The assignment to have blocks and then quarter double circle blocks. Completing the actual quilt as the teacher has designed it results in a 45" x 54" quilt made up of 30 blocks. There is one background fabric and, get this 35 other fabrics! It's all too much I think to have to buy or even organize for a quilt that I'm not really in love with to begin with. I didn't want to cut 8.5" squares out of 20 different fabrics when I already had some squares, nor did I want to cut 2.5" strips out of 15 different fabrics when I already had some cut in 2" strips.
So I'm making it smaller, and using fabric I had precut as part of the preparation for a Gwen Marston workshop a few years back.
After putting the potential fabrics on my design wall, I started making the X blocks.
Most of my precut strips in these colors were just 2 inches, the pattern asked for 2.5 inch strips. I was determined to use the fabric I had so I decided to make just a 3 x 3 quilt for the assignment.
Putting the strips in the X block made the blocks over an inch larger, so I decided to use some solid fabric and to cut new squares out of that so the X blocks would not have to be trimmed.
The teacher wanted us to press so the X would have the seams facing in. She said that would make them pop more in the quilt.
Added 10-20-16: My husband gave me the name of the quilt: Picasso Tic Tac Toe. I think it's a perfect name for this combination of blocks and much better than naming it Variation of ....
Some of the blocks are pressed toward the X, some are not. Four of the blocks are made with 2 inch strips and a center square, only the upper right one with the black background is made exactly as the teacher instructed. I'm not sure the pressing really makes any difference, will see after it's quilted.
The thinner quarter O block was made using the pattern from the Block Lotto. The thicker quarter O is made exactly with the teacher's templates.
The teacher had wanted the fabrics in the X blocks to show much more contrast than the fabrics I had already cut into strips and squares. Another reason to make it smaller and get it done.
I've now had to miss three of the weekly classes so I'm a little behind. She wants us to baste and bind the project, then to do the FMQing. If I can get that done before Thursday then I'm back on her timeline.
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After missing two of my weekly Friday walks, I did walk last Friday with my friend. We went in the Zoo and looked at animals and people as we walked.
San Diego Zoo
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| Beautiful tigers |
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| There were several types of birds and ducks with rich deep brown, grey, black and white. |
We cut our walking time short this time as my husband needed the car to take his students to Chicano Park for a photography run.
Restaurant: http://saludsd.com/
The students had an assignment, I just took random photos as I walked around.
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| My husband with the students (from Taiwan and Denmark). |
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| Neighborhood Grocery Store across the street |
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| Notices Posted on Grocery Door |
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| Afterwards we took them to Salud's for taco dinner. Very good, nice place. We will return. |
When we were looking at the art, we certainly knew we were under off and on ramps, but we could NOT hear or see cars so after a while it was just an art gallery to us where we were looking at the different ways themes were depicted.
I've been there before, but hadn't taken time to really walk around and enjoy the area. I'm glad I was able to do this again the day we did. The day after was the DUI accident where people enjoying the park were killed. Horrible.
Oh my goodness, I thought that park sounded familiar! Hard to believe such a terrible accident happened the next day. It looks so peaceful in your photos of the artwork.
ReplyDeleteI think I respond to classes the same way you do: "Nah, that uses too much fabric. I'll do it THIS way instead!" or "Hm, the teacher wants us to do it this way, but I'm going to try the other way just to see." It's a good way to learn, in my opinion. Listen to the instructions but think for yourself!
The X and O pattern with the quarter circle blocks is quite interesting and I like it very much.
Good for me to hear someone else thinks about some classes the way I seem to. Thank you! The other students in the class whisper and say things too, but seems they are better about in the end doing the project.
DeleteI switched the blocks around again to make it even more different than what the teacher had prescribed!
I am kind of with you on all that fabric - I'd rather use somehting I already have to make sure I am going to like it -
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by Alycia! Someone is the class is making her project with RWB, all set to donate as a Quilts of Valor quilt. Looks very nice so far.
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