Here is what's keeping me from quilting this one. The plate measures 9 1/4th point to point. The pink block that it's appliqued onto is 14 3/4s X 15 1/4". There is so much open space that would need quilting. If I decided that's ok, the bigger problem is that the maker didn't cut off the narrow selvadges, almost every block seam has one edge a selvage and they pucker. Already have and won't quit doing that . The selvadge is a tigher weave than the fabric and that's why we cut them off. There are 30 blocks, set 5 X 6. I'm thinking take the blocks apart, but them down to ????? and re-join them either with or without lattice....I'd like opinions from you gals. I personally DON'T think this top could ever be a "raging" beauty, but it's a really nice undamaged top of fabrics from the 1930's 40's. The applique is fair to good. It will hold up.
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12 comments:
Since you asked, I would take it apart & trim it down to about 11 inches square. You could use the useable trimmings as binding & have less to quilt...
As far as quilting goes - I see cross hatch in the background...
Since it is in good shape, she deserves to be completed....
I agree - just do cross-hatching. I LOVE cross-hatching so much in quilts and I think with the vibrant pink that a simple cross-hatch would look wonderful.
With the selvage - yes trim them down, I personally wouldn't trim too small though. I like the big area of pink. So make sure you leave enough around it!
My vote is cut down the blocks and get rid of the selvages, too. Can you just run the seam first, and then rotary trim that seam allowance smaller, etc, instead of picking it all apart?
Jeanne
hey, I am of the same mind..I like Jeanne's suggestion-seems like it might be faster...
I'm even lazier... lol
I think I'd put my cutting board on the table, throw the quilt over it, grab my big 12½ square ruler, center each plate under the ruler, and whack away without unpicking every seam first.
A 12 inch square finn-ished block *VBG* would leave an inch and ¼+ on either side of the plate, PLUS give you a quilt-middle that would be an easy size to calculate a border on.
Then if you wanted to use some of the pink strips in a pieced border,or as cornerstones in your sashing, you could unpick only the seams that don't have selvedges, throw away the rest.
I'm with ForestJane - just get the rotary cutter out and slice em down to size. Personally I think it might look better with sashing - can't believe it looks too pink to ME. Tho if the blocks were a lot smaller that wouldn't be a prob anymore.
Freehand fan quilting over the entire thing...
Finn, no sugestions. Just popping in to say hello, I love the quilts you are working on . You are so busy all the time, jumping here and there. I think you might have quilting ADHD, and if that is the case I have it too. I just can't stay focused on one project. Thanks for sharing all the great quilts and quilts in progress.
Personally, I would add the lattice you mentioned. Just to break up the pink a bit. I do like the idea of just taking the ruler to it and cutting and NOT having to rip seams! The idea of using the leftover pink as a binding is a good one, too, but you'd have a LOT of seams in the binding. Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will be a lovely quilt! I think it could even be a beauty!
I quite like the idea of just using a rotary cutter to "fussy cut" your blocks from each one, say about 12.5". How about making a triple sashing (like on my old fashioned pattern of Dresden Plates)? You could use blue on the outside, some of the cut off pink for the center, and then make the four patches pink and navy, too. I think it would be smashing!
http://quiltgranny.blogspot.com/2005/10/dresden-plates-and-i-spy-bag.html
I make it easy as well, center it and then cut it out with the 12 1/2 inch ruler. Why waste time unsewing unless you truly love that backing fabric? You can always take a bit more off--like down to the 11 inches that was mentioned by Amy once you have them square up from the first cut.
Cross hatching would be the classic way to go for the quilting but only if you love it, LOL.
If it were me (and I had lots of money) I'd just send it to a machine quilter and get them to do a detailed pattern on it. Then hopefully they'd disguise the effect of the selvedges. But maybe I'm just saying that because I'm in the middle of hand quilting something myself and it's frustrating and the thought of anyone hand quilting anything right now just fills me with anxiety.... But it is a lovely quilt top, no matter what you do to it.
You hit a chord with this one Finn - lots of comments. We do like to comment don't we? LOL
Love the suggestions to whack off the edges of each block with a rotary cutter and square ruler.
We learnt all about warp, weft and selvages (and why you should chop 'em off) on Tuesday!
For sashing maybe you could pick up the navy with stars fabric - surely you'd have something similar in your stash? VBG!!
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