Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Leftovers Top Finished

Never discourage anyone who is able to make constant progress, no matter how slow.
~Plato

Quilting


Plato's statement seems appropriate for this quilt. Work was slow. So slow. This despite the fact that most of the quilt is leftovers - either blocks or fabric ends - although I did purchase more red solids and blue prints for the outer HSTs. It's a joy to use everything in the stash and feel free to purchase something.

The larger the quilt became, the less a square shape appealed. After counting my circles, I added a second row of them to the top and bottom. Now it’s slightly rectangular. Putting the stronger/brighter colored circles on the inside seems to be working. None of blocks are sewed together {except some of the HSTs} which allows me to continue rearranging.


Here’s another photo with more of the outer round in place. I like it but… it still looks weak.


Adding a second round of tiny HSTs strengthened the design. This photo was taken at the end of the day and the color is a bit off. It actually reads more like all the previous photos. 

Leftovers quilt top

Now that the top is complete, I wonder if I simply should have made two smaller toddler quilts. My arm hurts when pulling this around so I may not quilt it immediately. And there goes that resolution to work each quilt all the way through. “No more UFOs,” said I. Hahaha. 

There are twelve circle blocks left if anyone is still working on Quilty365. Or they might become part of the back. 

Reading

Gabrielle Zevin’s charming story of bookshop owner A.J.’s life on a small New England island delighted me. Love, loss, and building a family of friends. I believe it’s now a film, too.

Enjoy the day, Ann

13 comments:

Quiltdivajulie said...

Oh, Ann - I love your leftovers quilt! And I have been considering another Quilty 365 project so your leftover circles would be a grand jump start (although postage would be ridiculous). Better perhaps to add them to your backing. I enjoyed that book, too.

patty a. said...

The leftovers quilt is fabulous! A strong colored binding would finish it off nicely.

Julierose said...

This is such a pretty top--looks like Christmas ribbon candies-with all those lovely colors...nice work hugs, Julierose

Dixie said...

Just finished Red Rising. Very good, thanks for the recommendation.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

That made such a difference adding the second row of little triangles on the border. It's nice you had enough left over blocks that compliment each other in coloring.

audrey said...

This looks fantastic! I love everything about it! I can't believe how much the look changes with the 2nd row of hsts. Looks so much stronger now than before. As always, your magic touch with color shines through.:)

O'Quilts said...

Stunning....a favorite for sure, xo

Mystic Quilter said...

The second row of HSTs has really lifted the whole quilt to another level, wouldn't have thought you could have added anything which would have altered this already beautiful quilt, but it's stunning, especially as you have made it rectangular.
Congratulations Ann, I just love it!

Marie said...

Oh, this turned out so great! To me it has a real gypsy feel - love it!

gladiquilts said...

Love this quilt! As I was scrolling down and reading about your process, when you thought your design was weak, I immediately thought “add another row of HST’s” - and then you did! It was fun to see immediately that it was the the right move!

Nann said...

I've enjoyed watching this quilt progress, Ann. The second row of HSTs is a good addition. I'm one of the few who was not wild about A.J. Fikry. (How can a bookstore owner on a New England island operate in the community for years and years, recommend books far and wide, and never, ever encounter a public library? The island is a thinly-disguised Martha's Vineyard which in real life has six public libraries.)

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Your 'leftovers' quilt is delightful. Such a super way to border, and your careful deliberation & placement of all the reds is very effective.

Kaja said...

A really lovely piece, Ann! I often look at a square quilt and have to figure out a way to elongate it; I much prefer your altered dimensions too. And all those beautiful little red points - the second row makes such a difference to their impact. Every tiny change you have made has brought you, a step at a time, to a very satisfying finish.