Splendid Sampler -DONE!

It’s been almost two years in the making. The longest I’ve ever worked on a quilt. Now it’s true the first year was a quilt along, I had to wait every week for two blocks. Then I realized that I don’t like such a busy sampler. So I started making Hawaiian applique blocks, each one taking a long time since I was sewing by hand. Needle turn applique.  I thought I’d try to hand quilt around the applique. Yeah, right! It’s probably been 20 years since I’ve done hand quilting. I even went and bought a quilting hoop! No go! Within five minutes I realized that I couldn’t do it. Maybe I could do it on one block, but the quilt was heavy and unwieldy. Echoing the shapes on the machine worked out just fine.I only used 26 of the hundred blocks on the front of the quilt.  So most of the rest ended up on the back. Sure if I had bordered each block they might have stood out more, but this is why I don’t like samplers made of small blocks. There really is no place for the eye to rest.Of course, the quilting has no relationship to the blocks on the back, which also means – no focal point.But for the back of a quilt – this is impressive. It also makes the quilt much heavier – all those seams and thread. Since this is going to be my snuggle on the couch quilt – both sides will be visible. The small blocks all got a lot of detailed quilting.  The border bands got none, which means they stand out as real frames.  I used wool batting which was wonderful to quilt with, really smooth. It does give the quilt more loft, definitely more than cotton.I’m very pleased with the result. I shared this image on the Splendid Sampler Facebook page. Pat Sloan herself commented on it. She really liked how I made the project work for me. It’s not about having cookie cutter quilts, it’s about personalizing the project.I embroidered a simple label, after all the work, I simply wasn’t up to making an elaborate label.

So what did I learn from this project? I improved on certain skills, like paper piecing. While working on the blocks I realized that I want to do more applique, which led to the needle turn Hawaiian blocks. Having done them, I think I’m ready to move on to other kinds of applique. I like the hand-sewing, I just think I’m done with Hawaiian style blocks.

I realized that sampler quilts aren’t my thing, but I am very very pleased with my solution and my ability to use most of the blocks.

I don’t think I’ll be doing any more mystery quilt-alongs. I have too many ideas of my own to work on.  All in all, a great experience and another unique, warm handmade quilt in my collection.

 

 

 

Leah

Hundreds of blocks

You would think that making 100 blocks for a quilt would be quite enough – thank you very much.IMG_5510Especially when there are two a week and I never know what technique will be used. This bee was made with English paper piecing method, which means, it was all done by hand. It had a few more items but I simplified.IMG_5511Unlike this simple applique coneflower. I understand, you are asked to design one small block for a major project and you want to put in everything but the kitchen sink. As someone who did learn design – less is more, and if there are 100 unique blocks, there has to be somewhere for the eye just to rest.IMG_1007A good old fashioned pieced block, my choice of fabrics makes this busy enough! I am trying to have a number of blocks with dark backgrounds, rather than have all the backgrounds light.IMG_5518Ahh, paper piecing. This is becoming a favorite technique for me. This project with its myriad of different paper-pieced projects has really taught me a lot. I bought the add a quarter ruler, I use my light box all the time, my paper piecing has improved immensely. Of course, I still need to rip out here and there, but not as often as before.IMG_5547I could have machine appliqued this one, I decided to do needle turn applique. In the back of my mind, I’m thinking that one of these days I may want to make a Hawaiian quilt, now I’m not so sure. The Hawaiian design elements are much larger – so I’m not giving up on the idea yet.IMG_5561This mid-century modern block had a cloud and a bush by the front door – I nixed them. I also fussy cut the old fashion phone in the window.IMG_5573The original sample was much scrappier, I put some thought into the colors, but still was surprised by the final block. Not in a bad way, I thought it would look different.IMG_5588Yay for more paper piecing and a color palette that I love.IMG_5605An off center Dresden plate gave me a chance to get scrappy. The original block had a pieced background – more overkill. My background fabric is busy enough.

