Borders and blocks.............
I sewed a border onto this little quilt top yesterday. I took the photo on a gray design wall. I'll photograph it on a white wall when it is quilted. I last worked on this one in November 2013. Now it is around 44" x 50" so when it is done it will go in the baby quilt stack. I made several quilts with this block here and here and here.
I spent some Christmas gift money on a new die. I have always wanted to make this block but with all of the different size triangles I never got around to it. Some triangles have the grain on the long edge and some on the short edge so it seemed like too much work to cut it until I got the die.
This is the GO big die on top of an adapter so I can use it on my Accuquilt Studio die cutter. I have 6 layers all face up so with one pass through the machine I have 3 blocks.
People who don't have a die cutter are always concerned with the waste fabric. I used fat quarters cut into a 11.25" width x 18" so I have the long grain heading into the roller. This is what is leftover.
After I cut away the skinny strips here are the scraps. The 3.5" ruler gives you an idea of the size. The piece to the left is big enough to cut a 1.5" strip, a 2" square, and two 1.5" squares (times 6 layers). There are lots of shapes I can cut out of the 4" wide piece. I keep similar size scraps together and after I'm done cutting with this die, I'll put on another die and cut up the scraps.
It was a good day to work inside. My driveway still had ice on it at 4:30 p.m. yesterday. It was supposed to be warmer all night so today it should finally be melted off. I talked to one person who couldn't stop on the ice and ran into a garage door.
14 comments:
That border fabric was the perfect choice! It is as if you chose it first and based the other colorful fabrics on it.
I like the wonky cutting of the blocks in the quilt and the layout of the rows. That border fabric is just right :)
I am going to like this snail's tail quilt. Smart you for getting the die to save so much cutting.
Love the contrast of the light fabrics and the bright funky ones. I am eyeing 3 dies right now: a 7" drunkards path, the triangle in a square, and the half hexagon.
You found the perfect border fabric!
Never even heard of die cutters until I started following your blog. Your new die is making me drool--so embarrassing.
That is a fun baby quilt! I have always liked monkey wrench blocks. I know nothing goes to waste with you!
Right now it is 53 degrees and the high is predicted to be 57! We had some rain last night and early this morning, but now it is just overcast. Too warm for this time of the year!
Marvelous border fabric for that Red Center/Fractured quilt!! I never worry about the "waste" fabric when die cutting because those pieces feed my scrap bins -- more pieces to play with! Glad you got your new die - cutting out manually for those blocks is definitely a pain!
The ice has sounded terrible. Best to just stay home. Those Snail's Trail blocks look great. I really like the finish on the ongoing project.
I love that pattern by Kathy Doughty, and have some blocks cut for it...somehwere? LOL I have considered the Snails Trail die as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it!
Love the border on the fractured quilt! I should get that die too. I love the Monkey Wrench block and have made several quilts from it but cutting them is a pain!
I've looked at that die several times but not until I see your blocks do I see the potential. Thank you. Love the fabrics your using.
I've always found that fabric left over from using the dies is never wasted, good that you've shown what can be put into the scrap baskets from the leftover fabric. Snail Trail is a lovely patter, lots of possibilities with colour.
I have never heard of anyone cutting up fat QUILTERS before! LOL. That made my day.
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