Monday, August 9, 2021

Priming the Pump

It was nice to be home for the whole weekend.  After being on the road the last couple of weekends, mount laundry had reached significant heights, knocking that down was the first priority.  The main task waiting for me in the sewing room was to finish prepping Morewood for quilting.  Not my favorite thing to do. With the shoulder and back issues, I had to take it slow, just clean up one row at a time, then take a break.   With Morewood completely covering my cutting/pressing table, I couldn't really do much else in the sewing room.  So I did some virtual work during my "breaks".  

Scrappy Butterflies is the next UFO on the list. Back in July I posted this layout.  

 Scrappy Butterflies
Block is available in EQ 8 Block Library


I mostly like it, but it doesn't look complete because not all the butterfly blocks are completely framed by the Irish Chain.  So I played around a bit more and came up with this version. 


This version spreads out the butterflies and finishes off he chain by adding a half block as the first border.  As much as I love the border with the repeating Irish Chain blocks, adding it to this version would make it way too big.  I was aiming for a nice sized couch quilt, not a queen sized quilt. 

While I was playing in EQ8, I pulled up the file on another UFO on this year's quilt plan, Chocolate Marshmallows.  

Chocolate Marshmallows
pattern by Amanda Bergamin of Sea Breeze Quilts

These blocks are from a quilt along with Sea Breeze Quilts back in 2014.  It's another UFO that's not finished because I couldn't decide on a setting.  Like Scrappy Butterflies there are about 20 different layouts in EQ8, none of which I'm happy with. So I played around with a few more layouts. 



This is my current favorite.  The simple sashing floats the blocks in the center. Of all the sashing options, I like this one the best.  The dark brown borders work for me, the only problem is if I remember correctly, I don't have much of the dark brown left.  But if memory serves, there is plenty of the darker pink. 



I'm just not a fan of the all that plain pink in the border. Maybe what this quilt needs is a scrappy border?  Maybe a key board?  Any suggestions?   

Linking up with Monday Making and Design Wall Monday.  

11 comments:

Julie in GA said...

I agree that the butterfly quilt would look better with the chain completed, and I like your new plan for that. The Chocolate Marshmallows blocks are great, and I really like your first border plan better than the second with the dark pink. If you have info on that dark brown fabric, you might be able to track some down somewhere (although I know it's a long shot.)

Sara said...

Both UFO projects are going to be beautiful. It's so interesting how the pink border makes the quilt look totally different than the brown one. Both would be lovely. I have a crib sized quilt in those colors. It got used a lot when the grandkids were littler and used the crib and the toddler beds.

Barbara said...

They’re both beautiful, and nice layouts. I understand what you’re saying about your first butterfly layout. Personally, the missing frame doesn’t bother me. I think it looks great in both, but it’s your quilt. You should do what pleases you.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Your eye is so great for both of these quilts - I like being able to see all the options!! The Pink - could you make a scrappy border with pinks and browns - to make the brown g o farther? I really like that color combo!!

Bonnie said...

Two great UFOs looking for finishing time. I didn't notice the incomplete Irish Chain. But the solution looks pretty simple to me. I actually like the dark brown best for the Chocolate Marshmallow quilt. Dare I whisper -- you might be able to find a brown that goes with your colors in a quilt store....

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

I think that the update for the butterflies looks great. For the Sea Breeze Quilts quilt along, I'd probably start with some kind of cornerstones at the four corners and then maybe a mid-length repeat for the top and bottom and 2 repeats down the sides to break up all the dark pink.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Reimagining quilt layouts is all part of the process, isn't it? SEW glad to had some time to spend on your quilting project, Kate!

Danice G said...

All pretty UFOs/ A key board border would look great on the Chocolate Marshmallows quilt.

Sharon Kwilter said...

There are so many triangles in the blocks of the Sea Breeze Quilts, I think the outer border would do well with some triangular fabric shapes. But if that's too much work, I think the outer pink border looks fine too.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Adore the butterflies.

seabreezequilts said...

I like the dark border version of chocolate marshmallow but I think a pieced border would work as well Must get round to quilting mine maybe in the next 12 months then I can enter it into our Royal Show next year (this year's has been cancelled again) but I missed the cut of date for entries and didn't have anything finished to enter anyway. I think I need to spend the next 12 months just finishing some of the many quilts tops that are waiting.