So I mentioned that I have too many quilting projects going right now. On Instagram, there is #100days100blocks, based on Tula Pinks’ book City Sampler 100 modern quilt blocks. Initially, I thought to myself, this will be fun to follow, you can guess what happened next.IMG_5562A week late I jumped in.IMG_5564I had to play catch up. My color scheme is yellow, all kinds of yellow. All the blocks are pieced, so that makes it much easier.IMG_5565But 100 blocks in 100 days is a lot faster than a whole year.IMG_5566I’m using all kinds of fabrics I have lying around. Some are from previous projects and some are fabrics I’ve picked up at the guilds where people are getting rid of what they no longer want.IMG_5572Some are the tiniest scraps that will only show up in one block and there will be fabrics that will be repeated more often.  Of course I caught up, actually, I am much more than caught up. I’m in Hawaii this week, having a backlog of completed blocks, means that I can upload the pictures on the correct day. There is some kind of challenge with prizes, my prize will be another quilt.

Leah

The Splendid Sampler VII

We have reached the halfway point! Block 50 was just released!IMG_5444I am thankful it was a pieced block. I have been doing the applique and embroidery, but I’m just happy that the midway point was something I love.IMG_5325Speaking of applique, a pin cushion. This time, I used monofilament and a very small zigzag stitch on the machine. I even made the pin heads using a heart pattern on my sewing machine.IMG_5380More piecing, I love these colors!  Need to use this kind of combination more.IMG_5360Embroidery/applique, I changed this block out, I called it: oops the spools fell over. The original had the spools in a row with more embroidery – too fussy for me, so I simplified.Screenshot 2016-07-20 08.42.34This one really tickled many people’s fancy. I have never gotten this many likes on the Facebook page, usually, I’m at around 50-90.  IMG_5361There was a block with a squirrel, blech, so I went to my Sizzix dies and simply made this fox. Nothing original about him, but I’ve used him often and prefer him to the squirrel.IMG_5409The past week or two have been a lot of appliques, this was supposed to be neater, but all those fiddley pieces, I just threw it together as is.  Not a favorite, but will probably find it’s way into the final quilt.IMG_5419Now you can laugh at me. This was a simple foundation pieced block. It just looked so plain! (says the person who complains about the over designed blocks). It also looked like an old-fashioned crazy quilt. So I didn’t use interesting fabrics, like lace, or velvet, but I did add the embroidery. See, even I can embellish!IMG_5428I think the instructions called for machine or fancy hand applique, I decided to try my hand at needle turn, something I clearly need more experience doing. A Hawaiian Style quilt is in my future plans.P1150906Big new! I ordered and received a portable design wall from Massdrop. It is portable, but it’s not something I will be taking down daily. It is also, large, 72″ x 72″, no room for it in my very messy studio, so it is upstairs in the spare bedroom, I figure this will give me more exercise going  up and down the stairs.

There really is a difference when the blocks are placed on a wall and not on the floor.  This is only half the block and it’s already quite large, I will be using some kind of sashing, that decision will be made at the end. P1150904It also gives me  a chance to see what fabrics I want to repeat and what color schemes work well.P1150905The purple embroidered block will probably have to go. This was my own creation, probably instead of a bunny. It is simply too dark and reads as a solid from just a few feet away. I never said I was a great designer, I can make mistakes too.

Onward to the second half! At this point, I think this will be big enough to my bed. Can you believe, with all the quilts I’ve made, I don’t have one of my own quilts on my bed.

 

Leah

Splendid Sampler V

We are now up to 35 official blocks and a few extra as well.IMG_5018Applique sewing machine.  I did this one needle turn, even though the instructions called for a completely different method. I did enjoy this one.IMG_5022Then it was on to a very complicated little paper pieced block. I really like paper piecing, even if this close you can see that the spool isn’t competely accurate. It is certainly accurate enough for one block among one hundred.IMG_5061A very different type of paper piecing – this time string piecing. Almost feels like random placed ‘strings’ of fabric, but if y0u look at the images of everyone’s heart – the layout is exactly the same.IMG_5062I now have three blocks with hearts. How different they are.IMG_0951Every so often a designer recognizes that these blocks are only 6″, so simplicity is the way to go.  IMG_0954Can I just say I hated making this block?  I think it shows in how sloppy my machine embroidery is.  There was another block I hated, enough that I came up with my own once again.IMG_5092The block was embroidery, but full of words like, faith, sew, create. Have I mentioned I don’t like literal blocks!!  Are you seeing what I’m seeing?  That yellow flower is awful and really doesn’t belong here at all. See even I can over do things.IMG_5140The joys of embroidery, snip-snip and it’s gone. Once it’s quilted you won’t even see the markings, that unfortunately are permanent. IMG_5094This was supposed to be made entirely out of selvedges. Clearly it isn’t.IMG_5111My bad, there isn’t enough contrast between the orange and yellow, so just a foot away and you can’t see the egg shape in the center. That’s what comes from making my own fabric choices. I understand the designer wanting to include a curved seam, once again, not very noticable on such a small block.IMG_5139Another block that called for embroidery on the bands – um, no.

