Friday, August 6, 2010

Uhhhh, maybe not as easy as I said. . .

You know what I said yesterday about loving Carrie Nelson's patterns because they look intricate without being killer to make? I just read through the instructions for my next project. I need to make 522 three inch four-patch blocks. I have no idea how long it will take to make that many, but it's not gonna be quick. Sorta sounds like a Bonnie Hunter pattern. . .But the colors I picked from the stash are fab. Purples and rusts, browns and greens and golds. Very autumnal, and I figure we will be well into fall before I see the end of those four-patches.

You know one of the things I like the best about this design? It doesn't have a border. I get kind of tired of adding borders, and thinking up ways for them to be different. Mom has a bunch of quilts my grandmother pieced and they don't have borders. The design just continues to the edge and ends. And they look good. Kind of more casual. So, this time I picked something that is similar. This is why I like the piano key borders I have been doing on some of the gift quilts recently. It's a border but it's sort of not - just more design. And why my blue and yellow basket quilt (if I ever get back to it) will have a scalloped border - not more same-old, same-old. Just have to keep the corners in the scallops shallow enough to bind easily.

Speaking of those, am I finishing the star quilt that needs only a few blocks or putting borders on the basket quilt or, oh, I don't know, quilting the Project Linus stuff in my drawer? NOOOOOOO. I'm contemplating starting a new quilt. And enjoying it! I love bouncing around between projects nowadays. It's kind of liberating.

6 comments:

Linda said...

Wow, that is alot of 4 patches but I know it won't take you that long to do them.

I agree with you about the borders too. I have been doing some quilts without borders lately too. Some I like and some I just think look unfinished. I don't know if it's because I'm so used to adding borders or what...I love the scalloped borders and I have one quilt to do that too also. Good luck on the 4 patches and have fun with the new project.

The Calico Cat said...

I get kind of tired of adding borders

Ditto.
As a matter of fact there is a quilt waiting for me to put the binding on it... If the binding were not already attached, I would cut off the border...

Becca said...

Oooh...very pretty. May I ask the pattern name? Looks like one I'd like to try out.

The Calico Quilter said...

Becca, it's called "Ginger Belle" from "Miss Rosie's Spice of Life Quilts" by Carrie Nelson. I've become a real Carrie Nelson cheerleader; there are so many of her designs that I want to make!

And Linda, as for the four patch blocks, I am reprieved! I misread the page. It said to make 522 two patch units and join them into 261 four patch blocks. That's better!

Calico Cat, it's never too late to change your mind. You could cut off the border on that quilt yet. I'm sure you could find another fabric which would work for the binding if you don't have more of the original one. Follow your instincts.

Marla said...

OMGoodness. The end result will be so worth it. It is a beautiful pattern! Enjoy the process!

joe tulips said...

You did exactly what my cousin did once, misreading directions...only she didn't catch it until they were done! she has a ton of 4-patch units ready for some future project.
From your description of fabric and seeing the pattern, this will be one stunning quilt!