Scrap Quilt #5, Pineapple with Floating Borders

I redid the corners.  While all ended correctly, I DID have to futz and fiddle those squares on point, unsewing numerous seams and scanting them up on top and bottom.  Finally, I am near the "bottom of the barrel" from the original box of scraps, and I had to purchase the green border squares on point fabric.

                           

This is an example of a floating border (if you have never floundered through calculations) .  I.e., you have the quilt center DONE and you have the pieced BORDERs done and now have to figure that inner white border which frequently ends up a different width on top/bottom, different from width on sides.  I followed instructions from Gyleen Fitzgerald, and the FIRST things she says is "put your brain on the shelf and just do what the instructions say".  That is easier said than done!  after I second guessed, third guessed , ..... 12 guessed, and finally rechecked my own WRONG figures,  yes, if I had just followed her instructions, I would have saved a lot of anxiety.  Yes, get pencil/paper, measuring tape and calculator and do what she says!  This is the second floating border I've done using her technique, and it does work.

It needs another plain border, then binding, then DONE.  Notice there are 2 different blocks.

The Dreaded Inner Border Calculations

Here is another of the 6 projects from the gift box of scraps.  It looks a lot like another Pineapple Quilt I already have - probably because the fabrics came from the same LQS, just via different avenues.  Border is next - I had to use my own stash for the green border squares, and have run out but have another close match.   Hey, it IS a scrap quilt.  

I taught a class once about blocks on point and diagonal measurements and the 1.414 multiplication factor, and a couple of the gals asked "why do we need to know that"?  These squares on point is why you need to know that.  I kept the size of the border square same size and value of the block center.  A neighbor's husband was looking at quilt of mine that had a clever border and I heard him say to his wife, "Look what she did!" and ever since then, his kind comment has encouraged me to try a little harder on borders.    

Now I am facing forgetfulness for calculating the size of inner border when one has the center quilt top done and the outer border done, and how does one figure size of inner border(s) between them.   Ya can't jes go chopping off those squares on point, ya know!  The best instruction for me was from Gyleen X. Fitzgerald - but I don't remember them - must dig around my DVDs and relearn it.  She says, "Take out your brain and put it on the shelf, then follow these instructions, and don't think about it."   8-))) 

You can kinda see what the corner SHOULD look like.  The existing white border needs widening or removal. 

"Slim Pickin's", aka "Daybreak"

This is quilt # 4, from the second Box of Scraps given to me some months ago.  I have 2 other quilts  started, not shown yet, so the box is getting picked over, and by now, I'm having to add bits from my own stash.  The inspiration was Bonnie Hunter, from her latest book, and she calls hers "Daybreak".  Since my fabric choices from that box are now limited, I named mine "Slim Pickin's".   I used scraps in my border where Ms. Hunter used strings.  Both ideas served the same purpose.  This has been the most fun I've had in years - don't know why, perhaps because I'm feeling very "connected" to those frugal ladies of years ago. 

Most of the 4 patches are laid out same direction - a few didn't play the game.  8-))   They are 1 inch square, and the cornerstones are less.   I added fabric for the green/tan sashing and the last 2 cream borders.

   

"Slim Pickin's" - from that box of scraps

These blocks were started about 2 months ago, and are from Bonnie Hunter's latest book, she calls hers "Daybreak".  They went fast, and yes, I pulled much of the fabric from that never-ending gift box of scraps I keep mentioning.  This is 1 project of 6 from that gift box.  (3 others in process)  

Yesterday I spent hours struggling with "the perfect" border, rummaging thru books, Youtube and my brain, all to no avail.  In the end, best solution was, "Keep it simple Stupid"!  The supply of scraps was nearly totally picked over so that's why I named this quilt "Slim Pickin's".  Off to the LQS to match some of the border fabrics!    These border squares are 1 inch finished and I strip pieced them with 4 strips at a time, sometimes piecing the strips to get the needed lengths.  Important - press to the dark on each strata and they go together fast.  

