Saturday, June 28, 2014

Reconstruction


Now that Edward's quilt is finished, I've been thinking about this project, which I started at the same time in November 2010. The last time I pulled it out I had taken apart all these squares and I planned to wash them, re-cut and re-assemble them. This week I decided to skip the washing and go straight to the re-cutting.

All the red HSTs went from 4 1/2" to 3 1/2":


And all the yellow HSTs went from 2 1/2" to 2":


Is this a good idea that I would recommend to others? NO! This is pure stubbornness on my part. I have been using the June Tailor half and quarter square triangle ruler, which is very accurate, but still awkward and tiring to use. I started with a plan to make four blocks in a single batch, and I ended up just managing the one, because I simply couldn't cut any more HSTs.

The block is now 12 1/2" unfinished. It's not perfect, but it'll do. I have redesigned this quilt at least a dozen times, and I am ready to see the back of it. As it stands now, I will only need eight of these large blocks. Hopefully I can manage that!

I am worried, though, that I may have to buy more of the purple and black background fabrics. Those corner squares weren't in the original design! It's Kaufman Kona, so at least more will be easy to find.

7 comments:

  1. I sure like your star block!! But un-stitching and re-cutting! Oh my!! But it was worth it!!

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  2. Hmmm...! I've been following your blog for a while now, but this quilt is a new one on me. And to re-think and re-cut 4 years later! Incredible fortitude, and the result is a beautiful star block. You rock Monica!

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    1. Thank you! It was only posted the one time before, when I decided to take the old blocks apart. The quilt actually pre-dates the blog!

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  3. you certainly persevered until you have this quilt coming together the way you want it. I too have an easy angle for cutting half square triangles but would much rather use the square method backing 2 squares tgether

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  4. I love the way you come back to things - clearly you mull it all over in your sleep, or on long drives, over years. Measuring and cutting are not my skills, but I can see the attraction in re shaping. Good luck with this one. I'm really interested to see how it transforms.

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    1. Thanks, Jillian. More often when I'm *not* sleeping!

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  5. Its a hard one this one but the new block looks like it is worth the effort. Maybe set yourself a goal to remake one block a week for the next 8 weeks and it will be done in no time. I can understand wanting to pull them apart but cant remember the original project either.

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I'm told Blogger has been bouncing some comments, so if it happens to you I'm sorry! But the settings look right so I can't explain it. In any case, thanks for reading!

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