I have been tempted by Burgoyne Surrounded
 

I was reading the board the other day and it seemed that there was such an interest in B. S. I looked at two quilts posted by the ladies on here and loved the pattern. Now you all know I am in the middle of Shakespeare in the Park and have 44 little stars to go before I can put it together.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...k-t217260.html

But when I saw this quilt, I was sorely tempted and The good Lord knows how I love a challenge. I searched Block Base and found several versions of it. The WW Quilting Page also had an 18 inch block.

http://www.quilt.com/BlockOfTheMonth...alifornia.html

You can find several on the web. I liked the one where, instead of doing a long strip it was modified to little patches, so it looks like the patches are dancing around the middle block.
I took the pattern to bed and modified it to suit the version I liked.

I emptied my scrap bin on the floor (after making sure I blocked Teddy so he couldn't gather my scraps to lay on).
and selected just enough to make one block. I always make one block first for a sample while working the kinks out and I did make a couple of mistakes.

I decided to go with one inch patches, so the strips are cut at 1.5. I cut a bunch of patches. The pattern I had, had four patches for the center, I had to divide each one of those into four patches to make 16 patches and did the four patch.

The last pic is the center of the middle strip. The block has five sections. This is the middle section. I will show the steps.

Here you see all the parts that go into making one block. The block is easy to figure out. All the strips and patches are cut at 1.5 and once these are sewed up, then all you have to do is measure for the plain patches, just count the inches on the little blocks and add 1/2 inch.

The second pic shows the parts sewed together and the third pic shows the extra strip with a corner stone. The block is not complete yet. Now I have to sew alternating color patches and plain patches to surround the block itself of two sides.

I think I would like to try one with larger patches, such as cutting the strips at 2 ins. which would give you a 1.5 inch patch, don't know yet. I won't work on this anymore once I finish the block as I must finish my Shakespeare, but later on I will post a finished quilt of this. The blocks are large, at 18 inches, so it won't be too bad and I do love it.

Once I get the rest of the block done I will post another pic.

Looking very good. This just migh be my next scrappy quilt.

Oh very,very cute indeed. I like it a lot!!

After dealing with so many pointy stars, I can see why you would be drawn to the blocky BS. I love the batiks in it so far.:thumbup:

Jan in VA

You got that right Jan. This was a nice break, I won't be touching those stars for a couple days. I just have two more of the borders to do for this block and then I will post it.

Thank you for showing how this is put together. I'm a "visual learner" I guess you'd say. When it's broken down, I can understand a pattern better. I really like all the colors.

That one keeps calling me too - Maybe someday I will answer!

i love Burgoyne Surrounded. I bought the book because I grew up near Saratoga NY. You have inspired me by showing the step by step in putting the block together.

Will be an awesome quilt!

Thanks for posting this. I have tons of 2.5 " squares..........

Looking great!!!!

Yes indeed lol. I have it pinned there and I will definately finish a quilt with it. It is an 18 inch block so 16 blocks should do it more or less. I will also try a block with a 2 inch strip and see how that works out.

I finished the block the way it should look. It ended up being 20 inches square. Now that I know how to do it, I will make up some strata so it will go quicker. I had made this block by cutting 1.5 inch strips and then sub-cutting into 1.5 squares and sewing all those tiny sq together lol.

Ok, I dallied enough now, it's back to Shakespeare in the Park lol.

That's great! It is really a fun quilt as the pieces aren't difficult. I tended to use strips of 1.5" inches (I sewed a light/white to a darker so I was working with at least two together--it went pretty fast that way). For the 9 patches, I sewed strips of dark, white, dark and then white, dark, white together and then cut them into 1.5" segments.

But you can see that it isn't hard--and a pleasure to work with squares as opposed to triangles or points!

When I start this quilt again, I will post the stratas as I do them.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...................... It actually seems fairly simple when it is broken down into sections. BUT - how much fabric to buy? My daughter wants a pink "laying on the couch" quilt and I want to try this. Any clue??

You beat me to it... I have had a book/pattern for two years.. and the quilt posted ( by justflyingin) really motivated me to get going... but I promised myself to finish what I am working on before starting. You really gave me one more push!

Haven't a clue, as I used scraps. Depending on the size quilt, I suppose.

I love, love, love your block. Even my colors. I seem to have lots of little pieces of batiks left over. Maybe when I get the four I am currently working on done the next one will be mine....all mine and done with your block. I hope you don't mind me using your ideas. I will be definitely looking forward to seeing the completed quilt.

Roseyhf, You are amazing. This is so cool. Your work is awesome.
peace

very nice and great colos!!!!

Thank you ladies. There is a book out with this quilt but I just got the block out of Block Base and did the modifications. If you google the block, you can find lots of free patterns and adjust as needed. I will get back to this quilt, using scraps as soon as I finished the quilt I am working on.

Oh how fun! I also have this on my list to do. I want to make it in a two color quilt. This block is very easy and I am sure it won't take too long to make. But, you know the list has to be finished in the order I wrote it.... lol. The fabric and pattern is all there and waiting for me. I think my son who loves history will get a kick out of it.

You do know this was the piviotal battle that was called the Saratoga battle.

" Burgoyne surrendered on October 17, 1777. By the terms of the Convention of Saratoga, Burgoyne's depleted army, some 6,000 men, marched out of its camp "with the Honors of War" and stacked its weapons along the west bank of the Hudson River. Thus was gained one of the most decisive victories in American and world history."

It would make a great Quilt of Valor.

Oh what a great idea. The block could be included in a quilt of Valor of different blocks. I don't know very much American History but I do read up about it, as I did with this block.

that is coming out awesome, please post some more on your progress.

Great job and thank you for sharing
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

Rosyhf -- You are an amazing quilter. I've just started to quilt. Finishing up my fourth lap quilt. Mostly followed kits using specific fabrics. I don't think I'm very good yet at picking out colors to go together. Maybe that will come.

Are there there any books you could recommend that teach about color combinations. Someday, I'd like to do an amazing quilt with a unique pattern and very colorful. Haven't found one that I feel compelled or competent to do, without learning color combinations yet. Your quilts are beautiful.

Hi Stitch, Get a color wheel Stitch. On most wheels it will tell you color combinations. You have to study color a bit if you want to do color. Just type questions into google and you will get lots of help. I studied Folk Art which helps me in my quilting.

Also, books like Karen Stone and her Cinco de Mayo quilt. She will tell you to pick six color-ways and she will name them....when she says red, orange etc.....pick any print that looks orange or red to you no matter the other colors are present in the fabric, if a color stands out to you, that is the color.