Since the red and white quilt top was finished, I’ve felt almost lost and just flitted from project to project but nothing really captured my interest. That changed last night. I decided that Pickled Ladies is the next project up … Continue reading
New York Beauty blocks, that is. This is the one that was partially finished yesterday.
Because I couldn’t resist, another one was stitched. There are seven in total that are done now and it’s time to print some more. I’m going to keep printing the combo sheet with all the shapes so that I can mix and match to my heart’s content. I’ve not settled on a setting yet but that will come when I finish making the blocks, however many blocks that may turn out to be. I know I’ve said it before, but they are amazingly quick to stitch, particularly when taking advantage of the continuous stitching possibilities. This block truly has it all for me — curved piecing, sharp points, continuous stitching.
I’ve used the little Rowenta travel iron all week now and I’m really impressed with it. It gets very hot very quickly and presses blocks like the New York Beauty ones fabulously well. The pointed tip on the iron really helps when dealing with sharp points like those in these blocks.
Today I’m treating myself to a pedicure. It’s almost time for sandals so a pedicure seems in order. My plans for the weekend include printing more of the New York Beauty shapes and getting more of the 2″ Drunkard’s Path blocks ready to stitch. What are your plans?
Baxter was stretched out on the floor again. Mr. Q.O. thinks he looks rather elegant in this pose. I think he’s just waiting for one of us to toss a favourite toy for him to chase.
While I’m definitely not going to drop the red and white quilt for a long period of time I made the decision, after reading some of yesterday’s comments and thinking about it, that my self-imposed pressure to finish it was becoming counter-productive. I do want to see it finished soon, but I think a week or two of not thinking about it and feeling guilty for working on something else is going to go a long way to making it an exciting project to work on again rather than one on which I feel pressured to work.
So with that freeing thought, I decided to work on a Tiffany Lamp block so I could add to this group shown earlier.
When I’m making a New York Beauty block I start by adding the arcs to the two corner pieces first. That’s quick and easy.
Then I make use of the continuous stitching possibilities and add all the small triangles to the diamonds. That takes two threads and is done in next to no time.
The next step will to be once again take advantage of the continuous stitching possibilities by adding the large triangles to the diamond/small triangle unit. Once all the large triangles are added, the centre part will be finished and all that will be left is joining that to the top and bottom arc units.
The photos were taken before the stitched pieces had been pressed as I don’t press this until I’ve got all the triangles added to the diamonds and then one final press after the arc units are joined to the diamond/triangles centre. It really is a fast block to stitch. And presses beautifully. And the finished block will be shown tomorrow.
Isn’t it funny how giving ourselves permission to move away from a project for a while is such a relief? It’s one thing when it’s a quilt that’s needed in time for a gift, but to impose that kind of pressure on myself to finish the red and white quilt with an arbitrary deadline was really silly as it took away from the fun I was having making it. I’m hoping this short break from working on it will put the fun back into it.
Baxter has no deadlines. He gets to do what he wants to do when and pretty much wherever he wants to. Including bath time.
Quilt Obsession 