Monday, July 30, 2012

DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO!

This is my Scrappy Stars (gotta think of a better name!) , a class I took from Bonnie Kucera in May.   I decided to do that chunky border and I'm pleased with it.  I started sewing all those chunks together, and hadn't decided on an inner border yet.  Then my brain stopped working and I thought, "Hey, self, why not just sew an inner border to the chunky border in one long piece, saving yourself from doing the inner border 4 separate times, and then the outer border 4 separate times."  This is a classic example of my too-frequently-occurring lack of thinking, because you get something like what you see in the lower left of the photo, 4 separate times!  This is my "can't see the forest for the trees"  - there is something about getting all gung-ho, forging ahead without thinking, and loosing common sense.  GRRrrrrrr.  And I KNOW BETTER!!!!!!   So, I'm working on fixing each corner (as in upper left), unsewing and resewing more carefully, with brain in gear.  
  
Here is a larger photo of a scrappy spool quilt I made some time ago and only posted small parts.  It's hand quilted, nothing special, but I'm really liking the diagonally set border.  Early next year I'll be presenting this class/workshop to Guild members. I want them to be able to NOT be  hesitant to try this kind of border.  The spools are easy, set diagonally and finish at 6 inches.  I've posted a short tutorial on spools March 9, 2008. (can't get the link to work!) 

16 comments:

  1. Several times, while trying to figure out a quick and easy way to get those pesky borders on I have contemplated doing this very thing. Fortunately, I have caught myself with the "don't, because..." in time. I'm waiting for the day I forget why not.......

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  2. Yep, I have done it, too!

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  3. Yep... I think we have all gone down this road once or twice. lol. You sure made a pretty quilt, Elaine. Love it and the chunky border.

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  4. It is a very pretty star quilt. I solve that corner problem when attaching multiple borders at one time by using some kind of corner block that is the same dimension as the width of your multiple borders. You sew the combined borders down the sides, attach the corner blocks to ends of the top and bottom borders, and sew them on the ends. You can make the corner blocks so they replicate the look of the borders and appear to be a part of it, or you can put a design from the quilt in the corners--like smaller versions of the stars for this quilt. I don't know if that makes any sense the way I described it.

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  5. If those corners are bothering you they've got to be fixed. The quilt top is looking so good it will be worth it :)

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  6. The star quilt is so pretty and colorful! The spool quilt is lovely too. I tried the link to the tutorial, but it didn't work. I would like to make a spool quilt some day.

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  7. Gorgeous Scrappy quilt!! Don't beat yourself up...we've all done this...or at least thought of doing it!!
    I tried the spool link but it's not working...??
    thanks for sharing!

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  8. I like those scrappy stars, by any name! I'm working on putting a diagonal border on my granny square quilt today, but I'm not settled on how the corners will be...I hope to not get discouraged and this become a UFO....
    :-}pokey

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  9. You are not all wrong as that would have worked for mitered borders....we have all done things like that. Love the spool quilt!

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  10. You have outdone yourself again, Elaine! You continue to inspire and delight me. :) The Stars quilt and border are totally awesome---but that Spools quilt, well, now if you need my snail mail addy, PULEEEZE let me know. ;) I absolutely drool over that one. Hope all is well in your world. I think of you often. Hugs.

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  11. Great quilts! The wonky border is kind of fun, but I know you are a perfectionist!

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  12. I have changed over to a new ISP, and between establishing a new home e-mail address and needing another for BLOG purposes, and importing from my original e-mail addresses, things are getting complicated! If I don't respond to your comment, please understand. Yikes - I thought I had a good handle on all this - NOT!

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  13. I believe I'm up and working, and have accidently figured how to change the mail associated with this blog. For whatever reason, it will not allow me to have a gmail account AND an address for comments at gmail. Who knows. But you don't have to worry - just comment as usual - it should work, and this essage should show up a Yahoo address. 8-)))

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  14. Elaine, I love the stars quilt! You are right to fix the little border issue now while it is do-able because it would have always bothered you. I do the same thing with knitting also; take it out and make it right!

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  15. When you first mentioned about your light bulb moment .... I thought you were on to something good and thought you were brilliant ... until you showed us the error. Thanks for the warning.

    BTW ... love the chunky border and your stars!

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