Another Floater Question

[Sue S.]

This is the first quilt I have made using floaters. I understand the whole lengthwise grain for borders, and understand that if I had a border print I would need extra fabric. But as I am getting ready to cut goose fabric for the circular flying geese blocks (a little behind but working carefully), I see that I won't have enough fabric on the lengthwise grain without piecing the floater. Can we piece floaters, or do I need to change my choice of fabric to one that I have enough yardage?

[Barbara B.]

Yes, you can piece the floater--I did. Mine was 48" long and I needed 62". I just pieced the length needed. Use a short stitch length and thread that won't show in the seam.

[Sue S.]

Thanks, Barbara. I had forgotten about the introductory packet we got back in November. In that packet, I really only paid attention to the total yardages needed, rather than the monthly cutting amounts. In that packet it is evident that we will be piecing the floaters, based on the cutting instructions. I have not been using the monthly cutting amounts since I am using my own fabric rather than the kit. Is it better to use Sue's instructions on a monthly basis from that packet? For example: Should I cut an 8x10 inch piece for the geese and then cut the 9 2 1/4 inch from that piece? I know others have expressed some discomfort about not having enough fabric. I am not cutting months ahead, since I read your caution to wait until the month's instructions are released. But I kinda forgot about that introductory packet :unsure: . Or doesn't it really matter since I didn't buy the kit, and am scrapping it up from stash fabric?

[Barbara B.]

It doesn't matter with scrappy. And I don't cut those general "chunk" sizes except for paper piecing the sawtooth Star borders where that is the size to fit the paper patterns. My guess is Sue used those sizes to make it possible to calculate how much fabric to buy to assemble the kit. Working scrappy, use what you have that fits the method you are using. I read that pattern, then decide on my method, then figure out what size fabric I need.

[Barbara B.]

I'm having trouble figuring out where to ask a new question about the floater, so I'm replying to this post. I'm on month 6 and the fabric cutting requirements on page 2 indicate cutting 4 - 6x53" strips in medium green. I'm assuming this is the floater, but is the '6' in the 6x53 a mistake? Shouldn't it be 1"x53" like the other floaters? On page 3, the floater box (with measurements of the quilt), indicate 1" stips x either 51.5 or 50.5". So I'm, as usual, confused.
Thanks,
Rachel

[Barbara B.]

I'm having trouble figuring out where to ask a new question about the floater, so I'm replying to this post. I'm on month 6 and the fabric cutting requirements on page 2 indicate cutting 4 - 6x53" strips in medium green. I'm assuming this is the floater, but is the '6' in the 6x53 a mistake? Shouldn't it be 1"x53" like the other floaters? On page 3, the floater box (with measurements of the quilt), indicate 1" stips x either 51.5 or 50.5". So I'm, as usual, confused.
Thanks,
Rachel

Rachel, that's a good question. Yes, it appears it should say to cut 1 "chunk", not 4, 6" x 53" of the Medium Green for the Floaters. What Sue was trying to do here was show you the size "chunk", (a highly technical term, right?), of fabric you need to cut the four Floaters, it's a bit wider and a bit longer than we should need. The specific sizes are not given since each of us has to cut the size width floater we need to make our borders fit our middle. I'm sorry for the confusion. The important part of the instruction is that you use length-wise grain fabric, parallel to the selvage. for maximum stability.

As for where to post your question--I watch all the BOM 2017 posts so anywhere is fine. This one is perfectly fine for your question. Or under the Month 6 post I did on June 1-- always see posts made there too.

Enjoy the Journey.