Batik Pineapple Log Cabin quilt top sewn.............

One of the 3 quilt tops is sewn together.  I usually cut my setting triangles oversized so the center design floats.  It is 45" x 58.5".  I thought it was going to be narrower than 45" so I could use just one width for backing.  Now I'll have to get creative.  I have several long narrow pieces of batiks cut away from other backings so I'll look there first.  This one won't get quilted this month because I have 6 planned ahead of it. 

Multi-tasking again..............

I cut the setting triangles from both orange Shaggy and red Cactus flower.  I need to cut a few more but I needed to see some on the design wall to decide which fabric to cut the rest from.  It is so much prettier in person.  Be sure to click on the photo to see the setting triangle fabrics closer.

On to the batik pineapple log cabin quilt top: I sewed the setting triangles onto the rows and added a strip on 2 of the corners to compensate for the size of the corner triangles.  The spots run in rows so they are running in a different direction than the rest of the fabric.  I could cut some on the bias so they would match but I kind of like the change of direction.  I have 2 more strips to add before I can sew rows together.

This is a close up of the setting triangle fabric.  It is a muddy dusty blue with cream spots.

And because that wasn't enough to think about I put the first 20 strips of the throw size Kaffe Trip Around the World up on the design wall.  Either top left or bottom right corner could be the center.

I thought my multi-tasking skills were gone but I was thinking about all 3 quilts all day and making decisions on each.  I can't say I work as fast as I used to but I can still multi-task.
 

The other setting triangles...........

While I was in the basement pressing the setting triangle fabric for the 16 patch quilt I glanced over at my design wall which has had these pineapple blocks on it for a couple months.  I had been trying several neutral light prints for the setting triangles and then I saw this batik fabric and thought it might be fun.  The color is off in this photo since it is a dusty blue with beige spots.  I only had a yard of it and I cut all of the side triangles I needed.  This did not leave me a large enough piece to cut the corner triangles (look at the top corners).  I do have enough to add a straight strip to the corner blocks before I add the smaller triangles which were end cuts from cutting the big triangles. I think this fabric gives it a little whimsical vibe.

The wax coated Amaryllis has just one flower left plus that last bud to bloom.  On the other Amaryllis one bud stalk is quite tall and the other stalk hasn't grown much. 

A finished quilt top................

This is the cool color Kaffe collective quilt top that I started piecing in December last year.  All I had left to do was the inserted strip on both sides.  It is 60.5" x 80".

Now I'm trying to decide on the backing.  The Martha Negley large floral piece is long enough for part of the back.  Both other pieces are only 2 yards each and I need 84".  I need a piece 27.5" wide so I would have leftover that I could piece to fill in the needed 12".  Indecision........

I was trying to find a Brandon Mably fabric yesterday (part of the Kaffe collective) and the shelves were such a mess.  I decided to sort it by color rather than pattern.  The pile on the left on the second shelf up is the Liberty fabric that Kaffe did the colorations for a few years ago.  All of the rest on the bottom 2 shelves is Brandon fabric.  I was surprised how much red there is.  I found some fabrics I definitely want to work with.

 

Rows sewn one way.............

I sewed the rows one direction but I can't sew the rows together until I add the setting triangles to the ends of the rows.

I opened up both of the setting triangle choices and slipped them in behind the corners of the blocks on the right.

This is the first diagonal row in the top left corner.  If you enlarge the photo you will see the safely pin in the top left corner and the straight pins holding the blocks together.  By pinning the rows together I can take down 2 rows to run alternately through the sewing machine.

The blocks are overlapped and then pinned with a straight pin.

The safety pin in the corner reminds me that it is the left end of the row.

I start sewing the blocks together from the right end so the pinned row can lay flat on my sewing cabinet and the sewn end gets folded over to sew each block on to the row.  That way no pins come loose.

Here is a close up of the 2 choices for setting triangles.
 

2 candidates..................

I tried 2 fabrics for the setting triangles.  The top one is orange Shaggy and the bottom one is red Cactus Flower.  I'm wondering if I can use both of them.

It's really hard to tell how they will work with just one of each folded into triangles.  I just couldn't get motivated to cut them so I worked on something else.

I sliced one of the stratas for the Kaffe throw size Trip Around the World quilt.

I started unpicking one seam on each to make the sequence for 1/4 of the quilt.  There are 9 more to unpick after I took this photo.  Now I can go to a design wall and decide which fabric will be at the center.

Today my oldest great-grandson is 7 years old.  Time sure flies.
 

Maybe the final layout?...........

I changed blocks to different positions a few times yesterday and I think I might have the final layout.  I will know when I cut the setting triangle fabric and place it around the perimeter.  

 I had a deadline to bake a double batch of Kringlas yesterday and that took up most of the morning.  They will be delivered to my granddaughter's house a couple states away today.

Yesterday's Christmas card came from Spain.  A friend went over there last year in January to spend 3 months with family and then the pandemic hit so she is still there.  I miss her but she is safe and enjoying her extended visit over there.