It's the last week of June, which puts us close to the mid-point of the year. This has been such a crazy, frustrating and frightening year in many ways, but I'm going to avoid all that for now and concentrate on quilting.
It seemed like a good time to figure out where I stand with the Orange Peel blocks that I have been making for a year and a half as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. These started out as a hand-stitching project for my train ride to work, but of course I haven't been riding the train for several months now. I haven't yet settled into a regular routine for hand sewing time at home, but I do pull them out occasionally and make a few more.
It's so helpful to see them all up on the wall together. I was able to figure out how many more to make of a few colors, although I still need to work out the corners. I could also see a couple blocks that just don't work, like this one with the chili pepper fabric. The background fabric just looks too light with the other blocks. I've already cut the pieces to remake that block with a darker background.
The same background fabric is also a problem in the bottom left block below. It doesn't look as pale as the previous shot because the lighting wasn't very good around the outer edges. I know that the background will look much lighter than the others, plus it is too close to the same value as the purple peel, and they just blend together. I've also recut this block.
With any luck, I will be able to finish making the rest of the blocks I need for this quilt and get them all joined together by the end of the year.
I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I'm also linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts. I hope you are all staying well and getting lots of quilting done!
Julie in GA
Such a fun quilt! I have so enjoyed watching your progress with the peels.
ReplyDeletethat is a great pattern for the RSC and is looking really good
ReplyDeleteI love the look of your rainbow of orange peels! It's always interesting to see what happens when you start laying them out all together. They're going to make a beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful--it looks like stained glass and just glows!! Waving from my recliner ;)))
ReplyDeleteJulierose
Orange peels are such a lovely pattern, it's going to be a very beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous quilt this is going to be!! I've got a set Orange Peel templates in graduated sizes. Your project makes me long to play with these blocks.
ReplyDeleteI love your Orange Peels and the way you have them laid out. I do most of my handwork after dinner and before bed while watching whatever hubby watches on TV. If I don't do some kind of handwork I fall asleep during that time.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be stunning!
ReplyDeleteThe blocks look wonderful, and I especially like how you have arranged the colours, great job!
ReplyDeleteIt is going to be a beautiful quilt! I applaud your handwork! Your on the last leg of your journey!
ReplyDeleteLove the layout for your peels! I totally get why those few blocks will be redone. Thank goodness for design walls so we can see the entire project and be able to pinpoint what is working and what will not work. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteAnother gorgeous rainbow quilt in the making! You are close to having all the blocks you need to finish it off.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful quilt this is going to be...I can't wait to see the progress on it. I agree with changing blocks up if they don't please you...most times I just let things be, but other times I just can't live with it, lol
ReplyDeleteYour layout is just perfect. I'm so in love with these Peel blocks. Beautiful progress. Enjoy! ;^)
ReplyDeleteThese colors are so pretty! They really pop with your dark background. The finished quilt will be amazing!
ReplyDeleteGreat blocks, love them on the dark background!
ReplyDeleteI love how this is coming together. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about lifestyle upheavals impacting your hand stitching routines! I used to do needle turn applique in front of the TV at night, but now that we have a rambunctious, curious puppy climbing up on the couch I'm afraid of slobber on my project, or of errant pins/needles ending up in the puppy's mouth. The one silver lining has been that hand stitching works great in front of my home office computer, where my bee that used to meet in person once a month has changed to a weekly ZOOM stitching bee instead. So I'm getting about 2 leaves stitched down per week... EVENTUALLY, SURELY SOMEDAY I'll finish this project! As for your orange peels, I actually like the few lighter background blocks and that one block with less value contrast. I feel like, if you leave them in and scatter them strategically so they're balanced, they can add some interest and depth as the lighter areas appear to come forward and darker ones move back. But maybe that's just my inner laziness speaking out. I'm much more apt to try to find a way to make it work than to do it over again!
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is looking great. I can see why the big picture helped you decide to make a couple of changes. Now you know what is needed also. I hope you make progress to finish this soon.
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