Saturday, August 19, 2017

Squirrelly


What happens when you should be quilting the last two recently finished WIPs and an Anita Grossman Solomon book shows up in the mail? Why of course you pull out an old FQ bundle, add in some coordinating blenders, and piece up 48 Old Italian Blocks.


I love this block, but it always looked a bit too complicated and fiddly to make. Anita's book has a super simple method to cut the oddly shaped pieces without even measuring. I like the way she thinks: why do it the hard way?


Actually, I made 50 blocks, because I still struggle with value and contrast. These two looked great when I put the fabrics next to each other, but turned into mush in the blocks. The colors and scale of the fabrics are just too similar. With Anita's method, you get two reverse blocks from each pair of fabrics, so I ended up with double mush. Oh well. It only took a few minutes to pair up a couple with much better contrast and these will be set aside for who knows what.


And then, once you've made 48 (or 50) blocks and need to be packing for your week long trip to New York, what's a girl to do except try six different flimsy layouts then stitch them all together? I still see a few blocks that where the contrast could be better, but overall I'm happy with this. I'm thinking I might do a completely scrappy version and really, really concentrate on each block having the strong contrast that makes the "X" pattern shimmer.

The top is currently 36"x48", so it could be a wheelchair quilt as-is, or perhaps I'll add some borders to make it bigger. It felt good to do this whirlwind of sewing right before I had to leave my quilting for a week. 

Linking up with Sandra's DrEAMi party, since I dropped everything to chase this squirrel!

13 comments:

  1. Well, you sure know how to whip up a stunning quilt! I can relate to your packing (or not). I easily get distracted with a closet that needs cleaning, or something fun like that. :-) Enjoy your visit to New York!

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  2. I think it looks great! One way that you wouldn't have to worry about the contrast is to use a solid with a print:) This looks like a fun block to whip up. Is this a new book on the market?

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  3. Great squirrel project, especially with a quick and easy method. As you practice with the contrast you will improve. Put your two fabrics side by side and squint to help see the difference. Enjoy your trip!

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  4. lol.....I hear you! It looks fantastic. The colors are so soothing.

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  5. that looks great... I often feel I struggle with value and contrast too.... but then I think its ok to do whatever we want... all our quilts are special..
    Hugz

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  6. OK, I am waaay behind reading blogs. Why do you have to leave your sewing for a week?

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  7. Lovely colours Louise - I have thought many times of buying her book after seeing an episode on The Quilt Show featuring Anita Grossman Solomon.

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  8. Oh, my goodness, Louise! It's simply gorgeous!

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  9. I love Anita's quick trick blocks! I can understand the appeal of stop, drop and quilt, with such a book in front of you.

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  10. You definitely DID drop everything to make (giggle) 50 blocks and then sew them up into a flimsy! What a whirling dervish of a quilter you are! Love it, and love the flimsy! Thank you for being the epitome of my DrEAMi! linky. :-)

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  11. Hmmmmm! I just made that block, only it was the centre of a Gypsy Wife block and enough sId about that. I love how you graduated the colours it's lovely. I love quilt books.

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  12. Lesson learned with the mushy blocks, huh? Sometimes it doesn't work the way we think it will. You'll find a use for those blocks eventually. Love the layout of the blocks. It rally came together nicely!

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