I seem to spend a lot of time laying out blocks, and shuffling them around. Even though they are semi-random in placement, I keep moving things and exchanged blocks. I am really not sure if it actually looks any different or better when I am done !!
So I was laying out my collection of "Etchings" blocks
I took a picture of the layout..
and then from a different angle..
I find this gives a good "birds eye view" and sometimes makes it easier to spot a colour combination that needs changing or a misplaced block.
Once I am happy with the layout.....how to keep them all organized ???
I have tried a number of different methods, some with limited success, but think I have a method that seems to work for me now.
First I put a little tab of paper on the upper Right hand corner of the block on the Right end of each row, starting with number "1" at the bottom....
then I pile the blocks in each row, starting from the far Right hand side, so that numbered block ends up on the top of the pile....
Then I pile these piles of blocks, starting from the bottom row, so that the number "1" pile is on the top...
Now you can move the whole lot over to the sewing machine. I leave the numbers pinned on there till I am finished sewing the top together. I flip the top block over and sew it to the the second block in that pile. By always checking the number and always turning it over the same way, they all stay in order !! The pinned number tag also helps to make sure that everything is still turned the right way.
I have tried working with 2, or sometimes 3 rows at the same time, alternating as I work, so I can chain them together. Of course I was feeling pretty smug about how smoothly this was going until I realized that I had picked one block off the wrong pile!! Then it took awhile to sort myself out again. Fortunately I had that picture on my camera that I could check back to. Of course they are randomly placed, so if you do make a mistake it is likely that it will not be noticed----by anybody except yourself that is!
Anyway, the final result is all the rows sewed together, and numbered so that they can be sewn together in the right order...
Another day!!
So I was laying out my collection of "Etchings" blocks
I took a picture of the layout..
and then from a different angle..
I find this gives a good "birds eye view" and sometimes makes it easier to spot a colour combination that needs changing or a misplaced block.
Once I am happy with the layout.....how to keep them all organized ???
I have tried a number of different methods, some with limited success, but think I have a method that seems to work for me now.
First I put a little tab of paper on the upper Right hand corner of the block on the Right end of each row, starting with number "1" at the bottom....
then I pile the blocks in each row, starting from the far Right hand side, so that numbered block ends up on the top of the pile....
Then I pile these piles of blocks, starting from the bottom row, so that the number "1" pile is on the top...
Now you can move the whole lot over to the sewing machine. I leave the numbers pinned on there till I am finished sewing the top together. I flip the top block over and sew it to the the second block in that pile. By always checking the number and always turning it over the same way, they all stay in order !! The pinned number tag also helps to make sure that everything is still turned the right way.
I have tried working with 2, or sometimes 3 rows at the same time, alternating as I work, so I can chain them together. Of course I was feeling pretty smug about how smoothly this was going until I realized that I had picked one block off the wrong pile!! Then it took awhile to sort myself out again. Fortunately I had that picture on my camera that I could check back to. Of course they are randomly placed, so if you do make a mistake it is likely that it will not be noticed----by anybody except yourself that is!
Anyway, the final result is all the rows sewed together, and numbered so that they can be sewn together in the right order...
Another day!!
It's interesting to see how different quilters handle this task of getting the blocks from the design stage to the sewing stage. I do something similar, and like you, have been happy more than once to have that photo to refer to!
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be a beautiful quilt!
Elizabeth E.
occasionalpiece.wordpress.com
Whooo Hooooo! Oh, this is so pretty. Great tut on how you manage your from lay-out to sewing. I mark with colored pin heads as Miss Kitty will tear the paper tabs off. Just a super quilt Flo - love it!
ReplyDeleteHa Ha great minds think alike - I work in a similar way except that I pin in the middle! Love the way the quilt is looking!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing it all done! Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I always just leave everything laid out. Then my sweet Duchess comes running along and it's time to reorganize. Your quilt is turning out beautifully.
ReplyDeleteHugs
donna
That's a good idea! Which I plant to use :D
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is beautiful.