The main quilting project for the week has been finishing up my Charm Basket blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. We are working with our purple scraps this month, and I managed to make 28 purple basket blocks.
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I'm still having fun picking fabrics for these blocks, although I always seem to have more choices than I can use. One challenge that keeps coming up is dealing with a directional or striped fabric for the background. Sometimes the block turns out with the background pattern all running the same way, like the top row in the next photo. In other blocks, my background pattern ends up running both horizontally and vertically. It figures that the block with the boldest background design, the black-on-white print in the bottom right block, is one that runs both ways. Whichever way they turn out, they stay. It doesn't bother me enough to remake them.
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There have been a few questions about the handles on the basket blocks in previous months. They are made from bias strips cut 3/4" wide. I use a 3/8" bias tape maker to fold under the edges. The pattern suggested using a bias tape maker that can also apply a narrow strip of fusible web, but I found it difficult to get them to curve nicely with the fusible on the back. Starching the background rectangle helps keep it from getting too misshapen and distorted during the stitching. I pin the curved handle onto the background, then topstitch close to both folded edges. It is not a quick process, but I'm very happy with the results.
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Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts, the designer of the Charm Baskets pattern, had a Quilting Window Live episode yesterday all about her basket quilts. She includes a demonstration of how she makes the bias handles for her basket patterns. Check it out HERE.
Be sure to check out all of the wonderful scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge every Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday.
Happy quilting everyone!
Julie in GA
Your baskets are so sweet. You must have a bazillion of them by now. It’s lovely that you have such varied purples!
ReplyDeleteAll these purples in pretty baskets are awesome!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I do find these baskets positively charming! What size are the blocks? And do you did you use a pattern? Really, they are just delightful!
ReplyDeleteThe blocks finish at 4" square.
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love all of your little purple basket blocks! Basket quilts are a favorite of mine as well as the color purple, and as these finish at 4" the are awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, I love Edyta Sitar's books! Your purple baskets are perfectly charming, no matter which way the background print goes!
ReplyDeleteYum! You have some amazing purples in your stash. Thanks for sharing your lovely baskets with Oh Scrap!
ReplyDeletePretty Baskets! Hugs
ReplyDelete