In test driving orientation for the fog, it looks like vertical is the best direction for laying the blocks.
Vertical!
Tag: Lorr’s quilt
The tree and the fog
I’ve got not quite a quarter of the honeycomb blocks done for the background on Lorr’s quilt. In this picture I have only about half the finished fog on the wall.
It’s gone a bit slowly because I’ve been testing ironing seams this way, that way, pressed open . . . I think I’ve got what I want now. I’m happy, happy, happy.
The colors, the variety, the textures. Yup, I’m happy. If all goes as planned, this will be a stunning quilt.
Now that the picture is up, can you see what’s wrong? This is why pictures are so important! In the very center of the picture, see the blue sky showing through the leaves? Oops. Can’t see the sky through the trunk. I’ll have to replace that with a non-sky piece. It’s the little things . . .
Auditioning fog
Now that the leaf portion of the tree for Lorr’s quilt is done, I’m working on the background fog. I don’t want it to be all one foggy piece of fabric, I want it to be more in keeping with the rest of the quilt, more random color and texture.
I’d been searching for over a year to find enough foggy batik fabrics for this part of Lorr’s quilt, but they just aren’t out there. Progress was at a halt.
Our Guild had a fabric dying workshop with the fabulous David Christensen. I dyed 10 yards of batik quality fabric trying for perfect soft shades for the fog. Some of the pieces are too dark, but not too many. Overall, the result was a nice collection of soft greens, blues and grays with enough texture to be interesting.
I had originally intended to use one of the Dance template sets for this portion of the quilt, but I’ve since changed my mind. I’m going with a machine sewn honeycomb block. Sewing this block by machine isn’t for the faint of heart. I’ve developed a technique that gives me accurate placement of the pieces. I’ll try and get a tutorial together showing the technique.
I drafted the 2″x4″ template for the honeycomb block on pallet slip sheet cardboard. I get this at the local feed store. It’s a 4’x4′ sheet of thin cardboard that’s waxed or plasticized which makes it a little difficult to write on, but it makes great templates . . . and it’s free!
I used my cutting fabrics using cardboard templates technique so as not to damage my template. The only adjustment I made was to not move any of the fabric for the second cut as it preps the end of the strip for the next template placement.
I think I’m going to like this block and fabric for the fog. The sewing’s a bit tedious and nearly every seam is a Y seam, but I think the end result will definitely be worth the effort.
Glorious fall color
I restarted the leaf portion of Lorr’s quilt. My original iteration hung on the wall and I just wasn’t happy. I couldn’t make myself continue with what I’d started. It was months before I realized what it was I didn’t like. I’ve redone it and now, I’m happy!
Let’s get leafy
I’ve gotten a good start on the tree top for Lorr’s quilt. I think it’s going to be lovely. The quilt isn’t as complex as the sunset quilt so, when I have time to work on it, it’s going together pretty fast. I still need dark browns, charcoal/ink navy/midnight green fabric for the border and silvery pale blues for the background behind the tree.
This is going to be a simple yet striking quilt that Lorr and Patty should be able to use without fear of ruining something of heirloom quality.
Glorious color
I sorted fabric two days ago and started cutting the treetop yesterday. I mumbled something to Wadly about scaffolding so I could walk back and forth while applying color to the top of my design wall. I think he’s a bit aghast at the concept of having more construction like stuff in the house. I have a step stool to use for now . . . wholly inadequate but it’s what I’ve got.
Maybe I should give him a choice . . . 8 foot step ladder or scaffolding . . . <evil grin>
Lorr’s Quilt
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My next big quilt is going to be for my son and his SO. He and Patty both like fall colors, so I’m doing a tree in glorious fall oranges and reds using the watercolor technique I used for the sunset.
This time I want to use a variety of blocks and not set them in columns and rows. I want the application of the color to be less organized so I’ll set some of the parts askew and join the blocks of like colors in a running bond pattern where I can.
I have designed four different types of the pinwheel blocks. One produces a triangular block which, when assembled produces six pointed nested pinwheels when the color is organized. The pinwheel element is the sharpest of the blocks and I’ll use this one as grass.
I have a blunt pinwheel block that I’ll use for the tree trunk and a rounded pinwheel I’ll use for the leaves.
I’ll use the square dance block (same as the sunset quilt) for the backgound.
I’m having trouble finding pale silvery blues for the background. I’ve got lots of yellow/orange/red/burgundy for the leaves and lots of green for the grass but I could use more dark grayish brownish for the tree trunk and more charcoal darks for the 8″ border.