A Quilter I am NOT
Remember that infamous star quilt recovered from the depths of my attic started so many years ago? Here is what it looks like now and I've managed to built another hurdle for me to jump.
Below is what it looked like before ripping out the left and right sides to re-position the stars and having them all facing the same direction.
Then once sewing the stars back all facing the same direction thought it a good idea to sew a neutral strip between the rows of stars. Figured it would provide two positive results: #1 put a smooth transition between rows of stars and #2 would require less star blocks for me to cut and sew together.
Why on earth would I decide to make my own pattern and work it 'as I go'? If I had an engineers mind I'd have done all the calculations and worked it out way ahead of time so as to not need a seam ripper.
After sewing on the neutral border all the way around now realize it will not be the dimensions of the next row of star blocks ~ it will be almost half a block short in both directions. You can see that below as I've laid the top row down and the blocks don't match up horizontally or vertically.
Now at a standstill once again, need to decide if another row of neutral should be sewn to make it large enough to accommodate a block OR rip out the neutral and sew star blocks together without that separation.
Hmm, or.... I could extend that vertical and horizontal neutral strip between the top two stars on each end.
Would love feedback from you *REAL* quilters. Meanwhile the sewing room is a mess and I need to start making more of a mess cutting out all the pieces for more star blocks.
Saundra
I really like having the neutral strips of separation in there. If it was me, I would set up your row of stars and play with some filler strips in between. When you calculate your rows of stars, are you taking into account the 1/4 inch all around that gets sewn away? Sometimes I think something is going to turn out one way and it works out after all because I forgot to take into account the seam allowances. If you did, it really just might look nice to add a couple of extra strips on the edges of the row of stars and incorporate it into your design. Just some ideas. I know I would just go for it and finish it.
ReplyDeleteHi Saundra,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you are really "seeing stars" by this time!!! I think this piece is so lovely and as I look at it, I actually like it without the strip, as the other stars in the horizontal rows are right next to each other! I'm sure everyone will have a favorite way and you just have to decide which one fits YOU!!
Enjoy your week!!
Heart Hugs~
Julie
Eh, just extend the neutral strips. Then you should end up with a star block "leftover" from each corner. You can add a boarder using each of the stars as a corner setting block (if you want the quilt bigger) or just sew the 4 stars together and make a pillow sham, quilt and bind the quilt and voila! Either way, love the look of it.
ReplyDeleteNo help on the quilt, but I did enjoy seeing the progress on your rug in the previous post!
ReplyDeleteLauren
Oh God, this looks too complicated for my pea size brain but it looks great just the same. What's not to love about stars??? They are individual stars after all.
ReplyDeleteIt does looks beautiful wether they are in precise row or not.
You got my OK, they are beautiful vote.
Hugs, Julia
It looks wonderful to me but I am not a quilter either.
ReplyDeletecathy
No help from me, I am the worst quilter and I do the same thing, have a few I need to figure out how to git properly, lol.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Wow,,,love it!!
ReplyDeleteBut not a quilter,,, too nic piccy for me,,,,
But looks great,,,,, love stars,,,,
Can sure see a rug to go with it,,,,
Take out the neutral strip and make the star blocks match. If you want it larger, repeat something like the borders on the inner star out at the edges, but on a larger scale. Just my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI would make a couple smaller star blocks to fill in the space...I like it when a quilt is not entirely predictable...
ReplyDelete