I still have to machine applique around the pieces, but even so, it's coming right along. I'm quite certain that this is going to be a favorite!
Thursday, February 27, 2014
waiting in progress
I seem to have a particularly bad case of quilter's ADD lately. I blame the weather, as a good Minnesotan would! I'm trying desperately to avoid the winter blahs by playing with bright springy colors. It's almost working.
I've had one test block hanging around since last December when I wrote my waiting quilt pattern. I made several more blocks this week so now it's an official WIP. I'm using scraps this time, of course. My plan was to use a variety of polka dots for the background squares, along with a few different solid whites so I could use my stash.
I thought it was a good idea, but after I made a few blocks yesterday I noticed that you can see the polka dots through the fabrics...even through the red! I was surprised and a little bummed.
I never thought that you would see the dots through the bright pink fabric, either. I slept on it and decided to go ahead with my original idea. It really isn't too noticeable unless you look up close. Besides, if the quilt isn't perfect to begin with (as if any of mine are) I'll be much more likely to use it. Gotta find that silver lining!
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44 comments:
I'm luving these happy spring like blocks...and I'm luving dots this year too...happy stitching Amanda Jean...from someone else that can't wait for spring!! I am sEw done with winter...Pauline
Love the design and colors, but I am so afraid to do machine applique because my pieces always get quite stringy after several washes. What stitch do you use/how do you prepare the pieces so that they don't get fuzzy around the edge?
I meant to type, "You'll NEVER notice it on a galloping horse! LOL
I love DOTS and I love your quilt design and colors. Very happy quilt it will be.
Ugh, that's a pet peeve of mine, thin fabric. How do you appliqué so the edges don't get all thready after washing?
Soooo happy! I just love your color choices. I'm sure once you quilt it and it gets all crinkly you won't notice those peekaboo polkadots at all. I always look forward to what you're working on next.
I love your blog and looking at all your wonderful creations. I'm new to quilting...just started last year. But have several WIP...when i get frustrated with one our tired of looking at it, i start another. The winter In KY has been long and cold, but it has given me time to sew. My quilts are far from perfect, but as you said, its the imperfect ones we use and will cherish.
I think it is gorgeous, and would call it a design element!
If the dots are too noticeable, can you cut the background fabric away from the back of the quilt leaving 1/4" from applique stitching? I think this is a method used to reduce bulk I read about somewhere. Probably used when quilt was to be hand quilted.
I was just thinking about this quilt pattern, and I love this quilt just the way it is.
Lookin' pretty cute!
Heck yeah! I love it! ;p
This looks awesome, and so bright!
Very bright and cheery! Do you eyeball placement or do you have a pattern/grid? Can't wait to see your progress!
Love the blocks. Very cheerful. Would it be possible to put a white rectangle behind the colorful rectangle to help block out the dots?
I thought seeing the dots through the fabric was being creative! Love,it.
I feel you pain about the winter. I live outside of Chicago and never want to hear the words "polar vortex" again.
I really like your project. You always come up with great scrap buster ideas. Polka dots, love them, now they are double good!
Yes, those happy fabrics are just what we need. It was another snow day here... School was cancelled again... Roads were closed. But in the sewing room - nothing but sunshine and spring! Your blocks look like bright suns shining on the design wall!
This is such a fun design. Drat those spots!
I have not seen this pattern before, reading previous comments I see it is applique very nice too
I like it so far and would never had noticed the dots peeking through if you hadn't mentioned it.
Oh, see, I looked at both posts at once, and so apparently my brain connected them as one post. Love THESE blocks. That's what I was talking about in the other post. :)
Very pretty blocks, I love the scrappy loveliness
Maybe I'm rubbing off on you and you are rubbing off on me. LOL I'm in "use it up, get it done mode" LOL.
Love the pattern, and the springy colors.
I saw some pictures from someone who had been traveling and there were pictures of some glorious tulips. Seeing them just reminded me that the world isn't ALWAYS all white and black and gray and maybe a little brown. LOL
Please answer the questions above, I'd like to know too! I'm "waiting" for my first grand baby to arrive any minute (a girl), this would be so sweet!
It already looks amazing. Congrats on yet another wonderful pattern!
very cute!!
Always so inspired by your work...what fabric line of dots are you using??? LOVE THEM! Val from myplvl.blogspot.com
Are the bricks fused down? If not you can trim a way the backing after you machine applique the bricks down. Just remember we are our worst crtics. It won't be noticed once you get the batting and backing together and its quilted. I absolutely love your idea of spring. You brought the sunshine in.
And so what if you can see the dots through the pieces? It just becomes part of the design. A person has to look carefully to see them. This is a happy collection of block and it wouldn't bother me a bit that the dots show through! Call it texture. =) Love the pattern, and the name.
This pattern looks like cartwheels to me, which is a sure sign of spring! Bring 'er on!
I like the polka dots! You really can't notice them, but just like an artist blends colors with other colors, it almost ads a texture if it does peek through, which puts it all together. See, perspective . Keep going on this one, they remind me of sunshine...which I hope we get soon! Dot
looks great! and you're right- it IS springy! when I first saw it, I thought you would do the blocks like your ticker tape quilt... how are you going to applique them?
Colby,
I used Lite Steam a Seam 2 for my fusible web. I used a blanket stitch around that. I expect the raw edge applique to fray a bit, and it does, but I haven't had any excessive fraying. Hope that helps!
AJ
Marianne,
I expect the edges to fray a bit (and they do) but I haven't had excessive fraying. The Lite Steam a Seam 2 is a very good product to try if you haven't yet.
Hope that helps!
AJ
Janet M,
That is a great idea, but these are fused down, so it won't work for this project, unfortunately. Thanks for the idea, though!
AJ
Ellomee,
I do have a pattern for placement. I only wish I could eyeball that well! :)
Hope that helps!
AJ
Francis Moore,
I probably could, and maybe that's what I would do in the future. But for this project, I guess "it is what it is!" :)
AJ
Valerie Reynolds,
These dots are from Connecting Threads several years ago. They were in the line Canning Day, and I'm sorry to say that they are now out of print. :(
AJ
Always in Stitches,
Yes, these are fused down, so trimming the back out isn't an option for this quilt. But thanks for the suggestion!
AJ
Jennifer,
Thanks for your kind words! I will use a blanket stitch on my janome to applique the pieces down. they are also fused down with lite steam a seam 2. hope that helps!
AJ
In 100 years when your great great grrreeeat grand sweetie is stroking this quilt, s/he will think of you fondly and smile at the polka dot whimsy:) so keep on sewing!
Could you post the placement guide? I'm in love with circles of all kinds and this would fit right in. Thank you. Love your blog.
Nancy Newman,
The placement guide is part of the pattern, so I won't be posting it here. The pattern is available for purchase through craftsy and it is an immediate download. There is a link to the pattern in the post. Hope that helps!
AJ
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