9 Patch Fun - Inspiration Evolves

The Inspiration Quilt

This picture has been on my bulletin board for a long time. I took it at a quilt show in the 1990's. The maker's name is Ruth Ann T (unreadable) from Ramsey, MN. I can't make out all the words but it is called Cabin II from a series of "cabin quilts" she was making. She was inspired by an 1800's "crib spread" in a book of antique quilts. Now, her quilt inspires me!

I like the scrappy look of alternating nine patches; some with light corners, some with dark.

Having recently finished my Kaye England top (see my January 31 post)  I needed another machine piecing project to bring to our community center sewing twice a month. I decided this was a good choice. I have a lot of unfinished projects in the queue but I got going on this and couldn't stop.

I began cutting a 2" strip off any yardage I had out for another project and making 9 patches whenever I felt like sitting at the machine with some mindless sewing. In time the box of strips and squares and some completed blocks was overflowing.

Blocks finish at 4.5"

As I sewed the 4.5" blocks together I got to thinking. Maybe I could do something more interesting.  I decided to work with the many leftover 1.5" squares from the Kaye England project as a 'center', surrounding them with the larger squares.


So the center is composed of 9 patches that finish at 3".
I wanted to surround that section with the 4.5" blocks I had been making.



I worked the math:

The 9 patches blend
for  a checkerboard appearance

Six 3" blocks =18
Four 4.5 blocks =18

Whoopee!

I was excited by the idea. Then I took it one step further when I remembered a  collection of 6" nine patch blocks that I had acquired through an on-line swap many years ago.

But...how about the math?

Three 6" blocks =18

This was getting TOO exciting - Bonus...the blocks are already done!


My family of blocks:

Papa, Mama, and
Baby blocks

I surrounded the center with four rows of the 4.5" blocks.
I worked on the family room floor when I outgrew my design wall.

 

Trying out ideas for borders

I briefly considered using some plaid squares from my stash as the final border - - nope.

           Didn't like that.

Back breaking work

From the 6" blocks I chose the darker tones to create a visual border.
I liked that - two rows of those make an 80" square top.








Here is the result:

The bottom row not fully visible in this photo.

In this kind of quilt everything works. Even, maybe especially, ugly blocks and fabrics can be used. They contribute to the interest and get lost in the crowd. I tried not to overthink placement but did squint and change a few things that stood out too much.

Go ahead. Ask. 

 2,358 squares

The top on a double bed.

I realized I've had this concept in the back of my mind for years. I remembered seeing something similar in Houston in 2002...I create files to help me organize all my quilt photos and there in the Shows>Houston file was this cheerful example. No border. 

(I may not remember people's names but I never forget a quilt!)

From my collection:  Related concept using 4 patches instead 9's

You can see the 4 patch structure

I really like working with scraps. I have shelves full of yardage but I get great pleasure picking through tiny pieces, pressing them and playing. Are any of you scrap-aholics?

Amazing what fun you can have with strips of different sizes. Cut your leftover chunks into strips as you work on other projects and before you know it you'll build up a collection to play with.

If you have made quilts like this, or have vintage examples, you can send photos and I'll add them to my next post.

Happy Scrapping!

click my name under my photo in the upper right to send me an email

Mariner's Compass - DONE!

Drum Roll, please!

 This is it! The 5th and last entry on this 'long-term' project, first shared with you in 2011. I've put links below if you want the full background before reading the finale!

 May 2011

July 2011

 January 2012

 March 2015

You may recall that I purchased the packet of reproduction fabrics, c. 1840, in 2007. They sat in lovely stacks for a few years before being put to use!

I made a concerted effort to stick with the hand quilting over the winter and that made a big difference. I set a goal to have it done this year; to use it on my bed this fall.  Or else!

I had decided early on that I would put my name on the front of the quilt. The two outermost bottom corner 6" blocks are plain with that in mind.
Deciding how I wanted to do that took some time but I'm happy that I didn't rush it. I wanted it to be just the right thing.

I knew I wanted to repeat the circle of the central Mariner's Compass and small blue circles in the corners of the checkerboard, seen in the view above.

                       I found this design in Antique Quilting Designs by Roberta Benvin.

It was used as the center quilting motif in a feathered wreath on the plain setting blocks of a c. 1840 Double Nine Patch quilt; a circle and the required four places defined to embroider my information. 

 That fit well with the date of the reproduction fabric I used as well as the frame style layout.

Bingo!

I enlarged the design and slipped it under the corner over a light box to trace.

.

I combined embroidery with complimentary quilting.  I used double strand blue thread for the chain-stitched circle and to outline leaf shapes.

 The data itself required using a single thread.

The label on the back contains a few more details but the basics are on the front for all to see. I don't want someone have to 'discover' it by accident in 100 years....or  worse yet, NOT discover it!

At last I was ready for the  final step. Binding.

