Iceblossom

Yesterday I did get started on those remaining 5 blocks. They indeed are going fast and easy with no double-parasol issues, but not quite done yet.

I've been pondering the fabric I want to use for sashing. The fabric has it's own design logic and sizing, is by Makower so is a metric designed fabric. I wanted to "semi-fussy" cut it, that is, using the lines of the fabric design to determine the piece size and not just a measurement. I've spent hours looking at this piece and counting the little dots, and learning the pattern design.

If I only had 12 dragon blocks I could do something really cool with the cutting and mitering the corners to make designs come out and add interest. With 16 blocks and the bite of fabric that is taken out, I just can't easily miter (piece too short even if the strips are thin) and especially can't cut on the design lines. I do have enough yardage to butt-join the corners, having two long and two shorter pieces makes up for the length being short.

So, I am repeating the mantra: The BEST use is ANY use. Instead of seeing the pattern potential I am just going to consider it multi-colored and slice and dice on measurements and not bother with fussy cutting. I will still get the effect I want, just not that added oomph. I will pretty much use every square inch of that metric yardage and still have a selvedge to send to Kalama!

Picture 1 shows the fabric along with some of my pins counting design repeats and count numbers. Picture 2 shows the bite taken out of the fabric, I got it that way from my thrift store buying (if I'm going to cut off a nibble, I cut a whole 6.5" strip and cut the nibble from it). With this project even those couple of inches would have mad a difference.

Lena1952

I’m with you, Iceblossom, I would not cut out a chunk but would cut across the entire piece. Sad, but I’m sure you will be able to figure out a way to make it work. And it will work beautifully too.

aashley333

Possibly complete the "nibble" all the way across and then use it to create a strip in center.

73+quilts

I was going thru an EXTRA box that I thought was left behind when I moved this last time and one thing in that box was about 5 yards of flannel. Of course in multiple sizes and shapes from other projects and then it hit me. I will be using flannel for the dolly quilt batting. I MIGHT even try one quilt with flannel for a sample to see if it will hold the heat during a cold weather night.

Another person said she uses the furry fabric for kids quilt as it washes well when in a quilt as the 'batting'. Anyone ever try that one???

Iceblossom

MaryKa, what a wonderful find after you had come up with the need from the loss of the felt.

Just flannel would be great for dolly blankets, probably drape/flow better than the felt even. A single thickness of flannel has long been used as a batting/layer for regular (summer) quilts. It gives something for the stitches to bite into.

I have used fleece for backing children's quilts. Usually you don't use batting with the fleece, but if the fleece is dark and the fabric is light you may need a layer of that flannel or whatever. It works pretty nicely for quilting down actually, but I have to change presser foot and stitch settings from my standard settings but not a biggy.

I am not so much a fan of working with flannel, I will, but I also have pets and it is amazing the amount of pet hair and dust working with a large piece of flannel will bring up in my house. Fortunately, it does wash off just fine and I prewash my projects before sending them out. If something is going to go wrong with them, I want it to be on my watch where I can fix it.

Iceblossom

Tuesday was a big day at my sewing group -- I grit my teeth and cut the Makower fabric. This is actually a big deal for many reasons, now I know how large to make my alternating scrap blocks. The sashing only goes around the dragon blocks, so the crazy blocks will need to be 13.5" (raw). Cut size 2", still had to cut the strips lengthwise to get best usage, but I didn't have to piece any.

There are simple area formulas you can use to determine if it is mathematically possible to make X number of cuts you need in the size of piece you have -- but first you do sort of need to use the sizes in that calculation and until you know that.. I did figure out once by hand that with ~2.5" (~ = approximately) widths to follow the fabric design and allowing 14" in my calculations to miter, even with piecing I would have been 2 units short! Will have enough left overs that I think I can do something with them to make extra top/bottom borders and end up with a rectangular quilt after all! Gives me something to think about anyway.

"If I could do over again" I would have treated the dragon panels differently, I am not used to dealing with panels and figured that of course all the frames around the dragons would be the same sizes. But they aren't, and in math and quilting the skews and sizes matter. I would have left the blocks at 9" and put on exact points if I was still trying to work out that sashing yardage. As it is, the 1/2" off the blocks didn't really save me any size (since I had to float some of the points), instead it took extra time and a fix.

I will keep what I have learned about working with panels for the Big Foot fabric and other quilts in the future.

So pictures tomorrow or maybe later today? Today I am finishing up putting the sashing/framing around the dragon blocks, half done and half with only 2 to go so maybe just 30 minutes of work before pix.

dunster

spam reported post #367

Iceblossom

Status: All dragon blocks are framed. New (doable) concept for adding on top/bottom borders while using up the last of the Makower fabric. All precut crazy blocks have been made -- many more to go but it really helps now that I know what size to make them! The next couple of sets of blocks I will be making small with less cuts.

For the borders, I have pieces that are not long enough to be a full square size long, they are long enough though to cut on the inside of the point. Picture 1 shows a layout (I just took various small crazy blocks and laid them on top of each other). Picture 2 shows what is left of the Makower! Ok, there will be a couple more weird trims after I square off the quilt edges.

The top edge of the border will be consistent parasol fabric. I will have enough of that to make the binding, and maybe a narrow strip down the long sides.

Snooze2978

I may break my fabric moratorium today as I'm heading down to Missouri Star Quilts with a neighbor. I'm hoping only to find a backing for a quilt top and a piece of skin colored or flesh colored fabric for a wall hanging but who knows, I might find something I think I can't live without. Wish me luck that I hold strong and not buy anymore than what I'm going down there for.

Gemm

Fingers crossed, Snooze - we believe in you! Enjoy the trip and remember that eye candy won't give you cavities! :-D