Flaw in the Math

Potato Chip quilts, aka 1600" quilts...whatever you want to call them.  This post really intrigued me with the variations.  It also sent my math brain to kick into high gear.  I started thinking about a container of leftover binding strips that I had on the shelf.  I knew it was loaded with lots of bright colors from charity quilts past, so I sprang into action.  I calculated how long I wanted the quilt and how many strips that would take to get there, and I multiplied by the width to get my total inches I needed.  What I failed to think about, was that every time I would fold it in half, the number of strips for the length would double (2, 4, 8, 16, 32).  I had calculated that I wanted it 26 strips long.....UMMM....That isn't even possible.  The result was that I had the correct width, but a really long quilt that was out of proportion.

I am still a little baffled how the big blobs of red and pink arranged themselves.  I took care to evenly space the colors, however, they ended up very near each other.  I will be taking the extra rows off because it isn't proportional.  And because it would always bug me, I will be separating the red rows.  The extra rows that I am taking off will be used as part of the backing.  It is about 29" wide which is a good size for a baby quilt.  Eleanor plans to jazz it up with a little applique.

The sad part is, the leftover binding strips container still looks full.

It's bright and sunny here today.  Enjoy your day.  

Neutral Bliss

Another big box came today to go with the other fabrics I purchased recently.  This one is full of Neutral Bliss! This is 70 different one yard cuts of neutral fabrics from cream to tan to golden.

Those few fabrics on the right were just a little stash enhancement.  I do realize that the next jelly flop swap isn't until June, but I couldn't wait that long.  And they say quilting takes a lot of patience...I admit that I have none!!   This will give me plenty of time to get them cut and swapped.  I am just thankful I didn't have to cut the one yard pieces.

Ellen had a very good point that I never really thought about.  The reason I am always short on neutrals is because they don't say, "you are just so beautiful that I must have a little of you and take you out of the store".  Let's face it, when you go into a quilt shop you don't look at the neutrals unless you need them for a specific project.  You don't say..."I love that shade of cream, I need to buy some."  Now if it was a red or green with a specific pattern, absolutely.

Design Wall Monday

I should have been working on quilting and getting the instructions ready for more FW blocks......but....I wanted something new on my design wall.  I worked really hard and I have the brown/aqua quilt in rows.  I took it down because I like to pin the rows together while watching TV with the family.
I looked around and found another basket filled with pieces so I put them up on the design wall.  I wasn't really sure where I had left off with these flannel scraps when I boxed them up.  I discovered that I had plenty of 4 patches for a lap quilt, but I no longer have the plaid flannel for the alternate blocks.  I was not up for the challenge of figuring out what to do with it, so I put it back in the box for another day.   Besides, I have plenty of projects laying around that need attention.








I opened another drawer and pulled out this Jacob's Ladder scrap quilt.  This quilt is so old it was the very first scrap quilt I started.  I recall how I had so much trouble putting all the non-matching reds next to each other.  At the time it seemed very stressful.   Fast forward several year, and I throw it all in!  The more the happier I am!  This quilt was put away only needing borders.  I do that quite frequently, and I am not sure why.  I had a perfect red for the first border and I already had the squares cut for the outer border.  Because my squares for the outer border didn't have much variety (remember this was my first scrappy quilt), I dug through my scraps for more selections.  I just have the bottom border to add and it will be ready to quilt.  I did not do a very good job with the red values for the center ring of the quilt.  A few of the lighter reds are lost.  It was a learning experience, so I will not be changing them.  The puzzling part is that I have about 50 4" finished half squares left over.  I wonder what my original plan was for them.  I'm not sure if I miscounted or if I intended for them to go somewhere.  I put them in the drawer for a different project.  It never hurts to have a few starters.

This pattern is from Fons & Porter Love of Quilting May/June 2000.  This quilt is old, but I did not start it in 2000!

Short and Sweet Adventure

I had a little adventure to a yarn shop with Tina today.  We thought we were going to be shutdown when we arrived at our destination, and the shop was empty.  Never fear, they just moved and we have GPS.  It was worth the delay.  What's a good friend to do when there is StarBella  yarn on the line.  They had received a shipment recently.  Holy Cow!  I don't know how much they received but they didn't have much left.  What's a girl to do but take it all.  I even had to wrestle my friend Tina for the color I wanted.  Ok, we really didn't wrestle, but I took it right out of her hand because I wanted THAT color.  If she hadn't given it up so easily, I probably would have taken her out for it.  The shop had 3 other kinds of this type of yarn.  2 of which I had never seen before.

