Laura Nownes

[Marianne G.]

I have made some more star blocks and played with different methods of making the Flying Geese unit. I have also tried different ways of pressing the seams in the FG block. I found I like to press the seams open.

I have now started thinking further ahead and actually suddenly realised that I should really know before I press the final seams in the blocks how I am going to put all of them together. I know this sampler is done with sashing strips but if I want to put the blocks together instead then I should really have a plan before I press. Of course I can always snip a seam allowance here and there to open or turn it to the other side but that is doubling the work. So what do you seasoned piecers do? Do you leave off pressing the final seams or do you have it all planned out before you even cut the fabric :?: :?: :?:

Marianne

[Betty J.]

I don't know, because I'm not a seasoned piecer, but I love your blocks. I'm getting behind...have gotten so busy with other things. I'll try to get caught up this coming week.

[Kathryn S.]

Marianne, i do a lot of piecing and have run into difficulty because I haven't planned out the direction of piecing beforehand. My last two big quilts were the 2009 and 2011 BOM with Sue Garman's directions, where she talked about pressing, so those worked out well. The problem comes mostly from angled seams adding bulk.

One of the reasons I like Eleanor Burns' books, is that she plans the pressing so that things nest together. Watching her shows for years has taught me that I would do better if I planned too!

I did a "T" block quilt once with so many triangles and it was lumpy at the seamlines. It was hard to quilt. Fortunately, the giftee doesn't know anything about quilts and was thrilled to receive it!

Kathy

[Marianne G.]

Marianne, i do a lot of piecing and have run into difficulty because I haven't planned out the direction of piecing beforehand. My last two big quilts were the 2009 and 2011 BOM with Sue Garman's directions, where she talked about pressing, so those worked out well. The problem comes mostly from angled seams adding bulk.

One of the reasons I like Eleanor Burns' books, is that she plans the pressing so that things nest together. Watching her shows for years has taught me that I would do better if I planned too!

I did a "T" block quilt once with so many triangles and it was lumpy at the seamlines. It was hard to quilt. Fortunately, the giftee doesn't know anything about quilts and was thrilled to receive it!

Kathy

Hi Kathy, where do you watch shows with Eleanor Burns? I have watched the 2 shows here on TQS but they don't really talk much about pressing. In the Classroom with Alex Anderson, Piecing 101, she does mention that she should have thought out how to press but then goes on to talk about something else. I followed the hand-out for Laura's class where she says to press the final seams towards the centre squares which makes sense when it is just a single block but not if it is sewn to another star block. I haven't even dared to think how to quilt this :shock: Do you hand quilt?
I'm in awe of anybody doing the big BOM quilts here. Sue Garman is just amazing. I never realised it was possible to download the instructions for her quilts before it was too late.
I will look at my library's online catalogue to see if they have any of Eleanor Burns' books. Thanks for the tip!
So much to learn
Marianne

[Marianne G.]

I don't know, because I'm not a seasoned piecer, but I love your blocks. I'm getting behind...have gotten so busy with other things. I'll try to get caught up this coming week.

Thank you, Betty Jo.
IT is hard to keep up when it is a BOW not a BOM isn't it? Sometimes these things come along at just the right time which is what has happened to me so I have been able to keep up. Look forward to seeing what you come up with when you get the time.
Marianne

[Rita C.]

Marianne, you can watch all of Eleanor Burns shows on this link:

http://quiltinaday.com/theater/library.html

Lots and lots of useful stuff there. Enjoy.

[Marianne G.]

Marianne, you can watch all of Eleanor Burns shows on this link:

http://quiltinaday.com/theater/library.html

Lots and lots of useful stuff there. Enjoy.

Thank you, Rita! Oh my words - there's a lot and all for free :lol: I can see I will be caffeine-hyper before I get through this lot :P

Marianne

[Kathryn S.]

I watch Quilt in a Day on RFD network, which is on my list of satellite stations. I have my Tivo set to record them, and I just watch them whenever they come on, regardless if I've seen them before . I haven't tried watching them online on Eleanor's website, i should try that!

Kathy

[Marianne G.]

I watch Quilt in a Day on RFD network, which is on my list of satellite stations. I have my Tivo set to record them, and I just watch them whenever they come on, regardless if I've seen them before . I haven't tried watching them online on Eleanor's website, i should try that!

Kathy

Kathy, I'm in the UK and I don't subscribe to any TV so I don't even know what is available here. Online shows are so convinient I find. I am looking forward to exploring the link Rita sent. This classroom is so informative

Marianne

[Lois B.]

Just reporting in on progress. I'll spare you pictures! The construction is going great and I am up to date. I've printed the pdf's for tomorrows lesson. I've been playing with beautiful fabrics that have been languishing/wasting away on my shelves trying to learn something about color. That's where the problem is! Right now if I were to blog about what I see on my design wall this would be the title. " How to Take Drop Dead Gorgeous Fabric and Turn it into One Butt Ugly Quilt". :evil: :evil: Don't feel sorry for me! I am LOL for real. I will proceed. It can't get any worse! I am actually making two quilts and to be perfectly honest only one of them is "Butt Ugly". The second one is just a bit strange. :| :| More :lol: :lol: :lol: ! The important thing is I am learning something and the fabric is no longer wasting away.

[Marianne G.]

Lois, at least you have the pleasure of touching the fabric and for the time being look at it although in small pieces on your design wall.
I look forward to seeing what you have come up with.

Marianne

[Marianne G.]

How about trying to blend the butt ugly with the strange?

[Marianne G.]

Would love to see what you consider butt ugly.

Just got my stars finished, I was going to give them yellow centres, but then decided that that would be too much yellow for the quilt, so I went with the palest orange instead. I will possibly use the yellow in the log cabins though.

For now I really must get on and shorten the sleeves & trousers of DH's new work suit, which is needed for tomorrow :roll:

[Nancy R.]

Lois - I'd really like to see what you have, too. I'm sure it's nicer than you think. If, after making all of the blocks, you still don't like them, as a last shot you might want to take the blocks with you to a quilt shop and see if there is a nice border or sashing fabric that brings the blocks back under control for you. I'm the type that if I like the fabrics, then I'm always happy with the quilt and love to snuggle under it while enjoying each individual fabric, no matter how they play together. But if you are bothered by the combination you have, then it's also okay not to finish this quilt and pass the blocks on to someone else. Our time is limited and is not worth spending on something we aren't enjoying (although I'm really, really hoping that you will come to love these blocks and the finished quilt!).

I finished my star blocks yesterday but still need to put them into their frames. We had a power outage for a couple of hours yesterday, so that slowed down progress! The best plans.... So I'll try to get them finished tonight and get pictures for you.

Nancy

[wendy w.]

I've cut out my stars, this is where I wish I stayed with 6" squares :lol: Oh dear more blocks tomorrow.

Lois bet they'll be great. I often go through a spell during a quilt where I dislike it.