Sara at Farm and Folk started a Sampler sew along (#folksamplersewalong on Instagram)
My drawers that house leftover scraps from garment sewing was stuffed to overflowing.
I’m not normally a huge fan of sampler quilts, but I guess these two events transpired to make me start sewing along. I think the fact that most of my dress scraps are solid linens is why it seemed like a good fit. I thought I’d restrain myself in my color palette to mostly neutrals, blues, and a bit of green. I decided that each new block must have mostly colors from previous blocks and I could only introduce one new color in any block.
Bottom right corner block is my favorite so far. I’ve been thinking about this block for awhile now, ever after seeing a quilt made with a shape similar to this (can’t find the photo now sadly). I definitely would like to explore whole quilt made with this block.
And here we are, still quite liking the combo of blocks but I have no idea how I’ll put them together in a way that I like. I’ve doubled up and made two of the some of the ones I like best.
Hmmm…. I added some caramel color. Still liking them all together (sort of) but already wondering if it’s getting plenty busy looking for my taste.
I’ll be honest that when this block was posted I said no way. I didn’t like the shape and of course I knew I could skip making any blocks didn’t like. But then I decided the quilt needed more soft and light blocks anyways so I made it in these low volume colors and I really like it!
Always love the bear paw block shape. I realize that I always love blocks with half square triangles. Nothing so revolutionary there, because they’re one of the most common shapes.
Another great classic block! the Lemoyne Star. I made two of the Bear Paw and two of these just because I really like them.
Lest you think I don’t make poor fabric choices, here’s an example. I was trying to make these low volume, softer blocks to give the eye a place to rest, but this is just a little too restful! Up close it looks ok, but in the quilt, there is no discernible difference in value between the two fabrics so you can’t pick out the shape at all! Too bad because I also do like this block. So I made another one with more contrasting fabrics.
And so by now I have 20 blocks! Part of me says to put a narrow sashing between them and make one quilt. Another part of me says they need to be divided between lighter and darker blocks. Either way I’ll keep making blocks till the quilt along is finished and maybe I’ll have patience to see what some other people do with their blocks.
I tried a simple mockup with dividing the blocks into two quilts, one with the bolder blocks and one with the softer ones.
Obviously I need to make a few more blocks to make each one 3×4 blocks, and then with sashing and a wider border, they’d both be nice throw sizes. I don’t know, just can’t decide if I like them all together or not! Either way it’s been fun to make the blocks. Sara’s preferred methods of constructing blocks is just exactly like mine so that makes it appealing.
I am always inspired by your work and your thoughts. And it intrigues me because most of your quilts have brown in them and yet they’re happy! I default to hot pink but I’m going to start using more brown because I can see how useful it is. Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing it with the world!
What a lovely start to your quilt! If you are going to hand quilt it, maybe you could do a bit more hand quilting with the details highlighted in the one block that fades away a bit? Maybe with a variegated thread in muted colors (but still in keeping with your colors in the quilts)? You could do the same with several other blocks too as you see fit – but then it will make that one block stand out a bit better. It’s a lovely block! I was thinking a simple sashing & cornerstones, with decorative hand quilting on the sashings might be just the ticket for your quilt top. I suspect you’ll come up with something much better than my ideas. I learn so much from following what direction you take your quilts, which is why I LOVE following your blog so much! Can’t wait to see what you do with this quilt! Best wishes from Deb E in California.
love these blocks in this sampler. Your fabrics are interesting and enjoy hearing how you put the quilts together.
the texture of the linen looks so nice i just want to reach out and touch these blocks!
I was given a copy of your book and love it! My personal opinion would be to alternate light and dark blocks with no sashing. I like the scrappy look of all the blocks together.
I have the same feeling about sampler quilts. But it is fun to give different blocks a try, isn’t it? I actually particpitaed in the Splendid Sampler of 2016-2017 and ended up making 100 different blocks! Although it’s a busy quilt, the limited colour palet makes it restful enough for me. And it’s a favorite for the children. It’s almost always on our bed, and they loved exploring all the different images. For this quilt, I might consider dark blue sashing (the dark blue in your Lemoine star block), and make sure none of my blocks have that dark blue as background. And maybe use cornerstones? I’m undecide wether I would go for black or stripey (blue/white) corner stones… In any case, I’m loving this quilt so far. I like the linnen feel, the softness of mostly solids and the whimsy of the little sailing boats. I’m looking forward to seeing your progres, and you’ve inspired me to work a bit more on my own quilts (I have a lone star that needs just a bit more machine quilting, I have the label and the binding ready to go!)
I like your divided mockups!
P.S. I’ve laid out my anthologie quilt, picked fabric for the dresdens and vine and started sewing… Pulling it all out got me inspired again!! 🙂
Can’t wait to see what comes next. Personally, I like your bocks all together, they capture that intersection of traditional and modern sewing quite nicely.
I love reading and seeing your quilt “reasoning” …..and so helpful when others give their insight! I think that’s what quilting is all about…..thinking and doing…..😁
looks like you may have to just make 2 quilts😄 both styles are pretty,the darker background makes them pop,the lighter is soothing to the eye yet so does the darker lol