Here's the practice block from yesterday, all complete. Ignore the fabric choices - since I was practicing, I chose whatever was at hand. An actual block of this pattern would be more effective if it were less busy.
Good news: (1) the paper was really easy to remove, (2) the individual squares were perfectly square and all the same size, (3) the long strips making up the X in the centre meant that there was no worry about matching a million seams when joining them up.
Bad news: Only one piece of bad news, but it's a doozy. Although the block was clearly marked as a 9" block on the quilters cache page, I assumed it meant 9" finished, or 9 1/2" raw. But no, it is a 9" block unfinished. A perfect 9" block, but Jessica needs a 9 1/2" unfinished block. Oy. I have the option of sashing it, I guess. Or start over and try to find another block pattern that will finish at 9 1/2".
Lesson learned: Making a practice block is really worth it.
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13 comments:
Wow, that block is stunning! I think it would look great with sashing too. I can't wait to see it with other fabrics.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful...even in fabrics that you just put together on the sly!
It turned our fantastically!
Your measurement problem was mine as well...I ended up with a 9 1/4" block (would have been 9" if I had used their generous seam allowances)...so I sashed mine.
Whatever you do, I can't wait to see this in Jessica's colors!
Bravo!
Still a wonderful block despite the dimension issue. I even like your fabrics you just threw together!
Wow, very cool block. I actually like your practice fabric combination!
Since the sashing would be so miniscule, I would find another block... :o(
Gorgeous! You could increase the center sashing bits by 1/2 in. It would change the look of the block a bit, but not by much.
Oh no! And it's such a beautiful block, too. I'd go with what Rach said, just increase the center sashing. Good luck!
Practice blocks ROCK! :-)
Another tick for practice blocks here. I really really like your block though. I think you should set aside those fabrics (if you have more) and use them for all your practice blocks... then put them all together in a sampler later. If they're all different sizes then sash them randomly and it would look great I think!
I've been doing similar... taking instructions for 12" blocks and making them 6" blocks so 6.5" in the raw. Block one is always a practice... then if it works I cut out everything for the others and mass produce several more blocks in about the same time it takes to make one.
What fun though..!
Oh... forgot.
While what rach said would work. I would be too anal about it myself and would probably increase the length in the middle. If you look at the centre side of each square there is a place none of the diagonals touch that could be extended without throwing out the ratio of any of the lines.
Perhaps try both...? I'll be interested in what you end up doing.
That block is beautiful, even if it isn't quite the right size. In deciding what to do, I think that I would decide if the block was just too darn time consuming to start from scratch. If so, I would opt to sash. If not, do it again. You can always save the block and use it as a label on the back of a quilt.
i love the block! if you could finagle it.. what about increasing the size of the paper pieced sections and getting the extra 1/2" that way? if it ends up bigger, i can just trim down..
but do whatever is easier (and more fun) for you. i'll be happy either way.
thanks! jessica
Gorgeous! My style became wonky when I was unwilling to "practice."....
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