Thursday, June 12, 2008

Sewing the blocks

















My Lover’s Knot is all sewn together …except for the dreaded borders, which always seems to stall me.

To keep my blocks in order once they were removed off my design wall, a plan was needed or I would surely go insane because they were so scrappy.

Working with a small section at a time, the blocks were pinned onto a sheet of rigid insulation (2’ x 4’). Each time, a photo was taken of the groupings and then when the blocks were sewn into groups of 4 they were pinned back onto the design wall and each time, I had to look at my photo to make sure they were placed back in the correct spot.

I forgot to do this with one grouping and had a heck of a time trying to figure out their layout.

Later, the blocks of 4 were sewn into rows …… and sew on. :o)

Have a great day!

14 comments:

Donna said...

I often hear of people arranging scrappy quilts this way, but have never done it....

Do you also choose which fabrics go where in your scrappy quilt blocks?

I "take my chances" and set the blocks together in the same way I made them -- whatever comes to hand (which ever block) gets sewn on next... It makes for a wonderful surprise at the end.

loulee said...

LOL I don't have room to leave things spread out and have to come up with ways of recording pleasing layouts too. Lots and lots of photos helps.

Cathi said...

That's a great method for setting that together. I can't wait to see it finished -- it looks fabulous!

Last time I was trying to come up with a setting for a scrappy quilt I laid all the blocks out on the bed, arranged them till I was satisfied and then took pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. Then I picked up each row, fastened them together with a note as to which row and then went to the sewing machine. It's tedious but when you don't have room for a design wall, it works.

Anonymous said...

It's looking beautiful!

Teresa said...

Ah, but it is a beautiful quilt and worth the extra effort!

Joyce said...

I think the digital camera has become the quilter's best friend. I always see mistakes on the camera that I don't notice in real life.

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Great idea....I would have to lay out as well, cannot do pick up radom and then sew, wish I could, your blocks look so good Rose Marie....

atet said...

Those lover's knot blocks are wonderful and I can't wait to see what you are doing with your little applique piece :0).

Darlene said...

I love, love this quilt. It's the essence of scrappy! I can't wait to see it finished.

*karendianne. said...

Good way of working with the block layout! I like it. ;)

I really love this block by the way. You've done great work with it.

May Kristin said...

I love this quilt!
It's beautiful!

Kim said...

I do this way of keeping track of my quilt piecing too. Takes a lot of stress out of scrap quilt making. I think scrap quilts are the most challenging of quilts to make and yours is a large quilt to keep in order. My design board and digital camera are top of the list of my favorite quilting tools!

Unknown said...

I would love to see the top!

Birdydownunder said...

fabulous. the camera is my best friend too. So many slips twixt designboard and sewing machine lol.