August OMG Finish, September OMG Goal

My One Monthly Goal for August was to decide on a layout for these coral churn dash blocks and then make enough blocks to complete the layout.  I've decided to set them on-point, without sashing.  (I'm so sorry the beautiful colors never photograph true to the fabric.) 

This will not be the final arrangement of the blocks within the top, though.  I'm tempted to put the lightest blocks in the center, or at least lay it out that way to see what I think.  A quilt called "Blushing Stars" by Louanna Mary Quilt Design caught my eye in a recent Connecting Threads catalog and was the inspiration for putting lights in the center.  Maybe mixed will be the best arrangement....

After I made the decision to set them side-by-side, I awoke early the next morning with the thought, "Oh, no, you can't do that!  Those seams will never press flat.  They need sashing."  I press seams open and it frequently happens that seams with several layers of fabric, like the corners of those half-square triangles, don't press open well.  I decided I'd just have to try it and see.  Here is one seam, both front and back.  (I've just nicked off a point or two.  I hope the rest don't go that way.)

I think the seams and the layers of fabric pressed well.  I have several other blocks with slightly thicker fabric but I think all will be well.

To meet my goal this month I made 11 more blocks but used only 9 of them.  They may be substituted for ones in the photo above.

I'm sure I will continue to have second thoughts about this layout until the top is sewn together.  And then, if I still have second thoughts, maybe I'll just make another top with the same blocks in the same fabrics with a different layout.  Maybe.  Or not, and just move on.

My September One Monthly Goal will be to arrange the blocks, cut side- and corner-setting triangles, and sew the top together.

With the arrangement above, the quilt will measure about 59" x 82".  That's a lot narrow for a quilt so I'm thinking of making the side-setting triangles (on the sides and bottom) larger if I can figure out how to do it.  I feel really challenged by that!  I know they won't look like borders but they'll give the quilt center a wider margin so it's the focus.  What am I missing with this idea?

I'm linking this post to
> One Monthly Goal August Finishes at Elm Street Quilts
> The OMG September Goal Post when it's available 
Thanks so much for hosting, Patty.

Also, I'm making this quilt as part of Chookyblue's Churn Dash Sew-Along.  Visit her blog to see a list of other participants with links to their blogs on her sidebar. 

Thanks so much to you for visiting and reading and, if you choose, leaving a comment. 

--Nancy.