My mom came over to sew with me after church on Sunday, and I decided to get back to my languishing Retro ‘80s Building Blocks sampler (also known as Nanu! Nanu!). I got one simple 5” block cut out and sewn together and another more complicated 10” block cut out and partially pieced before my mom called it quits and I decided to spend the rest of the afternoon playing with my spoiled rotten Rottweiler.
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| Block 12 in Progress, 10 inch Version With Y-Seams |
My Retro '80s Building Blocks sampler is adapted from the Moda Modern Building Blocks Sampler that was released in 2014. I changed the block sizes from multiples of 6" to multiples of 5" to get the size I wanted, which complicated cutting considerably since I no longer have "ruler-friendly" fractions for most blocks, substituted out a bunch of blocks, and have redrafted any blocks that Moda simplified because I'd rather sew Y-seams than have unnecessary seams bisecting all of my diamond patches. The whole point of this sampler was to be a skill builder, after all.
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| Moda's Version of Block 12, 12 inches, with Easier Bisected Diamonds |
EQ8 quilt design software is awesome for making blocks in funky sizes, because in addition to the option of printing rotary cutting charts, I can also print odd-size blocks as tagboard templates or as foundation paper piecing patterns, as I've done with this block.
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| Foundation Paper Piecing Patterns and Oversized Precut Patches |
One of the things I love most about the upgrade from EQ7 to EQ8 is that I can now print those foundation paper piecing patterns in color, which is hugely helpful -- no more sewing the wrong fabric in the wrong spot! After I paper pieced the eight sections of the block, I removed the papers and proceeded with traditional piecing methods to finish the block. Well, I've ALMOST finished that block -- three more Y-seams to go, and I am tempted to redo the center of the block because I forgot to spiral the seams and I see a tiny speck of white thread in the center. I'll decide once the rest of the block is together.
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| My 5 inch Version of Block 38 |
Before jumping into the Y-seam block, I set myself up for a quick victory with my little 5" version of Block 38. Here it is on the wall next to the other blocks that will be adjacent in the finished quilt. Because someday, someday SOON, this WILL BE a finished quilt!!
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| Block 38 In Situ On My Design Wall |
Meanwhile, Back at the Bernina Shop...
I would be making better progress on my patchwork goals if I wasn't spending so much time as the Quilting Artist In Residence at my Bernina dealer's store! Still waiting on my backordered Q-Matic computer robotics system to arrive for the Bernina Q24 long arm machine on a 13' frame in my home studio, I've been quilting smaller projects on my dealer's demo machine at the store. His machine is set up on an itty bitty 8' frame, though, so it can't handle anything bigger than a Twin. One of the small projects I quilted there recently was a 24" x 40" pillow cover that my mom pieced to go with her King size snowball quilt:
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| Peacock Tail E2E in Peacock Glide Thread |
I used the same quilting design for the pillow cover as I used for the King quilt, but I scaled it a lot smaller this time (5.8" instead of 14"). I love this Peacock Tail E2E design both ways. Notice how the stitches look beautiful and IDENTICAL on both sides of the quilt? That's why I bought a Bernina. 💕. By the way, purely by coincidence, this Glide thread color is also named Peacock.
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| Peacock Tail E2E in Peacock Glide Thread, Muslin Backing |
I've been working on a few other client quilts at the shop, but nothing else I can share online just yet!
PSST!! I'd Love to Quilt for YOU!
By the way, if you or any of your quilty friends has a quilt top or two that needs quilting, I'd be delighted to quilt for you! My turnaround for edge-to-edge quilting is currently running about 2 weeks on Twin size or smaller (I can quilt up to 120" once Q-Matic is installed on my 13' frame), and you can click here to find out how to book your quilt with me.
Tuesday's To-Do List:
- Quilt two clients' quilts at the Bernina shop
- Finish Block 12 for my '80s sampler
- Piece at least one more block for my '80s sampler
- Showroom trip to pull fabric, trim and wallpaper samples for an interior design client's project
- College shopping for Lars & Anders
I'm linking up today's post with the following linky parties:
TUESDAY
To-Do Tuesday at ChrisKnits
WEDNESDAY
Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
THURSDAY
Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Free Motion Mavericks with Muv and Andree
It is so nice that you and your mom can sew together, that time is so precious!Keep plugging away, that retro quilt will be finished someday, happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteHow fun to quilt with your mom! Nice progress on your blocks and your quilting is beautiful1
ReplyDeleteWbaht a wonderful block that will be. And I adore your mom's pillow cover. Good luck with the list for next week. Thanks for linking up with To-Do Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteAnd it's not like you take something simple and make it complicated....lol!
ReplyDeleteSkill building indeed! They're looking really good! I'm interested in seeing how you're going to quilt it. And that peacock tail panto is really something!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat peacock quilting design is gorgeous! As for your skill builder, 5" doesn't really lend itself to "nice" measurements -- you're brave, even with EQ8 to help!
ReplyDeleteOoh, Y-seams! They are not bad but they are slow. When I think of Y-seams "pins" come to mind. Gorgeous colors!!!
ReplyDeleteHope you get that computerized system soon. I know how frustrating that must be. Meanwhile you continue to quilt such lovely things! That pillow is the perfect compliment to your mom's quilt. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeleteDo you teach classes?
ReplyDelete