The first problem was the stars. We need four paper-pieced stars that finish at 4" x 6". I knew I'd made five so I thought I was set to go. Unfortunately for me, the stars I made were not the stars for the upper border but, instead, for the lower border and finish at 5" x 7". I realized this only after I'd cut the 6½" strip of fabric for the top border and placed my stars next to it. They were too big.
After looking at the pattern directions again it didn't take many minutes to realize the problem. So I cut and stitched four new stars.
Next, I realized that the Economy blocks I made might not be quite right for the upper right side border because two birds and a star will be appliqued on them. I won't take the time to prepare and stitch applique pieces that won't show, so I want to have a choice of Economy blocks in lights, mediums, and darks when it comes to choosing the fabric for the birds.
So I cut and stitched a dozen more Economy blocks.
Yes, some of the squares are floating but I'm fine with that. I love the look of Economy blocks all over again. And now I have enough blocks to play with placement when I choose fabric for the birds. But, of course, I'll probably make more of these wonderful little blocks.
Partially or already done:
- The vine and berries are prepared.
- The basket is prepared.
- The eagle is cut out.
- The patterns for the letters are all traced and cut out.
- The star for between the birds is ready to stitch.
- The hand is prepared to applique but needs to have the heart attached (which is ready).
Still to do this month:
- Finish appliqueing the star to the basket block.
- Cut and sew the 1½" strip to the top row.
- Sew the stars and 6½" strip together, then stitch to top of quilt.
- Position the vine and berries.
- Choose and sew together 5 flying geese for the left border, then attach to the quilt.
- Choose, cut, and sew a strip that goes between the main part of the quilt and the Economy blocks.
- Choose and sew together 5 Economy blocks for the right border and sew to the quilt.
- Applique the heart to the hand.
- Choose fabric for the birds on side border (on the Economy blocks).
To do when this above is finished, either this or next month:
- Applique the vine and berries.
- Applique the hand.
- Applique the eagle.
- Cut, prepare, and applique the birds.
- Choose fabric for and prepare the letters, then applique them. (I think this will take a lot of time! Those letters look challenging.)
I like lists a lot but I felt much better about my progress before I wrote these lists. Putting it all in writing makes it seem like there's lots more to do than when I was just thinking about it. But, hey, I have 10 more days! I can do this. Right?
I'm linking this post to
> BOMs Away at What a Hoot Quilts
> Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
> Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
> Main Crush Monday (MCM) at Cooking Up Quilts
> Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.
--Nancy.
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That's a lot of progress! I too love economy blocks. Thanks for the inspiration. Maybe I'll make a whole mini economy block quilt!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wendy. Oh, I can just imagine the charm of your mini economy quilt -- if you make it. I know it will be delightful!
DeleteI feel a little overwhelmed just looking at your lists. This BOM is a big commitment. Of course, the finished quilt will make it well worth the effort. Your stars are great. I always struggle with those.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Lists can be good and bad, can't they, Jennie? Sometimes they overwhelm and sometimes they just keep me on track -- and I think that's what the second of the lists in this post is doing. I'm making progress! I like this quilt but I think I like Cheri's original better than I will like mine. Thanks for your comment on the stars. I think they are hard to make. I have to remind myself to cut extra around the edges so I can trim to size.
DeleteSometimes things go awry but you made the best of the situation and have a good looking section of the Sweet Land of Liberty. Those bigger Cheri designs can be a challenge at times to understand what goes where and how to accomplish it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. I find I have to keep looking at the finished quilt or someone else's quilt in progress to make sure I'm on the right track with SLoL. I think Cheri was all about improvising as she went along. I'm learning to do that with this quilt!
DeleteYour lists! I d be overwhelmed and stalled out. Good for you tho, you're making progress.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lizzy. Sometimes lists work great for me, other times not so much. For this quilt they're helping me stay focused, especially because there's a lot to do in a short time.
DeleteTerrific job! I'm sure you'll be able to use the "extra' blocks somewhere!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori. I think it will turn out that the extra blocks won't be extra at all. Maybe I can think of it as working ahead....
DeleteGreat work! My birds weren’t going to show up either so I didn’t put them on the economy blocks but on a strip below them. Still working on stitching everything down though
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea to put the birds somewhere else, Karrin. I wish I'd thought of that. There's a lot of stitching on this quilt, particularly on the top section. Just tonight I pressed my freezer paper letters on to fabric. I still have to cut them out before I can begin stitching -- and I have to stitch the vines and berries down before I can do that. I knew I wouldn't get everything done this month but I think I've made good progress.
DeleteI think you will be able to make it all fit somehow. That is the beauty of "Primitive". You just make it work.
ReplyDeleteI really like your Square-in-a-square blocks.
Thanks, Janet. I think Cheri was the queen of improvising and by hook or by crook, the parts of my quilt will fit together to become a whole. Haha.
DeleteI am so glad to read your post Nancy. I needed a reminder of how pretty the economy block design is. I would not want to cover up applique either if some way could be found around it. I'm confident you will sort it out. Meanwhile, I'll say if I haven't said already, how much I like the fabrics you have chosen for this project.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jocelyn. I recently saw a sew-along with economy blocks -- or maybe it was a block of the month for purchase. I think the blocks finished at 2 or 3 inches! I'm sure they will be adorable but I can't imagine sewing such small triangles. The fabric is a hodge podge of fabrics I have on hand, ones I think might look primitive.
DeleteThis is how we quilters end up with orphan blocks, but luckily in your case you can use them in the same quilt! Economy blocks are so charming - yours are so pretty. I make lists too and sometimes when I go back and look, I'm amazed - at what I did, and what I decided to let go;).
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cynthia. Too many orphan blocks! LOL. I keep trying to make just enough blocks but don't always succeed. As you say, I think the rest of these blocks can be placed somewhere in this quilt. Or, maybe they're the beginning of a little economy quilt. Haha. My lists are similar to yours. I'm amazed how sometimes things just fall off the list....
Delete