The first time I shared this project was
almost two years ago in November 2017.
The plan was for 374 die cut 3" finished
HSTs laid out 17 wide x 22 long
using 48 fabrics - 24 yellows and 24 grays.
The fabrics had been pulled back in June 2017
but it took another few months to settle on a design.
As things progressed, the layout changed to 16 x 20
for a top that would measure 48" x 60"
And then, things changed in a big way.
I decided to abandon the single orientation
approach and instead used the HSTs
to piece Depression blocks.
It happened because I just couldn't face
pinning and stitching 320 individual HSTs together.
(I hadn't learned Wanda's webbing system
from her Colorwash 360 class yet -
I'm so glad I took the class and learned her method)
This post from January 2018
shows the results of that decision.
And then the quilt top . . .
and the scrappy back hung in the closet.
I knew I wasn't in love with the revised layout
but I kept hoping I'd fall back in love with it.
It didn't happen.
In January 2019 I shared this post
and began unstitching the entire quilt top.
One HST at a time, I felt better and better about my decision.
In April 2019 I shared those unstitched HST blocks
on the design wall as they were originally intended.
The blocks were clipped together
and prepped for webbing the top together.
But then they again sat in the project box waiting.
Until a week or so ago when I sewed them all together.
After pressing the new quilt top,
I happily pinned it to the design wall.
Oh, NO -- there's ONE HST turned the wrong way!
Being a liberated quilter,
I would normally chuckle and move on.
But in this case, that one errant block
was all anyone who saw the photo could see.
So I did a bit of surgical unstitching
to remove that block and turn it around the right way.
And here is the result.
At long last, Partly Sunny is a flimsy worth finishing.
The best part is that this scrappy back
is already pieced and
the flanged binding is already made.
One day in the not too distant future
Partly Sunny WILL be quilted and finished.
Quiltdivajulie
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“I believe that curiosity, wonder, and passion are defining qualities of imaginative minds and great teachers; that restlessness and discontent are vital things; that intense experience and suffering instruct us in ways that less intense emotions can never do.”
Kay Redfield Jamison
18 comments:
After all that, I'm surprised the make didn't change to Partly Cloudy (With a Chance of Ripping!!) Looking forward to seeing it done and if it needs a place to live... I'll send you my address, Julie. :P
Some saga for this quilt. Looks terrific and love the story.
Big smiles over here as I read your blog post this morning! The take away? Go with your first instinct. Both patterns were good, but I do like the simplicity of the pattern you chose.
I love the name. And I have always been partial to yellow, which some people are unexplainably afraid of.
So worth the effort for the result you truly love. It looks terrific!
I'm curious...Did you start with the idea of hst in yellow and grey, or did you start with the idea of "partly sunny"? I love the second layout, but it would need a new name. Partly sunny much better describes the way it is now. I also like the idea of misplaced squares, but you would need a few random ones for it to look purposeful.
I'm one who would leave in the one "awkward" square the way it was. And like another commenter, maybe add 2 more! For good measure of course!
I actually like both of the layouts....go figure. I can really relate to going through a love/hate relationship with your quilt, though. I often have to let them sit for a bit while I work out my feelings. Who knew quilting could be so difficult? :)
I wasn’t going to tell you how much more I liked the original layout. I’m glad we agree. What is that saying, “ Never enough time to do it right. Always enough time to do it over.” I’ve been there so many times.
Wanda’s webbing may be similar to the way I sew my traditional blocks together, too. It’s on my tutorial list. I haven’t tried it with a whole quilt top. How do you keep from catching the open areas on the table edge? Other than with care...
Oh.....I just love it and sometimes a quilt will do that to us. Glad to see you getting her all done up
Interesting evolution. Striking piece either way. I am glad that you changed that one errant triangle. Beautiful work. The shades of gray and yellow are very appealing. Great stash.
Like I said in January, the original version sparkled and shimmered in the most glorious way. I'm glad I mentioned it then, glad you fixed that errant block, and reiterate what I told you back in January -- if this quilt isn't destined for your own use, I'll give you money for it to come live at my house. Hugs to the best of friends!
hugs,
your pesky quilty pal from NH
Lynne
When I finish the two quilts that need to be quilted, I am going to begin to make HST. I want to play with layout because I suspect there are many to choose from and I have some of my own ideas too. We'll see. Meanwhile, I like the layout you chose.
xx, Carol
Love that you decided to go with your original setting, and I would have had to take to the offending HST and unstitch!
It took time, but you got there, and I love the result! I'd probably take out the pesky one too . . . unless you had others like it and were going for that overall charmingly 'wonky' effect, like in the 'bertha' quilt!
Ah the pain of unstitching, but oh so worthwhile when the design is just wrong!! Looks so good now!
"But in this case, that one errant block was all anyone who saw the photo could see." And I believe that every picture needs a focal point :-) I would have left it there. The change takes nothing away from the finished and gorgeous top. Now that the backing is pieced and lovely (love the pops of green) and the binding is rolled and ready to go how long before it gets quilted, Julie. Nah, I am not in any rush :-)
After Lynne showed the finished quilt in her post I had too come back to see the story.......I would have made 300++ more HSTs rather than disassembling an entire quilt top because I didn't like the layout! (But, as a fan of the myriad ways that HSTs can be put together, I like your ultimate solution.)
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