quiltmouse

Macybaby, I went back to specifically look at your blocks again. I adore your focus fabric. I seriously love paisley. your supporting color choices are outstanding. If you have time to answer a quick question, how much of the focus fabric do you expect to use? Reason for asking. Years ago, I ended up with two FQ of a black background joyful bright stylized floral. I love them so much I've never ventured to use them as I didn't just want to lose them in a scrappy quilt, but a half y didn't seem like enough to do anything with. Looking at your blocks, 15" has shown me something is possible. I launder fabric so 17.5 divided by 5 is 3.5. Theoretically, I can get 60 sq, or somewhat fewer if I also use HST, possibly even some 5" bits, and with judicious addition of supporting solids and blenders, it could really be a joyful experience. I also have a bolt of Moda black, so background is available. 5" and 3" supports the 15" block. 20 blocks Queen or 12 blocks twin seem possible.

JeanieG

Macybaby - Love your use of black for the neutral. I have never done that, will have to give it a try!!! Your print really ties it all together too!

Macybaby

Quiltmouse, I think I only had one FQ, but it may have only been two - and yardage of that fabric. It came in a FQ bundle that was all solids plus the paisley. Loved it so much that I bought yardage for a "some day" project. I used up the FQ and ended up cutting into the yardage. I'd probably not needed to except I'm using the focus fabric as the border of two of the blocks for each of the two blocks that are made up from four 6" blocks. So that was enough fabric to cut 1.5" strips for eight at 6.5" and eight at 8" . That works out to three WOF. BTW - I cut using my Easy angle and Companion angle, and that uses less fabric than covered corners. Oh, and I also prewash my fabric so that is with shrinkage.

All of the fabric I used except one or two colors (and the black) was from single FQs. And I used almost all of it up, and did switch around a few colors after I ran out of a few.

Dedemac

Sorry I haven’t been posting here for a while due to the fact my brain has been oatmeal, dealing with my four brothers after the loss of our 93 year old mother February 26th. One of my brothers was with her at the passing, we were expecting something soon and she went peacefully. I’m doing okay but have bad days, and good days.

I have been following the thread and enjoying the pictures, all the different styles are wonderful. Thank you for the help with the square in a square block. I was able to get some sewing in on a good day. I found enough of one fabric to get to effect I was looking for. Block 5 Contentment came out the way I wanted it to, but block 6 Enthusiasm I think I could have used better fabric choices.

JeanieG

Dedemac - So sorry to hear of your loss! I have all gone through this too. I loss my mom suddenly when she was only 78!

Your blocks are great! I love the fabrics you have chosen, also the cute center blocks!

Dedemac

@JeanieG Thank you, mom fell and broke both arms back in early January but she was getting better. Then the heart just gave up. I have been trying for a little whimsy in this BOM

quiltmouse

Dedemac, both arms, wow, that's horrible. Sounds miserable. I am so very sorry for your loss. It will be a long while before you feel close to normal. I hope you find peace and comfort soon.

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I saw your whimsical block centers. So cute.

Cathy (Macybaby), you inspired me to take a serious look at those two FQ. I unfolded them, and discovered at some point, I had taken a big chunk out of one, perhaps 10x10. I decided I could make a twin quilt with 12 blocks. I made a list of what I'd need for focus fabric in 10 Optimism blocks. I thought it looked doable. So, I cut the focus fabric into those sets of bits for the 10 blocks. Had some left, looked at blocks, thought, ok 2x2, need 4, I have that much left. Stopped cutting when I realized I need 8 of them, did not have that much. Block 2 has four 5-1/2" HST. I got 3 cut, but the FQ were so crooked, that the 4th piece was eensy bit too short. Miscounted how many 3-1/2" sq I needed, was a couple short. Still had bits of 3-1/2 strips cut, but waited, judiciously. Got all the 10 bits cut, still needed the big HST, two 3-1/2" sq. had a longish plus 1" strip, decided I'd piece the 5-1/2 HST. cut one 3-1/2 sq, and bits to sew one from 2 pieces. Scraps left, focus fabric cut for 10 blocks. Studied the remaining blocks, There, that one. It has a one block center. set aside pieces to piece another 3-1/2" sq. Focus fabric for 11 blocks.

12th block? Easy it will either be the 8pt stars or the friendship stars, all out of the supporting fabric.

Wonder what was so important that I cut a 10" sq of my beloved fabric for it?

I SHOULD have picked my supporting fabrics before I cut all the bits, didn't. So, I'm laying cut bits on fabrics. I have
Orange
Orange Blender
Hot pink polka dots
Magenta
Aqua
Lime Green
Dark Green
Yellow
The focus fabric is bright flowers on black, but the black has a pattern. I picked 3-4 patterned black FQ to go with.
I also found several supporting fabrics for neutrals. I'm going to try to use black as my neutral. I laid the 5-1/2 HST on black. Yours looks great against black, the print is smaller, and closer together. But I think black cannot be the neutral to go with this fabric, it has a bigger pattern, and lots of black background in the fabric. Once I cut the bright solids & blenders, I'll try laying out all the bits to a block on black fabric, and see how it looks.

quiltmouse

Hey, friends, am I talking too much? Please nudge me if I am. I don't want to shut the threads down.

I cut & finished 2 blocks of the new focus fabric 12 block twin. one was the 8 point stars, with no focus fabric. The other was block #3, with the 4 sq n sq corners. Something is wrong with it. I need to take the 9 blocks apart and do some tweaking. the 5 focus fabric blocks are fine, maybe I made the four corner sq n sq too big?

Dedemac

Quiltmouse your fine, but pictures would be nice to see what you are doing.

Macybaby

I've been working outside the last few days so not much sewing going on. Quiltmouse, I'd also love to see what you are working on.