting quilt to me because I usually like high contrast, which this quilt doesn't have. But, I love the warm brown tones paired up with the red. Nothing shouts, "look at me." It all blends in so well. I am in the process of "plugging along" tryng to get numerous UFOs to the quilt top stage. It isn't as exciting to work on something I'm not as enthusiastic about but the finish is just as thrilling.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts about these blocks, Robin. I think it will be a subtle quilt, in the end. I just hope all the browns work together, there's such a variety. When I sew from scraps -- a mixture of scraps -- I don't notice how much fabric it takes to make blocks or a quilt. I'm sewing this one from mostly scraps, too, but because there's so much brown, I've been running low and have bought several shirts. I just didn't realize how much fabric it takes to make a mostly one-color quilt!
DeleteI really like the thought that the finish is thrilling even for a quilt we're not enthusiastic about finishing. I hope I will love this little rubies quilt when it's finished.
This is one of those quilts that make me want to race up to my sewing room and start cutting. I absolutely LOVE the setting you have chosen for your blocks!!!
ReplyDeleteBless you, Joyful, for such a wonderful comment! It's encouraging to know someone would like to make a quilt like this!
DeleteI love your intended layout for this quilt. Whatever size you finally end up with it will be a beauty. I have projects that get shelved to simmer for months (sometimes years, who's kidding who!) but eventually I usually drum up some more enthusiasm for working on them. Guess it mostly depends on what other quilting deadlines are looming.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat. It's a layout I don't believe I've seen before, at least in double and triple 9-patch blocks, and it's very appealing to me, too. I try not to have unfinished projects. I seem to end up with a few trial blocks for a quilt or two and finished tops that I want to change. One of these days I hope to get them all finished. (Ha!)
DeleteWow, that is a lot of little pieces!! I do like your layout though. When I get bored, I usually start another project or take a short break from it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brenda. Believe me, there are several quilts I'd like to start but I'm resisting (at least so far) because I have several in-progress quilts already that I want to finish. But, maybe a short break to work on one of the other unfinished quilts would be good.
DeleteI would cut all the squares needed and use them as L&E's while working on another, more exciting project. Progress will be made and the quilt will be finished without being tucked away. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the suggestion. If worse comes to worst, I'll pull out another quilt to work on but for now I'm going with the "just get 'er done" attitude. On Friday I cut a ton of little squares and sewed a bunch together. They become their own leaders/enders. But who knows, I may pull out another in-progress quilt before this one is done.
DeleteDo you have a blog? I went to your google profile but it did not link to a blog. If you have one, I'd love to visit.
Nancy, this project seems to involve an awful lot of work(to me), but hope it is enjoyable as well. I love how these red squares are looking in the lay out, any of them...potential for a beauty of a quilt when all done!
ReplyDeleteIt IS a lot of work, Jocelyn. I'm hoping the finished quilt makes cutting and stitching the little squares worth it!
DeleteWhy do we always second guess ourselves? I think it is looking fabulous (I love a red and brown combo) and hope we can all encourage you to keep going. I think a "leader ender" project might be the answer. I'm always surprised when my secondary "feeder" project progresses faster than my intended project!
ReplyDeleteYou are a voice of reason, Wendy. Thank you for keeping me grounded. I'm going with the "just get 'er done" approach until I can't stand tiny squares, and then these will become leaders/enders. As it is now, they are that on their own.
DeleteThis is going to be beautiful, though the thought of that many tiny pieces would terrify me! I think leaders and enders would be a good way to go. I've only tried it once or twice but it's amazing how fast you can get through the donkey work without too much pain along the way.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Well, Kaja, if I cut all the squares necessary and saw them piled up waiting to be sewn, I think then I would be terrified. As it is, these seem to become their own leaders/enders, though I may pull out some other quilt and let these be leaders/enders to that one. I hope the quilt will be beautiful!
DeleteI really like the reds and browns. I would try it as a Leader or Ender.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Dresden Quilter. For now it's its own leader/ender but when I can't stand just red and brown I'll pull out another unfinished quilt and let those red and brown squares become leaders/enders for that.
DeleteThis is lovely! The reds and browns are great. When I get one of these that I find hard to finish, I do what you did...show it to my friends and let them encourage me! I hope you do finish this. It will be so beautiful. Thanks for linking up to Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennifer. I love the reds and browns together, just hope all the different browns work well together in the finished quilt.
DeleteI have such good blogging friends to encourage me, don't I?!
Thanks for sharing these tips I hope my projects will be just as good as yours. It's nice that you have so many ideas and implement them. I like to visit your blog very much.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome and thank you, CTNBEE.
DeleteI think you need to just tough it out. Make a goal and then congratulate yourself as you reach each step of the goal. Like you must sew 15 mins per day or 8 red squares to brown ones each day. It's certainly worth sewing and you will be so happy when it's finished. I like the idea of making it a lap quilt. OH - and I like the first lay out much better.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement, Linda. Making a more specific goal is exactly what I've done and it's help a lot!
Deletegreat effort Nancy, your quilt looks like a real labour of love. I think just breaking it up to small achievable bits per day/second day will get it done in no time alternating it with other more pleasurable tasks???? You will love the finished product because it's looking beautiful. and Congratulations...you were our January FNSI winner. Send me your postal addy and I'll get a prize out to you pronto! xox :o)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement, Wendy. Instead of just cutting and sewing I calculated how many of each size and color squares I would need so I had (have) a specific, detailed goal and I know how I stand as I make progress. It's helped a lot.
DeleteI didn't know there was a prize for linking to FNSI -- so thank you! And thank you for hosting FNSI. I don't get to participate often but am pleased to do it when I can.