P1140959I’m no longer putting these in formation, they look better helter skelter.

You may be getting the impression that I’m not enjoying this as much. You are probably right, but I think it’s worth sticking the course.  A year is a very long time for any project, there are bound to be ups and downs. Who knows, by the end I may come up with something completely unique to do with all these blocks.  Meanwhile, early Thursday and Sunday I’m always checking out the Splendid Sampler page, so I can’t be that bored.sp

Leah

The Splendid Sampler IV

Just before I left for Israel there was a block with a lot of embroidery.  At the same time, Massdrop was having a special on wafer thin light boxes. I ordered one.P1140465Here is my old lightbox, as in over 20 years old. When I actually worked as a textile designer a light box was a must. A very large one was a must, I was doing repeats by hand (no regrets there, I can tell when someone just plugged their pattern into a repeat program).

Well This box takes up a lot of room, and these days when I want to use it, I usually keep it on the floor and sit hunched over it, really not fun. So of course I placed an order for a smaller lighter one.P1140468The frog is for size reference. This is what I just got.P1140469Since I no longer do textile design repeats by hand, I also didn’t need as large of a surface, so I chose the 12.” x 9″ ‘box.  I took the old one to Goodwill, it’s not like I was going to get any money trying to sell this old behemoth.IMG_4769Back to the embroidered block I went, I enlarged only the flowers, cut out the vines, the leaves the bugs and the butterflies.  Really, it’s a 6″ block, there will be 100 blocks in this quilt, simplicity and paring down are my new buzz words.IMG_4888I love hand embroidery, like knitting, I find it very soothing.

The organizers have admonished people for deviating from the patterns. Well, when it’s a pieced pattern, simply how one places the fabrics can make a world of difference. When it comes to embroidery, I figure, a little editing is like my fabric choices, so I edited down the embroidery.IMG_0947I really like my end result. I posted it on the Splendid Sampler FB page and got quite a few compliments and no complaints.

A few days later, another block, this time an appliqué bunny holding a tulip almost as big as him. (he was a he, he had a waistcoat on). Did I mention I’m getting picky? With the bonus blocks that have been offered, I will be able to pick and choose and not necessarily use all the hundred blocks being offered. There are already a few others I’ve made that I will probably eliminate. IMG_4985So instead I went into my stash of Sublime Stitching embroidery transfer and I found this wonderful owl. I prefer owls over bunnies, I also prefer embroidery over cutesy appliqué.

P1140533LOVE this owl, both the making and the end result. There already are a few more blocks with embroidery, so I think the over all affect will be fine.  I am not sharing this block on the FB page – this really has nothing to do with what the designer offered.IMG_4768Meanwhile in the piecing categories, the orange triangles were a very interesting method. I like this block.IMG_4887As well as this one.IMG_4992This Dresden plate is appliquéd onto the background, I like this kind of appliqué. The designer included some circles on some of the blades!  NO! I understand, it is so easy to add just one more element.  I want a pleasing overall quilt, I don’t want a messy compilation where one can’t see the forest for the trees.P1140534I have 29 blocks here, I’m sure the placement will change, there will be smashing between the blocks, but I’m still happy with what is happening here.

Leah

The Splendid Sampler III

The project slowly grows.IMG_4539I love this block that my friend Janis Ryan, can I just say, her instructions for paper piecing are the best I’ve encountered so far. I now understand how starting with a large shapeless patch might not be a bad thing, but that cutting the seam allowances to 1/4″ makes for a better block.IMG_4543Very happy with my color choices. P1140330This one could have been paper pieced, but I worked carefully with the half  square triangles and flying geese rulers. P1140331A nice clean back ironed well (almost) makes working with these small pieces much easier. Soon no one will see the backs. So I better show them from time to time.P1140349I’m not crazy about this block. The designer was very literal, she even embroidered the stripe to look like a measuring tape as well as embroidering the words, measure twice, cut once.

