A year or so ago, I saw a quilt on the cover of American Patchwork & Quilting that really spoke to me. The designer had used medium to large scale Halloween prints in two different blocks with sashing and two borders. I carried that issue around for the better part of a year until I decided I'd give it a try.
It turns out that I had a lot of orange fabrics, and a fair number of black Halloween fabrics, but not as many of the big print fabrics. So far this quilt is a bit more understated than the one on the cover of the magazine.
Today, I laid out some of the 27 blocks I'd made on the living room floor, to see if what I had would work.
This is what it looks like so far:
These blocks will be put together with a dark green and black sashing, and then surrounded by a border made of strips of all of these fabrics cut at a 45 degree angle. The last border should be black with stars, or possibly black with pumpkins, depending on what I can find at this time of year.
The extra blocks will be used to make a table runner, as soon as I find a background fabric that I like.
My other project for the day was to make muslin bags for dried catnip. I think I may have erred in storing the catnip in a ziplock bag for several months. I think the essential oil may have evaporated. It's either that, or I have an incredibly lazy cat.
Comments (11)
Oh my gosh, will that be awesome or what.
Posted by janet | February 18, 2007 11:15 PM
Posted on February 18, 2007 23:15
The finished product is going to be awesome Buffy. I love it just as it is laying on your floor. Beautiful...you do such great work. You know, I think that's why I was drawn to your site when I first visited....it reminded me of a quilt. Well....that, and the fact that I enjoyed what you had to say....and, you were funny.
Posted by Joy | February 19, 2007 1:29 AM
Posted on February 19, 2007 01:29
sometimes catnip can have a sedating effect buffy. we have discovered this. its more fun when they go nuts tho!
Posted by bod | February 19, 2007 3:35 AM
Posted on February 19, 2007 03:35
The Halloween quilt is turning out beautifully, Buffy--as we all knew it would! I no longer recall what the magazine photo looked like, but I cannot imagine that it was better than what you are coming up with. Wonderful!
Posted by Cop Car | February 19, 2007 11:00 AM
Posted on February 19, 2007 11:00
P.S. Buffy, you pooh-poohed when I lamented at the difficulty of piecing those blocks; but, I want to assure those readers who are not into piecing that those blocks are more difficult than they appear to be. Buffy cannot let her mind wander when working on this quilt!
Posted by Cop Car | February 19, 2007 11:02 AM
Posted on February 19, 2007 11:02
Totally lovely, Buffy. The 'pinwheels' look just right with the alternating dark and light blades. Certainly a work to be proud of. You will show us again when it's finished, I hope.
Posted by Roberta S | February 19, 2007 12:57 PM
Posted on February 19, 2007 12:57
Thank you, ladies! You're a wonderful support group. It's nice to know that you think I'm on the right track with these blocks. I'm still playing with the placement, but I think I'm about ready to sew this top together.
CC...this block is a lot easier than you're making out. There's a little trick to it's assembly. You have to sew a partial seam to start, work your way around the center square, and then finish that partial seam at the end. It's not hard, it's just a matter of having someone more experienced show you how. Cop Car....did I show you how to do this? I hope I explained it well. I don't want you turned off on this technique for life! *G*
Bod....he decided he would play with the catnip bags when it was time for DH and me to go to bed. Apparently, he didn't want to be seen playing like a kitten. *G*
Posted by buffy | February 19, 2007 3:09 PM
Posted on February 19, 2007 15:09
Buffy--Yes, you showed me how you were piecing the blocks...or...I might not have noted that they are not "just" pinwheels (I'm sure that Roberta noted it, too, but how else would one describe the block?) "Partial seam" is like "puree" or "dice finely" or "pick up every third stitch"....The little details make me gnash my teeth and seek a simpler path. I guess you think that your "partial seam" method IS a simpler path, don't you? *laughing*
Posted by Cop Car | February 19, 2007 10:40 PM
Posted on February 19, 2007 22:40
CC...it was eye-opening to learn about partial seams. There are some blocks that can't be done any other way. Yes....this one is tricky in that the first seam is really short, but it makes the rest of the block go together like a dream. You'll get there. It won't be long before you find something you just HAVE to make...and it will have a partial seam in it. *G*
Posted by buffy | February 20, 2007 10:10 AM
Posted on February 20, 2007 10:10
Buffy--Something similar is encountered in making a notched collar...as I recall. It's been several years since I've attempted to make one--as in--the last one I recall was in the 1950s or 1960s! I would have to go through my stash of clothing patterns to pin it down any closer. You made that block look simple to make. (The Masters always do that--make the difficult look easy.)
Posted by Cop Car | February 20, 2007 8:24 PM
Posted on February 20, 2007 20:24
It's beautiful!
Posted by Susan | February 27, 2007 9:02 PM
Posted on February 27, 2007 21:02