Thursday, January 3, 2019

Off to a Bumbling Start

Though I've entered into 2019 with quiltmaking optimism, I've already bumbled my first quilt finish... this little 15" X 15" piece to enter Curated Quilts challenge.
"Arcature," 15" X 15"

If you paid attention to my last blog post, I said I was going to try to design more quilts for myself, and this one may seem like I did but look. 

And now you'll say, "Ah-ha! That design is someone else's!" You're right. This Cascade Quilt design belongs to Victoria Findley-Wolfe and is from her book "Modern Quilt Magic." I bought the book and ruler template last year, and will follow-through by making the quilt using only stashed fabrics. 
Curve Braid Strip ruler
For the Curated Quilts challenge, I reduced the size of the Curved Braid Strip ruler template to 60 percent to come up with this design. The reason I think I bumbled is this... 

I looked at each vertical stack as a unit, rather than looking at the whole design. My husband calls it "silo" organization. I'm sharing a picture of what I think would have made it better, as I placed some leftover shapes on top of the finished quilt. 

The three separate silos start to blend a little better. 

Of course, I didn't come to this realization until the day after finishing it! I've disappointed myself, but I learned something. And I would much rather make this mistake on a little quilt than on the big Cascade Quilt which will be 85" X 92".

Still, I used this mini challenge quilt to continue working with rulers. This Fine Line ruler, by Accents in Design, is what I used. I'm still having to make sure those vertical posts don't hit my machine's dual feed, though they did a few times as I was going along.

For anyone learning ruler work, what you'll quickly come to understand it that you need to be able to eyeball a quarter-inch... which I think quilters know how to do very well! The sewing machine ruler foot has been designed a quarter-inch from the needle on all sides. So when you're aiming your quilting to a particular spot - where I have inserted the straight pin - you need to position the ruler a quarter-inch from the quilting. 

I changed thread colors several times, and am pleased with the simple repetitive arc design that I spaced 1-1/2" apart.

After seeing 109 other pretty fantastic little quilts entered into the mini quilt challenge, on the Curated Quilts website - notably quite a few improv quilts - I have no doubt that others' quilts will be selected for the next issue. For me, it's not problem because I learned something, and that's always good.

For now I'll keep cutting stash to prep the needed 513 right and left shapes for the Cascade Quilt. Another scrappy project at it's best! Linda

9 comments:

  1. Phew! When I saw your heading, I thought maybe you’d had a fall! Your mini is lovely and I admire your reflection and positivity!

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  2. I guess I'd look at it this way, if you can cram all the "misadventures" into the first quilt of the year, everything else will be a piece of cake! I love your creative attitude, I'd have no idea where to even begin on something like this!

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  3. I am loving the cheerful color combinations. I have no doubt you will master this quilt and quilting.

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  4. I love your blog . . . have learned so much from you . . . and really admire your creativity and stick to it attitude. I also bought the VW book and wanted to make the Cascade quilt. Have not yet started but was going to try to make a small pillow first - - like her "parlor tricks." I will watch your can do it approach!

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  5. Yes, better to bumble on a mini I but I like your fun silos. I'm glad you continued on and finished it.

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  6. Hi Laura! I can't reply to you because you're a "no-reply commenter" but I wanted you to know that I'm saying thank you for your lovely comment! It's remarks like yours that keep me blogging. Knowing that someone is reading what I'm sharing, and benefitting in some small way, makes me SO happy! Thank you! I'd love to hear more about your making encounters with Victoria's book. Yep, that pillow is great, isn't it? Would love to see how it goes for you! Linda

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  7. HI Linda. I love that you can laugh at your own mistake and acknowledge that that's how we learn. You can read all the tips in a book, but until you try it for yourself, you really don't know what to watch out for. As you say, thankfully it was only a mini quilt, and you have learnt a lesson. I've done similar things in the past too. Thank you for linking up to the Peacock Party.

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  8. The little quilt was the perfect size to test out the pattern and learn from your experience. I think the big quilt will be awesome in scraps. I am fascinated by ruler work, but haven’t tried it.

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  9. When I read the title of this blog, I had an image that one of your body parts was
    medically immobilized due to a tumble and a bumble.

    Jeez, I wish I bumbled like you. hahaha
    Happy New Year Linda. I love your mini so far. Yes, we do learn.
    I am happy that you did, and persevered.
    Ooooh I could squeeze you
    Have a fun rest of January-- yes, this year is going to fly. I feel it.
    That is a good challenge for me.

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