One of the things I love about quilting is that it doesn’t spell everything out. Most old quilt blocks have names that imply what they might be, log cabin, anvil, many different stars. But they leave a lot to one’s imagination. I prefer it that way. So yes, I found a print that from a distance might read as a measuring tape, or not.

P1140350I do love a good basket. Aside from my first embroidery block, I am using prints, no solids. It will be interesting to see when I put this together if it is too busy. I may decide to sash with a solid. Right now I am enjoying the challenge of making the prints work. Being so influenced by the modern quilt movement, I’ve added a lot of solids to my work. So this is a change.P1140353In this block the circle was supposed to be appliquéd on top, I am proud of my ability to insert a circle, so I did.  And interesting but not surprising thing is happening with this QAL (quilt along). People are veering away from the patterns, changing them drastically or adding new blocks. So there has been a crackdown by the developers, they are deleting blocks that don’t conform. It’s a delicate balance, you offer a massive project for free and then you want to keep tight control.IMG_0877This might not pass muster, I was working with tiny scraps and I mirror imaged two of the outside hst (half square triangles), so instead of pinwheeling around the center block, they form more on an hour glass shape.  Some people responded by saying, just remove and twist, some people don’t understand geometry.P1140352Creating some very light blocks.P1140425And some with higher contrast. P1140355My intent is to get good contrast between the blocks and I think I’m achieving that. As time goes by I’m getting scrappier and adding more colors, like browns and even allowing the pink I rejected, back in. P1140419I even found a wonderful new box for the blocks. No way would the original box hold 100 plus blocks.  I found this lovely one.P1140421Once the quilt is done I’ll have to find another use for this. Clearly I like the scrappy quilt look, even on a box.P1140423Plenty of room to fill.

Leah

The Splendid Sampler

There are so many Quilt alongs out there, I rarely participate. But something grabbed me about The Splendid Sampler.  I’ve been listening to Pat Sloan’s podcast for a while now and since she is behind this project I figured why not?  I’ve joined the Facebook page and sort of followed as people were buying fabric and sharing their palates. This is a year long project that will involve 100 blocks from many different designers.IMG_4289I’m stash busting, and was thinking of green, orange purple. Sort of.P1130736I figured out very quickly that making 6.5″ blocks is quite a challenge. Yes I’m a very good quilter, but working that small isn’t easy and it’s forcing me to stop, work slower and really pay attention. I’m not very happy with the way this block looks, not the colors, they are fine, but the piecing isn’t to my liking.P1130737Neither is this one, the piecing is a little shoddy and going scrappy is one thing, but that row with the same fabrics twice – not good. More about how I solved that in another post. And contrast between the squares. Some will be light and some will be dark.IMG_4367There is the square with both appliqué and embroidery.IMG_4368It’s been fun paying attention to the smallest detail, even if in the long run they can’t be seen.The Splendid Sampler7 blocks done.IMG_4418Then there is one that is only embroidery. Designed by my friend Amy Sinibaldi.  Many people did patchwork on this one. Some people are veering very far from the patterns, which I think isn’t what the developers wanted. They have asked that if you ‘recreate’ the design, do not post pictures. Well that isn’t happening!IMG_4380My efforts are paying off, the points meet, the colors are offering enough of a contrast. 6.5″ isn’t a lot, look at the little eraser next to this block.IMG_4437A friend recommended the Loc-Bloc ruler for half square triangles. I’m a sucker for tools and boy this is a great one, I’ll probably do a whole post one these rulers.  I’m also feeling more confident with color choices with tiny pieces of fabric.P1140071I even went back and made the first practice block they released before the official quilt along startedP1140079So far this is the box I’m using for storage, it had some holiday gift in it, it is 7″ square so it’s the perfect size, I don’t think it will hold 100 blocks, so at some point I’ll have to find a new solution but for now it works.

Leah