BLOG 238

BLOG 238 Sunday March 8th 2015

 

It is amazing where the time goes isn’t it? One minute you are waking up on a Monday morning and arranging to go to a morning viewing of ‘The Second Best Marigold Hotel’ with a chum and the next minute it’s weekend again. We often arrange to do things on a Monday morning just because we can and because it reminds us that we are happily retired! The film incidentally was very good, age-appropriate and heart-warming which is hardly surprising with the calibre of the actors involved. I do object though to the volume that is set for these largely pensioner-attended showings; it’s loud enough to make your ears bleed! And casting my eyes around the heads of the scant audience, there is another meaning to fifty shades of grey.

Between times, I have been getting on with things that ought to be got on with! The calendar quilt desperately needs to be behind me now but there is a long way to go yet. All the floral centres have been ‘thread painted’ and 9 blocks are now waiting to have their elaborate corner decorations designed, that’s what takes the time and holds me up. I did manage to do the sheer applique onto the June block this week. The thread painted nasturtiums won’t be sewn on until the 3 layers are together.

 

                                                            June block

 

Here it is in situ alongside the ready quilted September block. I love the way the colours seep from one block into another.

                       June and September

The March block has also been started. The first thing I have to do is to extend the thread flowers using sheers to give a ghosting effect. The corner decoration is almost designed.

                                            March block

 And then it was back to the disappearing 4-patch blocks which have been lying about. As a reminder, this is how it is constructed. Four 6 ½” blocks (2 lights and 2 darks) are joined to make a 4-patch. Using a ruler and rotary cutter, cut a line across the block, 1” away from the centre seam in all 4 directions.

                                             Cut around the centre seam

 Rotate the centre 4-patch square 90 degrees.

                                             Rotate the centre square

 Swop the squares on the right side.

                                             Right side swop

Swop the squares on the left side.

                                                  Left side swop

And here is the conveyor belt of blocks beside the sewing machine, ready to be sewn.

                                               Blocks for sewing

 Here is the quilt as far as I want to take it. I was curious about the mechanics of construction and after I had had a go, I realised that I didn’t want to make a full sized quilt. This 4 by 4 block sample is made from batiks and it measures 46” x 46”. It can be bordered and used for a lap quilt or a play mat or more blocks can be added to increase the size. If any of my signed-in followers wants to buy this quilt top as it stands for £25:00 plus postage, email me dilys.fronks@btinternet.com

 

                                                             4 by 4 blocks