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Monday, June 4, 2012

Design Wall Monday 6/4/12

The past week has been fairly productive for quilting.  After finishing the Storm at Sea quilt top before Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to switch over to something smaller.  I finished up these four pineapple blocks for my red, white & blue scrap quilt.



I love the look of pineapple blocks and the many variations that are possible.  They sure are time consuming though.  These blocks have 49 pieces in each block!  Here is a photo of them along with the other red, white & blue blocks.  Don't the pineapple blocks look great next to those stars?



My other current quilting project has been enlarging the back for the Storm at Sea quilt.  The wide quilt fabric I have is about a foot too short.  I am making a row of stars similar to the border design in the quilt top and that row will run all the way across the back of the quilt.  Many of the parts in these stars were leftovers from making the quilt top.  This photo shows half of the row of stars to go across.  Now I just have to figure out a workable way to press and square up the big piece of backing fabric.  This is when I really wish I had one of those big boards for ironing.



Check out all the amazing design walls at Patchwork Times

Julie

17 comments:

  1. The pineapple blocks do Nestlé nicely into those star points. It is going to be a great looking quilt.

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  2. Wow, what a beautiful quilt this is going to be....again. You do such beautiful work. And I love your idea for enlarging your backing. When you figure out how to get a "big board" for ironing, without the big cost, email me, I want one, too.

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    1. Yeah, that big cost is a problem. I would also need to rearrange some things in my sewing room to make space for a bigger ironing surface.

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    2. To make a very inexpensive "Big Board" type ironing board, visit your local Home Depot or lumber yard and look to see if they have any damaged 3/4" plywood. I bought a sheet for $4 because the corner was crushed, had them cut it into 2 pieces that measured 2' by 8', and left them the damaged half to sell to someone else. I cut my length to 78" and painted both sides of mine with leftover paint from my sewing room to minimize any possible warping from steam from the iron. At this point if you are going to use it as a topper for a regular board, you measure your ironing board and screw two 1" by 2" pieces of lumber @ 4' long in place on the bottom of your big board to help hold it steady on your ironing board. I did not do this because I use mine on top of two wire shelving units which are perfectly stable and provide great support. To pad the top I used three layers of thin cotton batying, and a coupon from a chain store to buy the reflective ironing fabric at half off. Make sure you have @ 3" extra on all sides and fold to the bottom and attach with a staple gun. Mine cost a total of $15 - can't beat it! If space is an issue attach a wire loop to the back and hang it from a closet door when you aren't using it. Hope this helps!

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    3. Thanks so much for the suggestions. I had thought about getting plywood for the top, but didn't realize I could get a damaged piece so cheap! I think I will look around for some kind of cart to use as a base. My ironing board sits in front of a window, and I would like to be able to move it in order to open the window.

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  3. Yes indeed those pineapple blocks look fantastic next to the stars. Just love it.

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  4. The pineapple blocks are great - I can't believe you are following the Storm at Sea with such complex blocks. I would need a nap instead.

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  5. I love pineapple blocks and yours look so nice with the stars. You are off to a great start.

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  6. Love the classic pineapple......this quilt will be a real beauty.

    Happy Sewing

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  7. Love all the movement in your quilt. Very nice.

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  8. I like how the pineapple blox fill in between the other blocks so well. I would never have thought of pineapples to do that!

    glen

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    1. That was a very happy accident! I never thought of using the pineapple blocks as alternate blocks before, but you can bet I will keep them in mind in the future.

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  9. If you live near a quilt shop, they will often let you use their classroom tables (when it is not in use) to square up your backing or even baste a quilt. I find it is easier to square up large backing with the help of a friend. Extra hands make the job easier.

    Your RWB blocks are awesome. You have a great design eye!

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  10. Love the pineapples with all the other scrappy blocks. You've done an excellent job!

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  11. I love those pineapple blocks mixed in with your others, wonderful. I am afraid of pieced backs, I fear ripples when on the long arm. I think your stars are wonderful for enlarging your back.

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  12. Nice how the pineapple blocks go with the others. But, realy 40+ pieces? Yikes. I'd have to be really motivated to do a lot of them!

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  13. Lots of pieces but so very beautiful! Will be a fabulous quilt.

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