So, after joining Rhonda's FAL, and saying that I would work on nothing else untill Paula's quilt was finished, I kind of figured I should stay true to my word.
(The following photo's are rubbish, I do apologize. Despite using my new camera, we seriously had very little daylight yesterday).
I got out all the blocks I've done so far yesterday morning, and was pleasantly surprised that there was more than I though, with less than I thought left to go. Yipee!
I spent the whole day making blocks, and managed to crank out 9 that I was relatively pleased with. I also fixed a few of the existing blocks that were too small (damn paper piecing!).
I think I might be done making blocks now? The quilt needs to be big enough to cover a double bed. I plan on sashing with 2.5" strips, and adding a large 6" border around the whole thing.
So maybe I need one more row and column? What do you guys think? 5x6 or 6x7? I don't really want to have to make another 12 blocks, but if it doesn't fit then I guess I'll have to! Or maybe I make it 6x6 square? Your opinions are, quite obviously, needed please!
It does beg the question, how the hell am I gonna quilt it?!
Nice blocks Laura My observation is don't skimp as you will regret it. Go with your gut feeling. It you think it should be 6x7 blocks then do it! Just ignore that sinking feeling..... You know what will work best.! I hope it goes well. Di xo
ReplyDeleteIt looks lovely! I say sod making more blocks and stick a border on it if it's not big enough ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt looks great so far, I love the blocks. Do you have a double bed you.can lay it out on to test the size?
ReplyDeleteWell with this size (if your blocks mesure 12" finished, which I assumed), you can easily cover a queen size bed.
ReplyDeleteIf you leave it like this with the 2" sashing and 6" borders, you should have a quilt that would mesure around 94"x94" (for a double bed, you usually want something around 80"x88") So I think you can leave it that way.
Its a beauty Laura! I'm lazy so I'd be happy to stop at 5x6.... sup to you tho! Really lovely though :-)
ReplyDeleteOkay, having done the maths, you should be okay with that sashing and border to cover up to a king sized bed top, which wiki says is 72" x 78". I think your top as is will be 80" x 94", so well sorted!
ReplyDeleteAs for the quilting er, not a scooby, sorry! Looks fab so far though :o)
I would go the extra column and row. As far as quilting it, my mother has what looks like a gigantic cross stitch on a stand that she puts her quilts through to work on. It looks like this ~ http://secure.cartsvr.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=369263&showprevnext=1 Maybe you could find one that isn't so pricey though.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Reene, 12" border and don't make any more blocks - you aren't keeping it!! (Sorry Paula!)
ReplyDeleteI love the blocks, and am still too sleepy for math. However, I believe that with the sashing and even smallish borders you have a really big quilt already. I would stipple that quilt or do some kind of random straight lines. I will look forward to see what you pick as quilting on a sampler is always challenging.
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely colours, Id say its going to look smashing!
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing the way it is LJ! I'd send it to Trudi to be quilted!! Jxo
ReplyDeleteIt looks great all layed out.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the stick a bigger border on it camp, but that's because I couldn't be arsed to make 12 more blocks ;)
I'm with everyone else, make bigger sashing and/or borders. The quilt blocks look fabulous, love the colours
ReplyDeleteI'm in the border brigade. Sash the blocks, piece them and make the border the size you think will make the quilt the correct size. It will look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteDon't spoil your lovely work by whacking a big border on just to get the size. (that would need to be quilted anyway) 6 x6 with a "normal" border would look lovely. What about putting it together in two or three panels "quilt as you go" style to make to more managable?
ReplyDeleteI'm not a blogger, but love to see what you girls are up to:)
These look gorgeous together. A double bed is 54 x 75 and a king is 60 x 78 (top of mattress only) and then you need to allow for the sides etc so it really depends on how much you want it to cover the sides ie just the depth of the mattress or right down the bed.
ReplyDeletePretty blocks in pretty soft colors. I like it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe another row of squares and some borders if it's for a bed. Cover the mattress top and down the bed's sides an inch or so.
I think you've got enough blocks. Any more will make it confusing and to busy. Sashing and a lovely border will tie the thing together nicely.
ReplyDeleteGorrrrrrrrrgeous colors and patterns... eye *candy*.
ReplyDelete((hugs)), Teresa :-)
For the quilting you could machine quilt in the ditch between all the blocks so it's held together really well from a structural perspective. Then maybe a little bit of hand quilting with perle thred around the shapes of each block? With perle thread you can quilt nice big stitches in different colours for different blocks and it will still look great. You'll be surprised how quickly you'll get through it. Depends if you don't mind a bit of hand work though!
ReplyDeleteThey're beautiful! I really like square quilts right now, so I'd vote for a 6x6 arrangement. Are you going to put in sashing? You could quilt there and leave the blocks unquilted so the design pops? quilting a sampler is really hard just for that reason, but you're going to be fab at it I'm sure! xx
ReplyDeleteI like big borders - but it may mean more quilting to make it more interesting.. It is already very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe blocks look wonderful-- I love the color scheme. And your cat is v. cute in the photoshoot as well. I cannot offer advice since I have never done a block quilt with sashing and borders (all my big quilts are just pieced tops right now, and I followed a pattern for them all)-- but it always looks so pretty with sashing and a border. (After I finish the paper piecing class I'm taking-- my first-- tackling some of the bigger UFOs is at the top of the list). I look forward to seeing what you decide!
ReplyDeleteGreat blocks! I think you might have enough blocks there but I'm so late commenting that you could have finished it by now!
ReplyDeleteIt looks fabulous! I love the blocks you added. Nice job! : )
ReplyDelete