Friday, May 14, 2021

Hourglass Blocks: Three Things

hourglass quilt blocks
#1  I forgot is how hard it is (for me) to sew together four blocks where 8 points meet at the corner so they meet accurately and lie flat after pressing.  Whew!  I haven't tried it with these but from past experiences I know it's a challenge.

#2  I forgot how hard it is not to see pinwheels or lozenges when hourglass blocks meet.  It requires really careful placement.  I haven't rearranged these blocks for that placement so who knows what you see.

To avoid both, I thought maybe I could separate the blocks with sashing.
hourglass quilt blocks
But probably not black sashing.  But if not black, what color?  And maybe not sashing at all.  A bad idea, I think.
hourglass quilt blocks
#3  I didn't realize how light grey these plaid fabrics would look, especially when just looking at the fabric up close they look black and natural-to-tan in color.  I thought they would look warmer.
hourglass quilt blocks
Maybe I could turn the blocks so the triangles together form squares.  That takes care of the pinwheel problem but there's just so much light grey!  And now I have rows and columns.  They remind me of Chinese Lanterns.
hourglass quilt blocks
hourglass quilt blocks

Or maybe I could makes stars (if I turn all the blocks in the right direction to form a star).
Or maybe not.  Unless I do something different about the blocks beside the star points.  Or maybe not, anyway.
hourglass quilt blocks
As so often happens, I'm wondering:  What was I thinking?!
hourglass quilt blocks
The results of these blocks do not come close to the vision I had in mind when I began.

What do you think?

Linking to Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More.  Thanks for hosting, Wendy.

--Nancy.

20 comments:

  1. That is tough to get them all to meet--(ask me how I know this, too!!). I do like that Star idea. Good luck with this...hugs, Julierose ;)))

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    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Julierose.  I'm still playing, hope to decide soon.

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  2. No sashing! I only saw pinwheels in your first photo. I love a good Broken Dishes quilt, yours is so pretty. Maybe....try oher colors oof the pik like a rose red, pale pink, etc?

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    1. I agree with no sashing, Lizzy.  I thought it might work and had to try it but nope.
      I'm still debating about the setting for these blocks.  (I know I'm slow but we had a little distress in our family last week and I'm trying to motivate myself.) 
      I can't decide whether it needs lighter/more/different reds/roses/pinks/corals or whether it needs darker plaids.  I made a few darker plaids to play with.  We'll see....
      Thanks for sharing your thoughts and observations.  As always, I appreciate reading them.

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  3. I love the picture of turning them so the triangles form a line of squares. (The picture just before you start talking about making a star.) There is so much movement - it's just really pretty with the red as the square and the rest as it's accent. It just feels good.

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    1. I'm still playing with the layout and possibilities for these blocks, Robin.  When I arrange them to form squares I ask myself what the purpose of making hourglass blocks was because I could have just cut squares....  But I haven't moved a section of that layout from the floor, either, which means I haven't dismissed that possibility.
      Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about the blocks.  I really appreciate it.  So often, others see what I don't.

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  4. So many possibilities. Isn't it wild how some quilts evolve into something we couldn't ever imagine. I like the configuration you say reminds you of Chinese lanterns. I know what you mean about a lot of gray but it seems very balanced to me and I think it's pretty, the different reds/pinks up against each other.

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    1. Yes, it's amazing how quilts sometimes evolve, Cynthia. 
      Most who commented also liked the "Chinese lanterns" layout.  I still have a section with that layout on the floor as I play with other possibilities with the rest of the blocks (and a few more I made).
      This part of making a quilt is fun and also challenging (sometimes beyond my abilities, I think!).

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  5. You have so many possibilities here, and whatever you do, it has to be what strikes your fancy. I am also drawn to the "Chinese Lantern" idea, but I like the blocks in any of the configurations you show here.

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    1. You're so good about throwing the possibilities back to me with these blocks, Janet.  I think this is the second time I've posted about them and I think I keep hoping someone else will see for them some vision I don't yet see.  They just look so different than what I imagined and I guess I'm a little disappointed that the red is dominant (though thinking about it now, I don't know why I thought it would be since there are equal parts of reds and plaids!  Ha. 
      Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.  I appreciate it.

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  6. I like those blocks. And i like the different settings, exept the one with the dark sashings, that one is my least favorite.

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    1. Thank you, Kleine Vingers. The one with the dark sashing is my least favorite, too, and I've dismissed it a possible layout. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.

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  7. I like pink and gray quilts. You can't go wrong with any of those options!

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    1. Thank you, Joyful.  I'm still playing....

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  8. With all these reds turning the block to make squares is such a great look. I hope you go that way.

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    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and observations, Imno. I appreciate it.

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  9. I love the squares and am not bothered at all by the gray. But in the end, it’s your quilt. Will be interested in seeing what you decide on.

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    1. Thanks, Jennie.  The squares seem to be the favorite layout of the people who have left comments.  I'm still undecided, though there is a group of blocks with that layout still on the floor.  We'll see.

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  10. I love when you turned the blocks to make pink squares and then the checks of different grays and creams etc, marvelous look!!! Happy Quilting from Iowa

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    1. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on these blocks, Melody. I appreciate it.

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I appreciate your comments and look forward to reading what you have to say. Thanks for stopping by.

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