Recently woodyoak suggested I share the process of making a quilt. After reading the following I hope she isn’t sorry she asked:) Since I’m in the middle of several projects I thought it would be best to follow one of them vs starting another one.
Some back story…
A few months ago my DH gave me a quilting challenge. For this challenge I decided I would make a baby quilt in the pinwheel block using pastels and a white background. After a look through my stash and a trip to the quilt shop I thought I had a nice mix of colors. Oh BTW, “stash” is a quilting term for fabric quilters tend to hoard, ummm… I mean stock up to have handy for when inspiration strikes. Google ”fabric stash”, click on images if you want to see how scary that topic can get.lol
Anyway, I had a basic plan in my head for this quilt. I started making a bunch of 6″ pinwheel blocks. After I had a few made in each color I decided to start thinking about how I was going to layout the quilt. I started by mixing up the colors and laying out the blocks. That is when the first problem hit. I couldn’t stand the yellows near the pink and lavender. Somehow when other quilters have mixed these colors it comes out looking great, but my version, not so cute.
After setting it aside for a while and every now and then going back and trying to rearrange the blocks to see if it would help I got an idea. I decided to split up the problem colors. This is how quilts multiply.lol
I decided to send the blue and yellow blocks to one quilt and the pink and lavender to another. I ended up setting the blue and yellow blocks on point with alternating white blocks. This kind of gave the quilt a 30’s look, but without the 30’s reproduction fabric.
I plan on adding a blue border to this quilt to give it a little more color. I haven’t decided if I’m going to square off the corners with white fabric or the blue I will use on the border. I could end up changing my mind all together and do something totally different.
Then there is the other quilt. This is how far this one has gotten.
I’m still in the process of making a bunch of blocks as you can see by the partially assembled block on the left and the uncut fabric on the right. I’m thinking about setting the blocks like they are in the picture and putting some white sashing between them. As always this is subject to change.lol
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First I cut out 3 7/8″ squares out of white and colored fabrics.
On the back side of the white fabric I mark a diagonal line. I then place one white square on top of a colored square, right sides together.
Then I sew a 1/4″ seam on each side of the line I drew. Can you tell I washed dishes right before that picture!
After sewing both seams I cut along the line.
This will give me two half square triangles (aka. 1/2 of the components of a pinwheel block).
Press the seams to one side. It is recomended to press them toward the darker fabric when ever possible to reduce the chances of the darker color showing through the light fabric on the finished quilt. Don’t worry if this isn’t possible. I have had that happen many times and never had it show on the finished quilt. Just be sure your darker fabric seam isn’t bigger then the light fabric.