The blocks are set 6 x 7 , and are 9 in. finished.  Here it's folded up on itself - too large for my Design Floor!

"Scraps Rule"

(I MQ on a DSM).  This is the 3rd, finished project from the gifted, never ending box of scraps.  Projects 4, 5, and 6, are in process!!!  

DONE - I used my "stuck-in-the-house" time well (2 blizzards), finishing up this quilt, called "Scraps Rule".  I used rulers on the lights and free-motion quilting on the dark.  Opinion on ruler work ... ??? this is new to me, and it did slow my progress considerably, altho I got faster.  I bought one thick ruler just for this project, but used a traditional 2.5 x 6 in. ruler for the most part.  The MQ foot that I use glides, does not hop, so my traditional quilting ruler (thin) worked well.  I actually broke my expensive MQ ruler somehow, didn't break the needle, just the ruler!  ARGH !  I glued it back together and still wonder how it happened.  The machine quilting foot apparatus somehow came into contact with that thick ruler and WHAM BAM!!! so I'm guessing I put the thick ruler in the wrong place at the wrong time.  

The large triangles are 60 degrees, and the smaller triangles are made with the Tri-Recs ruler.  The quilt measures approx. 70" x 80".

The finished product is visually pleasing, altho my ruler work leaves much to be desired - no quilt show winner here, yet I consider it's completion an accomplishment, considering the lengthy practicing, rethreading, unsewing, sighs of frustration.  I also learned my machine does NOT like to sew in a backward direction when machine quilting.

Here's the back, again making use of stash fabric.  It's "almost" perfectly square. 

This was inspired by Quiltville.com, a free pattern, altho I always end up going in my own direction, once I get "the bug".  Thank you Bonnie Hunter for her fabulous, never-ending ideas. 

Tip on making a backing like this.  I used MSWord to make a graph with the required visual dimensions, then print it out, color in what squares I have to verify I have enuf of each value.  It's worthwhile to consider half squares around the borders. Of course you can just lay them out where they fall but I wanted a defined pattern.  Alternating lights and darks would also be cool, or a kind of Trip Around the World or .... and remember you can piece those backing squares as well, or use leftover blocks or ...

Takes 2, Learning Techniques, I just noticed ...

I've been tempted to make each of these "Disappearing Pinwheel" quilts for some time but making ONE quilt with many of the options is better.  Easy, Peasy, right!  These started from Jenny Doan, of Missouri Star Quilt Co., that many of us watch on Youtube.  She makes it look so fast and simple.  

Oops!

Got too ambitious!  ... When trying to remake the 2 miscut units, I was overwhelmed with "hey, what are the measurements"?  Well, that's the beauty but also the beast of this method!  Little time is spent measuring.  These start as a package of 10 in. squares, plus 10 in squares of yardage. 

One block later, I was still mentally stalled with unknown measurements, inaccurate cutting,  and adjusting to this new-to-me method.  So this is what I did to get closer to accuracy.
1.  I used more starch than normal.
2.  I restuck the blue tape on the back of my ruler, with much more accuracy.
3.  I affixed sandpaper bits on the back of my ruler.
4.  I changed to a larger mat that I could turn around on the table instead of ME turning around the table.
5.  I adjusted to Quick and Fast method instead of perfect points and exact measurements.  Hey, Elaine, it's not a Baltimore Album quilt - it's a fast quilt!

These blocks make up fast, I did 3 in about 20 minutes.  Here's all the blocks I'm making.  Some are nearly duplicates.  Large prints don't look great.  I don't know what's next as far as sashing or border - I need to get back to another almost finished quilting/ruler project.

Another subject:  I just noticed I'd already shown this Pineapple Quilt with the top part all traditional pineapple blocks and then how interesting it looked when I added the 2 alternate blocks. 

It's waiting for border in that stack of quilts that's accumulating across the living room.