After the yarn shop, we were off to the quilt shop.  You know it is going to be a great day when you are greeted at the door with "Have you heard about our sale".  I bet she could see the excitement growing in my eyes. 
 The top fabric Tina talked me into.  She didn't have to talk too hard.  She invisioned a pillow case.  I invisioned a baby coin charity quilt.  I can't wait to dig into Char and Nancy's scraps for the coins.

See those great neutrals?  Those are for the next ISE group jelly flop swap!  They had a great selection of fabrics both sale and otherwise.  I had been on a quest for the perfect red to border my very old orange crush quilt with.  I finally found the perfect shade.  It was just patiently waiting for me to find it on the clearance table. 

Eleanor delivered all the quilt going to the Henryville, Indiana tornado relief.  Eleanor had 3 more, and Lorraine had one that is not pictured.  When I saw that Eleanor was donating her blue ridge beauty quilt that she just finished, I about flipped.  

She said that the collection site was very organized and everyone was very appreciative of our efforts.  Thanks to everyone that was able to contribute. 

Attic Window

This block is a little different than the block I normally see labeled Attic Window

Before you forget how to trim with the easy angle, let's do another one and practice again.  Once again, save those little triangles.

Color 1

• 1- 2 1/2" square

Color 2

• 2- 2" finished triangles (2 1/2" strip with the easy angle)

Color 3

• 2- 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle

Color 4

• 2- 4" finished triangles (4 1/2" strip with the easy angle)

Add the 2 1/2" triangles to both sides of the square

Trim the angles on the 2 1/2" X 4 1/2" rectangles like in Block 9

Attached these 2 pieces to the unit

 pin the color 4 triangles to the unit.  I like to sew with the triangle on the bottom.  If you enlarge the picture at the left, you can see that little square where the middle pin is.  That should be a 1/4" away from the edge, and that is where you want to sew.  Sewing right through that "X" will give you a perfect point on your block.

March Farming

Block #9
Let's start March with the Box block from the Farmer's Wife Book.  There are several ways to make this block.  I made it 3 different ways, and I will give directions for my favorite.  Make it the way you feel most comfortable.

Look closely at the illustrations below.  Line up the 2 1/2" line of your easy angle (2" line if you are using the Olfa frosted ruler like in the picture).  YOU MUST HANG THE RULER OVER THE EDGE 1/4" OR LINE UP THE BLUNT EDGE OF THE RULER. 

Don't throw those little triangles away!  You are going to need those in a couple months.  Trim them down to 1" finished half squares (use the 1 1/2" line on the ruler)  When we get to those blocks, you will already have them cut.

Color 1

• 1- 2 1/2" x 6 1/2"
• 2- 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"
• 2- 2 finished half squares cut with 2 1/2" strip

Color 2

• 8- 2" finished half squares (triangles cut with 2 1/2" strip and easy angle)

Look closely at the picture so that you can get the angles going the correct way.  It was really hard for me to line up that ruler like a right handed person.  Stack the 2 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" pieces right sides up and cut like illustrated.  Take the 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" strip and cut in the same manner.  Sew together the 2 - 2 1/2" (unfinished) half squares.  Check the measurements of your units.  I had to square mine up just a little.  



Press the 4 1/2" pieces to the right (One seam should face the red the other seam to the light

Press the half squares to the dark

Press the 6 1/2" piece to the light

Join the half squares with the 4 1/2" pieces; Press toward the half squares.

Join the 3 pieces to make the 6 1/2" block

One more done!

Pure Goodness

Is that even a word?  Several people asked how many jelly rolls can come out of 80 yards of fabric...the answer is about 20.  At least that's how many are lined up and ready to be swapped.  The theme was country colors, so there are quite a few reproductions in there. 

Lots of browns and greens

 Plenty  of neutrals to lighten it up

Even a few purples to go with the reds.  You know I like purple, so I can't do country without it.


I hope everyone likes the colors.  It was a really fun project for me to coordinate. 

March FW blocks will get posted this weekend.