Yesterday, it was time to reorganize the design wall as “Cross Tiles” (Quilty Love) is now going on the longarm. Yesterday I sewed the backing and loaded it, ironed the batting, and laid the top on the sandwich. I will finish that set-up process later today and will start quilting. I am still trying to decide which pantograph to use.
Here’s a reminder of what “Cross Tiles” looks like:
So, here’s the design wall now. On the upper left are Leila Gardunia’s “Scrappy Stars” blocks. Yesterday I made three more and expanded space for another row. I’m planning on six rows. By the way, Leila now has patterns for scrappy diamonds.
On the upper right are two blocks of Then Came June’s “Goldie” pattern. I have a third cut and ready to sew. I am loving this quilt block as the pattern takes shape, but it requires precision sewing so that each unit must meaure perfectly.
The scrappy “Tulip Swirl” blocks-Bonnie Hunter’s 2026 free leader/ender block–are moved out of the way. I need to make many more blocks to have enough for the third row. They make up fast as leader/ender projects though.
And then there is a story on this “Plus and Minus” (Quilty Love) project. I want to make a table topper for each month of the year as I seem to have made about six now. And I want to use this “Plus and Minus” project in a bigger quilt, so I thought to trial the block for September’s table topper. AND, I wanted to use the extended zig-zag stitch on my machine–having seen Emily Davis (Quilty Love) use it recently. It makes the most gorgeous texture.
HOWEVER, I encountered TWO issues that I had not thought would happen. First, the first zig-zag quilt lines (sewn an inch apart with the idea of returning when all were done to include 1/2-inch lines) pulled the center quilt blocks off-line, distorting the blocks. I had pinned the project quite a bit, but maybe not in the right places. Second, I usually make smaller blocks, which make this kind of distortion a bit harder to occur. (Or so it seems to me.). The enlarged zig-zag stitch, though, was perfect and beautiful.
After thinking on this issue for a few days, I put the finished quilt into the washing machine on a rinse and spin cycle and then blocked it as best as I could on the design wall. That helped a lot, as you can see. It helped enough that I can live with this project.
BUT, I’ve noted to myself that on big blocks, I will check to make sure that connecting seams are perfectly straight as I go. And I know the longarm will not pull these big blocks “off” while the top is quilted. I do still REALLY like that zig-zag stitch for a small quilt top though and am thinking…about how best to manage it. I am not sure how it would look on smaller blocks that are really scrappy, for instance.
Here’s the backing for “Fall in Maine”–a piece that has been in my stash for years and years. I have no idea who made it back in the day, but it is perfect for this little quilt.
And now I’m wanting to start the bigger “Plus and Minus” quilt I want to make, but…room on the design wall is lacking for right now. Hmmm… I could put “Tulip Swirl” aside for the moment…
Yesterday I gave “Pillars” a rest from it’s duty under the flowers and brought “Shift” onto the job. It’s so fun to move quilts around the house, and I recently moved more of them, which adds interest, even if just for me.
Have a great week everyone!
We’re off to a good start.
Louisa Enright's Blog 