I had run out of the mottled neutral background which probably would have been my choice if I'd had enough so I'd been carrying around a piece to get a good coordinating tone. I wanted the binding to be understated letting the sharp triangle 'pennants' stand out.

I found a large print that had the right 'tone' and I thought it would work when folded 'skinny' and be interesting. I made yards and yards of it, starting sewing it on and didn't like it.


 Rip. Rip. Rip.




I didn't want to get stuck this close to the end! Luckily, a fabric that came with the original fabric line worked and I had enough of it.

The last few stitches - Had to record them!

TA -DA!

Facts:

Size:86" W x 94" L

Hours to hand quilt: 140

Batt: wool

Original Design

I hope you are all well and enjoying your quilting adventures. I have been AWOL from writing this blog for some time and hope to be much more regular now. I have acquired quite a few new 'old' quilts I'd like to share with you and have finished lots of smaller projects, too.

 Please check back and send your comments to keep me honest.

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Medallion - Drum Roll Please!

At last....the top is done!!

87 x 96

I've labored over this one (as you know if you follow my blog regularly). I felt like giving up for awhile. I just had to let it sit, again and I learned that was for the best. If you don't feel like working on something, give yourself a break. Let it simmer.
I came back to it with a fresh attitude having spent time thinking about all the possibilities...(you know, at 3 a.m.) and lo and behold....one day I was ready to move forward.

The most recent hang up was what to do for the border between the blue strip and the outer points. I tried all kinds of things and ended up using the medium tone prints from the collection in rectangles of various lengths. I didn't want another plain 'slab' border and this seems to be subtle enough while still being scrappy.

This is how much of the mottled tan I have left.  I thought I had enough pieced points made but had neglected to add in that final border (this math...aargh!) so I decided not to put them at the top edge. I could have found something close I'm sure.... but then decided it was a good accident. I did another row of rectangles and think it is a better plan. Those points would not have shown behind the pillows anyway. This quilt is designed for use on a bed...not a wall.





I will be curving the two bottom corners so they won't drag on the floor.

Now - to baste and think about quilting. I may get a long-arm quilter to baste it for me. I've never done that but I think it would be a great time (and back) saver and I would not be dealing with the safety pins as I quilt.



I'm using a wool batt for the first time and am eager to see how I like it; working with it, sleeping under it, washing it. Just in time, too, as the temps are beginning to feel like fall. I lap quilt (no hoop) and I can imagine a quilt on my lap - which was not the case over the past summer!

More history on the medallion setting style at womenfolk

Previous posts about this project:  1   2   3   4

Now What?

:)

Medallion Update - Almost there!

I first posted about my medallion project last May. Click here if you'd like to go back and see that first post.  Also, see July for the first update.

I  have now added the red coping strips and another round of checkerboard squares.  I appliqued circles in the four corners of that border to bring in the compass center shape, bringing it to 63" x 73".

I was so excited about the vertical hombre stripe I added to get to a rectangle but it kind of bugs me now - I may applique circles across it.....

I think I’ll be adding two 6” borders  all around to give me my finished size.
Now I have some thinking to do - I want to use large enough pieces to feature some of the interesting prints in the collection. I’m leaning toward the final border being triangles. I'd like to get the top completed relatively soon.....

Meanwhile, here’s a small medallion I did last year. It's hanging on the wall in my kitchen/dinette.

36" x 36"

The center appliqué block is a Lori Smith pattern. I just kept going around it with different borders or frames – my first taste of the dreaded 'MEDALLION MATH'…and quite a challenge when I decided I had to have the pinwheel round 'on point'.

HAND QUILTED

Even with some previous experience, my bed size medallion is not proving to be that much simpler. The planning holds me up – there are so many options and no one ‘right’ way which is both the good and the bad news!

COMING SOON: TWO NEW (OLD) TOPS

Mariner's Compass Medallion - Update I

My Mariner's Compass medallion project has progressed. I promised I would get that next frame on before June ended and I did it....surprising what you can do if you put everything else aside for a day or two to fulfill a promise!
I finished making the hourglass blocks and added them to all sides.

I want a rectangular quilt so I added a 5" strip to the top and bottom only - I had a nice stripe in my stash.

 

















Time for the first 'fitting'.  Have you ever designed a bed quilt on your vertical design wall  and ended up with a quilt that didn't enhance the bed as much as the wall?  This quilt is being made for double bed so the bed is my design wall. This section now covers the width of the top.

Now it's back to my original notes (see my first post on this project in May) to review the blocks I wanted to incorporate in the borders and do the math....aargh. I have determined the finished size now so I can plan the width of the remaining borders - remembering, this time, that the quilting will take up at least 2" and washing takes up a bit more. I want it long enough to tuck pillows under at the top.

I've lain awake a couple of nights now with these thoughts running wild through my head. I think I have a plan! I'm cutting and sewing.....Watch for Update II soon.

 In the meantime, I'll post the method I used to make my hourglass blocks.

Next: EASY Hourglass Construction