Growing a quilt

The first thing I did today was sew the star together.  The points don't all match in the center, but it did lie flat, which was my goal.  I decided to add a 1/4" containment border at this point.

Then I added some of Sally's strips for another border.   I wasn't sure what I wanted to do next, so I cut a bunch of 2.5" squares.

I was thinking about maybe doing a bunch of half square triangles, but decided I needed something that wasn't triangular.  I started making rows of squares, then put it on the wall to see what that would look like.

I thought it looked too busy, and I wanted a place for my eye to rest, so I added another red border. 

I made another set of squares for the other side, but tried them out on the bottom to see what it would look like with these all around the center.

I think I am going to like this.

This is where I stopped today.  Tomorrow, I will finish the top and bottom squares.   Then I will have more decisions to make.  At this point, it is 32" wide.  I would like to grow it to a lap quilt size.  I have toyed with the idea of a sawtooth border.  Unfortunately, I am running very low on fabrics for this quilt.  I only have a little of one of the yellows left.  I may be able to find another red that will work.  The blue is going to be a challenge.  I will check deeper into my stash and see what I come up with.

Until tomorrow, joyful quilting everyone.

What if I tried a different color palette

This year, I decided to work on four different aspects of my quilting.  I wrote about them here.  One of the really important ones to me was number four, color.  I really want to try and break out of my old standard palette, so today, I did just that.

I went to a quilt group meeting on Wednesday, and Sally showed the most beautiful quilt she had recently finished in these colors.  She generously shared a roll of strips she had cut from the borders so I could play in a new palette.  It was instant love.

I started pulling fabrics from my stash, and was very surprised to find so many that worked.  I was very excited to get to the studio this morning to play.

Before I started, I found a few more pieces of fabric I thought would work, and they do.  I am not sure how this quilt will grow, but I know I want to start with Victoria's Triangles Galore star, so I set about cutting all my triangles.  Then I laid them out on the table.

Before I even started sewing, I had to put some of Sally's strips around the edge to see how it was going to work.  It all goes so well together.  I only got a little of the piecing started before I had to leave for the afternoon, but I plan on working longer in the studio tomorrow to see where this will take me.

I have created quilts in several different palettes, but most of the ones that differ from my fall back palette of teal, orange, olive, turquoise, and purple, have been for other people who wanted different colors.  This one is an intentional moving into new colors and opening up new possibilities.  I am not sure why this is important to me right now, but it is, so I am going to go with it. 

Until tomorrow, joyful quilting everyone.

Finished top - Mexican Stars

I have been hunkered down doing the hand work on this quilt top for the past couple of days.  I finished it last night and put it up on the design wall to admire.  When I decided to do the curves by hand instead of machine, I didn't realize how long it was going to take, but it was worth it.  Now I have to decide how to quilt it.

Detail of center area.

I chose to do this in the earthy palette I like so well.  It would be interesting to do this again in brights just to see the difference.  Working with this pattern has convinced me to try more patterns if I find them as interesting as this one. 

I have a question for you all.  I would love to know what you look for in a quilting blog that makes you want to visit again.  Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your thoughts.

Joyful quilting, everyone.