Well, I got nine of Block Three for my Deco Quilt completed in the green/indigo colors before I had to take all of the blocks off my design wall and pack this work-in-progress up in a moving box last night. Here's one last glimpse of the design wall:
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| Deco Quilt In Progress, 9 of Block Three Finished |
The only reason I'm sneaking time for a quick blog post when I still have so much packing to do is so I can refer back to this once our move is completed and the dust settles -- I really want to finish my Deco quilt this year and I don't want to waste a lot of time looking for the fabric pieces I cut out, misplaced pattern instructions, and otherwise reinventing the wheel. I packed everything I need for this Deco quilt as well as everything I need for my next NewFO Star Upon Stars (fabrics, templates & pattern) into one box labeled "Current WIPs" or something like that. Fingers crossed that I didn't miss anything!
Okay, here's the real reason for today's blog post, a quick photographic reminder to myself of how I decided to press my seams for Block Three because I'm very pleased with how nicely it turned out:
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| My Personal Pressing Plan for Deco Block Three |
You may recall that I'm not following the pattern instructions for this block. The Deco Quilt Pattern from Lo & Behold instructs you to press all of the seams open, and I don't do that because I want crisp, sharp points and corners and perfectly matched seam intersections and that is much easier to accomplish when your seam allowances are pressed in opposite directions so they nest and lock together when joining rows of patchwork. So I've pressed my seams towards the Indigo fabric in each of the strips. However, to reduce bulk and ensure my blocks lay nice and flat, I did press the seams between rows open as shown above. The Indigo strips that frame the patchwork have their seams pressed to the outside.
Another point I should mention is that I did not employ strip piecing techniques per the pattern instructions for these blocks. Instead, I cut out little squares and rectangles and pieced each strip of each block individually. Honestly, I don't 100% remember why I decided to do it this way. I think it was because I wanted to make Block Three A and Block Three B in two different colors, whereas the pattern instructions call for all of these blocks to be the same. It was easier for me to calculate how much dark green and light purple I'd need for these blocks with old-fashioned slow poke cutting and piecing than it was for me to figure out how many of the different strips and strip sets I'd need to make in each colorway if I was following the directions.
I'd show you a picture of the front of the block but I forgot to take one, and now it's packed away! I have made 9 of these green/indigo Block Three and will need to make 27 more of them. Then I'll need to make 18 Block Three in the purple/indigo color combination.
Wanna see a scary picture of chaos and destruction in my (former!) quilting studio?
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| This Used to Be My Playground... |
That's what my studio looked like this morning. My husband is in the process of completely disassembling my Bernina Q24 long arm quilting machine so the machine head can be safely packed for transport in the original shipping carton. All my quilting thread and rulers for rotary cutting are off the walls but I still need to pack up my acrylic quilting ruler templates that you see on the wall behind my long arm frame. My vintage Singer Featherweight machine, all of my AccuQuilt GO! dies and my Bernina 475QE machine are already in Florida, but today I'm packing up my Bernina 790 Plus, my 700E embroidery machine and the embroidery module into their protective luggage bags. I have the original shipping cartons for my Baby Lock serger and cover stitch machines but I need to figure out how to get the thread stands off those machines in order to fit them back into the styrofoam packing inserts.
My house in Florida is only about half the size of my house in North Carolina and my sewing room is going to be a LOT smaller than this one so I'm going to have to get really creative with how I set up and use the space that's available. Wish me luck!
Oh and by the way -- if you have subscribed to receive my blog posts automatically in your email and you're wondering why this one didn't show up that way, no worries -- I paused my email delivery service so I don't have to pay for it while I'm more preoccupied with moving than with writing blog posts. I'm switching back to MailChimp and I don't have time to get that all set up and tested right now.
Also, quick reminder for my long arm quilting clients that I am not able to accept any customer quilts until further notice -- see photo above of my dismembered long arm machine!! Please do not ship any quilt tops to my address in North Carolina. I will let you know when my studio in Naples, Florida is set up and give you my new address.
Happy quilting, everyone! I'm linking up today's post with my favorite linky parties:
MONDAY
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
TUESDAY
To-Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt
WEDNESDAY
Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
THURSDAY
Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
FRIDAY
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
Off the Wall Friday at Nina Marie Sayre
Beauty Pageant at From Bolt to Beauty
TGIFF Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday, rotates, schedule found here: TGIF Friday
SUNDAY
Frédérique at Quilting Patchwork Appliqué
Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework
11 comments:
Good luck with the move. I’m on the move too, but have to sell a lot of my furniture. I really like the art deco block and I am toying with the idea of making this quilt myself some day.
Moving is so much fun. NOT. However, once in your new abode discovery of your new surroundings will be a joy. I look forward to seeing your new set up. Going from a large studio space to a smaller space isn't easy. I'll be curious to see how you adapt. Great idea to take photos of how you plan on pressing your blocks and the art deco layout. Should prove very helpful once you are all set up.
somehow I didn't see this post until just now, so I guess you are running back and forth between NC and Florida for now moving things and getting reset up. So you are renting temporarily or found a house half the size of what you now have and moving in? Moving is such a hassle I would not want to do it and all I have to say is label every box you have so you can find things!! Update us all when you can.
Best wishes on downsizing and moving! Your photo scares me, because I'm imagining trying to downsize my own sewing space. Yikes!
You are so right to take photos to show how you made your blocks! What a clever idea! By the way, these pieced blocks are beautiful, neat and perfect. I'm sure you will find all the pieces you need when you get settled. Good luck with the packing, moving and new installation. I hope you find the right place for everything, and that everything fits well in your new space!
Thank you for sharing ;)
I'm with you, Rebecca--nest seams when possible, press open when bulky/necessary!!! Love that quilt you're making! Best wishes for your move!!!
Your Art Deco quilt is turning out amazing. I hope you find all the pieces and manage to finish it after your move.
I wish you nothing but happiness in your new home. Moving into a smaller space is going to be a challenge for sure, but I'm sure you'll manage it beautifully as you manage everything else. Good idea to record your progress on Deco before the move. That will help you get back up and running quickly! Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss.
https://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2024/01/31/wednesday-wait-loss-365
It's very smart to document your progress so you have a reminder when you get settled and are ready to start Deco again. Good luck finalizing all the details and I hope that your move is as smooth a transition as possible!
Deco quilt is a stunner. Sorry it has to get packed away for awhile.
Your sewing room is going to be so sad with the new owners utilizing it differently. Hang in there over the next few months of reorganization and starting a new chapter in your life.
I was so glad to catch this on a Midweek Maker's - I recognized the quilt and clicked. Good luck on your move - been thinking about you and how you were going to do it all - assembling and disassembling - so much work. Wishing you good luck, happy memories of where you were, and memories to be made in a new place.
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