Thursday, March 26, 2015

Irish Chain Quilt-Along


 
      This is what I've been working on for this quilt-along.  I've decided that the white background behind the navy X blocks stands out too much and doesn't blend with the rest of the blocks, so I'm going to have to make more X blocks in the cream fabrics.  Ugh!!  So I guess I've made a start on another quilt with navy X blocks with a WHITE background!!  :-(   I did check with Steph and Paul and they both think the white blocks should be removed, so I know my instincts were right about this.  Oh well, live and learn.

        So here is this weeks assignment for the quilt-along:  make the petal blocks.  I'm making a picnic sized quilt, so I had 8 blocks to make, or 32 individual petals.  I was so glad when they were all done:  it seemed to take forever to make them!!  


 `I decided to do a turned under petal applique, because I knew that if I made them the raw edge way it would always bother me.  I did the freezer paper method and glued them on with the Jillily Studio Appli-Glue.  It sure is great stuff for getting appliques in place and not having your thread catch on pins while you stitch it down!  I tried to machine applique the petals down, but the only matching thread I had was a DMC two ply for hand stitching, and it kept breaking in the machine, so I'm going to have to hand stitch all those petals down:  eek!!!  That'll take me awhile! 
                          ~A close up of the petal block.~

Most of the fabrics are from various Fig Tree Quilts fabric lines, with a few other fabrics added in navy and the greenish blue (the petals above really are more greenish, but this was taken at night.)
And speaking of night, it is ridiculously late, so I'm off to bed!!  :-)

Hugs,
Helen

5 comments:

  1. So loving this Helen!!! And how fun that your quilt has now multiplied into 2 quilts ;) I am impressed with your hand stitching ;) You know me and hand stitching, tee hee hee ;) I love the scrappy backgrounds as well. This is just going to be stunning!!!

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  2. This is Ginger Peterson, Sister Peterson is my daughter serving in your area. She gave me the link to your blog. Love your quilt. :) I love quilting also!

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  3. It is tough when you decide you must change the colours, but better do it now than work on something you do not like as a whole...I really liked the applique petals, they look beautiful!

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  4. I love the busier background. You are so brave to choose that- and it works beautifully.

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  5. Your blocks are looking wonderful!! I agree about the white background blocks, at least you changed your mind before sewing them all together. The petals look so pefect, and they give you some hand sewing for the evenings.

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