Alex's Holiday Lights Quilt

[Renata L.]

Nope, we're talking about the same ones, Nancy--definitely will go back and play with those a bit. Just wanted to make sure we were talking about the same block. Those are made with Hoffman's Sayomi collection and it is a very strong gold leaf over a cream background. Definitely a cluster issue that I will address. Having a second set of eyes is really important because often you look at these fabrics enough and they start growing on you and your brain can no longer tell when something stands out like a sore thumb! Appreciate the second set of eyes!

[Alex A.]

My heart is happy dancing!

[Rita C.]

Renata it looks wonderful! Only one change for me: 4th row from right and 4th down, move to 3rd from left 3rd up from bottom. Nothing else is bothering me. It's like playing chess! Oh, and thanks for the temptation, you make me want to play, sigh. Guess it will have to wait for a bit.

[Renata L.]

Took care of the 4th row, 4th down but had to do something else with third row because I had already made some changes since I posted to photo and moving 4 to 3 did not work with what I had already changed. It is like chess! Thanks, Rita!

[Margo C.]

Gotta LUV this forum!

[Andree B.]

Thanks Nancy. I think you are talking about the blocks with the gold-leaf looking background, but since things probably look different on our screens could you point out one of them as, for example, Column 3 (from the left), Row 2, so that I know exactly which block you had in mind? I think I know but I want to make sure. There are eight of those blocks, but you saw five (if we're talking about the same one) so the flash may be playing on them but I definitely check for clustering if you can confirm the one you're referring to. Really appreciate your keen eye!

Andrée, so glad you are playing too. When you paper-piece the border, do you simply create a paper for a long set of half-square triangles? Never done it so I'm curious if that's an alternative I should be exploring because the perfect 1/4" is a challenge for anyone. :lol:

Yes Renata, I will use graph paper, in a long strip. That way, that long narrow border has better chance of ending up straight!

I'll post a picture tonight of my plan. I will do the same for that log border, just as I did on the BOM (the sashing). Just to make sure all logs match perfectly to a HST.

Andrée

[Andree B.]

Part one of my border plan:

I use this brand of graph paper, it has a bold line each inch, and one each eight:


I cut strips, and I attach them at the end to the desired lenght (if I count correctly, 40 inches (8 X 5 inches) for the vertical strips (plus 2 for the corner which I include in the long strips), and 36 inches (9 X 4 Inches) for the horizontal strips. When I attach them, I make sure to align the bold lines, and make up a square inch.

I trace the diagonals of the HST: (please read next post, the last step in my thought process is important)

[Andree B.]

Part 2:

I plan to have my border with the colors setup this way. The 2 vertical strips are oriented the same way, but the horizontal strips need to be traced with the diagonal on the opposite side:



Need to take that into account when tracing and then piecing the triangles...

Andrée

[Renata L.]

Thanks for all the effort, Andrée! I have the exact same graph paper by Canson which I used for another project--never even dawned on me to use it for paper-piecing. Will definitely play with your idea--never hurts to have another tool in the tool box! Brilliant, thank you!

[Andree B.]

Glad to help... And I forgot to mention (but everybody knows that about paper-piecing)... consider that it is the reversed of what is drawn (since we put the fabric on the reverse side)...

[Margo C.]

Great tute, Andrée! Thanks!

[Catherine S.]

Renata, your trees look wonderful. I think it is calling for a bear, or a deer in there somewhere. Oh, I forgot, they are all at Ricky's! :lol: :lol: :lol:
I really do love your trees. I may decide to make one too. After I finish my DGD's quilt, my mug rugs, and Ricky's summer BOM. I am not even going to mention the quilt I started at the Des Moines show, or the one I started at my last guild meeting. Or the beautiful fabric my DD gave me for Christmas last year. :roll: :roll: So much to do and so little time. At least I am enjoying the trip.
Do the rest of you have this problem??

[Renata L.]

Thanks, Cathy, for your kind remarks. I hope you get the chance to work this little quilt in (if you can finish it before Christmas! :lol: ) I only have one outstanding quilt started and not finished with piecing and two that need to be quilted, but I haven't been quilting as long as some of you so no chance to accumulate unfinished projects in large numbers even though my fabric stash is healthy without specific projects in mind. So far, I have not had to purchase any fabric for Holiday Lights and will probably be able to finish it without a purchase and I've only had to buy fabric for binding a few of my mug rugs because I just did not have the right color. I'm hoping to keep it like this but who knows, only time will tell! :lol: I'm starting to work on taming my scrap pile!

[wendy w.]

I wouldn't bother if you can rustle up this top from them. It's so vibrant, well done

[Andree B.]

Renata, your trees look wonderful. I think it is calling for a bear, or a deer in there somewhere. Oh, I forgot, they are all at Ricky's! :lol: :lol: :lol:
I really do love your trees. I may decide to make one too. After I finish my DGD's quilt, my mug rugs, and Ricky's summer BOM. I am not even going to mention the quilt I started at the Des Moines show, or the one I started at my last guild meeting. Or the beautiful fabric my DD gave me for Christmas last year. :roll: :roll: So much to do and so little time. At least I am enjoying the trip.
Do the rest of you have this problem??

Oh yes... It seems I fall in love with fabrics and projects I can do with my stash, but before one is finished, I just have to start the next one... Lots of UFO's, waiting to be quilted, this year's BOM (aaaaHHH those blanket stiches!),a "quilt as you go" blanket to use up all these bali-pop or Jelly roll strips,... I guess I needed a paper-pieceing project? :wink:

Andrée