New York Beauty

Of course I started a new quilt, it might be for my bed, problem is my bed is a King size, so we will see.  I think you will notice that I like curves in my quilts, so a New York Beauty was an easy choice. A while ago I started a Pinterest board. Just take a look, you’ll see what I mean.I purchased most of these fabrics for this quilt. The top print inspired the colors, then I’d go into stores without it and try and remember the colors. Which is how I ended up with the print below it – much more purple. So really most of my fabrics relate more to the second print, but it’s not about pulling the exact colors, it’s about a pleasing palette.  My background will be the dark grey, which looks bluer here than in real life.I found some 8.5″ patterns online and I got started.  The best way to make these is paper piecing of course, another love of mine.I can get accuracy as well as really sharp points.The pile of blocks is growing rapidly.Alas, I wanted more blocks, there are many pictures of wonderful blocks, but it’s not easy to find the actual patterns.  In my search someone mentioned the program EQ, a computer program for designing blocks.  Her comment was how much easier it was to use than a protecter and a compass.  Bells went off in my head and I ran to the store to buy those items.Way back in my high school days, I liked geometry and disliked math.  A few years later when I started quilting I understood why geometry spoke to me.  I’m not going to be designing and selling quilt blocks, but I love the mental challenge of creating them for myself. So no need for a computer program. But yay for the internet!  I needed to look up tutorials to remind myself how to work with these simple tools.The final block is always the reverse of what you see on the paper.Once I have the design to fit 8″ I need to add a quarter inch around each section.  Which is why I have the half circle here, the left side gives me the template for the top band and the right side the template for the center spokes.As the number of blocks grows, I throw them on the floor to see possible layouts. It is way to early for a decision, but this kind of haphazard layout is what I am going for. The middle block on the bottom (yellow-green) is also a learning experience.  There isn’t enough contrast between the narrow spokes and the background.  No need to discard the block, just learn from it. The one to the left is a good example of using larger prints in a paper pieced project.Ten blocks!  Many quilters have done this using prints in the background as well.  I prefer one neutral solid, I don’t want all my paper piecing to get lost in a maze of color and pattern.  Right now I am having so much fun with this, I don’t see getting to a king size quilt to be a problem, but we’ll see as time will tell.