Friday, September 17, 2021

This and That, One Thing and Another, Etc.

I've been slowly making Burgoyne Surrounded blocks.  Gosh, they take a while.  There are a total of eight now, with four more to make.
I started with the intent of really scrappy blocks using four-patches I'd already made, cutting some 1½" x 2½" pieces from scraps, and trying only to use similar colors for the diagonals from corner to corner and the center squares. 
And then I tried a few that were more color-coordinated and less scrappy.  Scrappy or not, I think the blocks work because of the pattern.

I always envisioned these blocks in autumn colors--naturals with reds, rusts, browns, greens, oranges, golds, etc.  Some of the lighter colors don't work as well as the darker or brighter ones.

I love making scrappy--a bunch of different fabrics and colors--but it sometimes takes longer and I'm not always satisfied with the outcome.  Sometimes I think I'm missing something.   Maybe scrappy requires some constant other than just the pattern.  What are your thoughts on scrappy quilts, if you make them or if you love looking at them? 

Cheddarback is now layered and basted, with one block quilted.   I forgot to brush my fingers with liquid bandage before I began.  I'll change that before I put needle to quilt again.
I had the silly notion that if I quilted one block per day I could finish this quilt in a month.  Ha!  That was before I realized/remembered how hard it is to hand quilt through so many seams!  I'll be thrilled if I get it finished in a few months. 

When you baste a quilt and have extra backing fabric, what do you do?  Cut it off?  Fold it over and secure it with pins?   I folded that long piece at the bottom and pinned it.  I knew if I didn't cut it before quilting, I would have slightly larger piece when I cut it after quilting.   But I'm just wondering what you do and your reason for doing it.

I found a sweet surprise in the closet this afternoon when I was looking through some boxes I thought were empty.
I bought these Madelaine's foil-wrapped pansies around Easter time and hid them from myself.   Today was a great day to find them!  Have you eaten Madelaine's chocolates before?  Their foil-wrapped hearts are the best.  (No affiliation with Madelaine's, just a happy chocolate-lover.)  These are about an inch and a quarter in diameter and 3/16" thick.  Perfect to let melt in your mouth.

And any of you who enjoy jigsaw puzzles will appreciate this article telling their benefits and how they can improve your quality of life.  And then head over to this link, scroll to the bottom, and put together a quilt puzzle.  I don't seek out puzzles but when they come my way I can hardly resist doing them.

I'm linking this post to
> Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
> Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More
Thanks for hosting, Alycia and Wendy.

I hope you've had a good week and will have a great weekend.

--Nancy.

15 comments:

  1. What a nice post. Your Burgoyne blocks look good. I love your Cheddarback! For scrappy quilts, I usually make some "rules" for myself and then break those rules here and there, if that makes sense. I usually trim my backing before I quilt, but I like your frugal idea a lot. Speaking of ideas, I've never heard of liquid bandages on fingers.... such a great idea.

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    1. Thank you, Cynthia.  I make rules for scrappy quilts, too, but I think my rules are too lenient/broad.  I'll have to rethink this before I start another scrappy quilt.  I have always trimmed the backing but then had strips that were about 4" wide--useful but not as useful as 4" added to a half yard.  I've left this on to see what happens.  It may be a bad idea.  I don't know what I'd do without liquid bandage.  It works for protecting fingers as well has helping small cuts, nicks, scratches heal.  It hurts like heck if there's an opening in the skin--but only for about 10 seconds.  But maybe they don't have it there?

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  2. The burgoyne blocks are turning out great. I don't make a lot of scrap quilts but I really need to because my scraps are mounting. The last scrap quilt I made was controlled scrappy. I feel much more comfortable with selecting what looks good next to what. It takes more time but I'm more satisfied with the outcome. I always trim my backing to size. Then it's out of way when I put the quilt on the frames or hoop. I bet it feels good to get started on Cheddarback. It seems like it takes so long to get the quilt to the stage to quilt i.e. pressing, measuring, sewing the back, spreading it out flat, layering, pining, putting it smoothly on the frames. I always take a such big sigh of relief when I can finally put the first stitches in.

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    1. Yes, I'm happy to finally be quilting Cheddarback, Robin.  It takes me a long time to get the back ready (I wanted to match the print for this one), and then pin basting takes a while, too.  I can only bend over or be on my knees for so long and then I have to take a break.  I think I spread the basting over two days.  But finally!  And now three blocks are quilted.  That was my one monthly goal so I'll post soon.
      My scrappy quilts have run the gamut of throw everything in the bag and sew together the first two that come out to making sure the fabrics that are side-by-side are pleasing to the eye. 

      Thank you for your comment about the Burgoyne blocks.

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  3. Love the Burgoyne blocks, they look coordinated to me. For me the most difficult part is reining in the types of scraps used. My favorite of all my scrappy quilts was one that only used scraps that were predominantly shades of blue along with a few in adjoining colors like green and purple. I always cut off the excess batting and backing fabric before quilting, just way too easy to accidentally stitch an extra layer of backing fabric into the quilting especially when machine quilting. The less bulk and weight i have to deal with the better results.

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    1. Thanks for your comments about the Burgoyne blocks, Pat.

      Now that's another consideration about scrap quilts--the kinds of scraps. I really have to reconsider my fabric choices before beginning another scrap quilt.

      Oh, I've done that before--stitched the edge of the backing fabric while quilting--and it was the usual width of about 4"! I left that half yard on and will be very careful.

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  4. I love the Burgoyne surrounded scrappy blocks! Some day when I get some of my UFO's done or at least to flimsy form then I want to make some Burgoyne in scrappy myself











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    1. Thank you, QuiltGranma. It takes time to get everything done, doesn't it? And the UFOs are so easy to acquire!

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  5. Those Burgoyne blocks are beautiful - I have always been drawn to them, but have never make one. I like the scrappiness of your blocks!

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    1. Thank you, Alycia. Burgoyne blocks are not quick to sew--so many pieces, so many seams--but I think they are striking with their circles and diagonals and lots of background showing. I'm still unsure about the scrappiness, but it hasn't kept me from continuing. Ha.

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  6. Two more gorgeous quilts in the works, Nancy!!

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  7. My chemo brain won't focus on puzzles right now, at least not online ones. Maybe a Kindergarten version! Love what you're working on with Burgoyne Surrounded. Many people have forgotten the battle, but quilters keep the pattern alive! Yay on Cheddarback. I always leave extra and trim after quilting, but haven't hand quilted in a couple of years.

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    1. Isn't it interesting what chemicals can do to our brains, Susan?! And they sometimes take a while to get out of our bodies. What a challenge you've had. As for the puzzle, you probably don't need puzzles in your life right now....
      Thank you for your comments about my quilts in progress.

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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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