Improvising a Traditional Block

I'm still thinking about the selvedge string sheet (Selvedge Race); however, there are more selvedges on the loose. So I started the Race again. After two repeats it was almost wide enough; I added one more selvedge to make a narrow sheet only five strips wide. The width ranges from four to six inches since the selvedges were not cut a consistent width.

Brock House is a traditional block documented in The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer.

Brock House and variations for selvedge strings.

In some ways it reminds me of Sherri's Floating Squares: two small squares sewn together then joined to a larger square. When I simplified further (bottom left in the photo above) that iteration reminded me of Flying Squares, a quilt I made years ago using the bottom right block.

Flying Squares quilt

Brief directions for Flying Squares can be found here. These block designs all use partial seams. It's a very useful technique; not hard at all. Jinny Beyer wrote directions for partial seaming here and Laura Nownes (co-author of Quilts, Quilts, Quilts) created a YouTube video here.

I decided to try this with the skinny Selvedge Race. The selvedges are so busy that they seem to need solids. Here is what's on hand.

The solids in my stash.

Finding a 4.5" orange remnant in my scrap bag from the back of this quilt, I freehand cut all the solids into squares about that size although a larger center square might look better. (Using what I have.)

Selvedge string Brock House variation

In the photo above, I sewed a partial seam on the top left rectangle. Then sewed the bottom left rectangle all the way across, pinned the bottom right rectangle (ready to sew.) The top right rectangle is pinned on the solid only to ensure it's aligned with enough seam allowances everywhere.

I make a couple of stitches in place then tie the threads of the partial seams on the back of the block. Most people probably wouldn't bother but I hate the idea of threads coming loose.

Tying threads from partial seams on the back.

Is this improv? Depends who you ask. I think of these as units. They are similarly sized but not identical. Joining strips will probably be needed to fit them all together. In some ways they may look like Kaja's Wall units - after all, they are smaller, square-ish shapes. In other ways they may look like Flying Squares... or something else entirely.

I am reminded of Anna Williams, an exceptionally talented Louisianan who found more time for quilting later in life. In her eponymous book, Nancy Crow wrote, " (Anna) built her quilt tops from parts and pieces, sewing smaller shapes together, then adding more shapes to make larger units. Her crowded bedroom housed stacks of small units, stacks of medium units, stacks of large units..."(p. 17) So there is a legacy of sewing units first, then using/reusing them as single pieces to build a quilt. [And, no. This quilt will be nowhere near as artistic as Anna's. But the IDEA of simply making units resonates.]

 Two down. Now I'm cutting the rest of the narrow string sheet into rectangles.

The AHIQ Link-up is still open for a couple of days if you want to join in by linking up or just perusing the posts.

Enjoy the day, Ann

Floating Squares Improv Top Complete

I put nine Flying Square blocks together. You can see them; this is a nine-patch quilt. Not exactly what I wanted but a good first top. It's scrappy and fun.

Floating Squares quilt

The individual blocks are too apparent. Sherri Lynn mentions creating some long strips from blocks. I didn't pay attention until this was sewn together. Having some reserved squares from a block helps when a long strip is needed. They mask the seam line and increase the random effect of the tops. Next time I will actually save some from the start rather than scrounging for the one that didn't pair up.

See the long piece of light blue filler at the top left? Once I replaced it, the seam is less obvious.

Also, the blocks don't need to finish to any specific size. While mine aren't the same, I did actively work to use all of the two fabrics in one block. That means I used more filler to reach a square. Next time, I'll leave them as two or three small blocks if they don't easily make one large block.

This was the original ninth block. The stripe fabric and the small scraps add interest. The  arrangement of the squares and (minimal) filler is much improved. Why isn't it in the top? It was too quiet. So I replaced it.



Enjoy the day, Ann

Flying Squares Quilt

Although the center of a traditional Flying Squares block is background fabric, I made my quilt from some six-inch nine-patch blocks traded with friends. The traditional center would have more sense of movement. To change the nine-patch to a flying square I simply added a 8-by-2" rectangle and a 2" square to each side with partial seaming. Many people have already posted directions for partial seams; just Google it.

Flying Squares quilt

The border is a block named Crazy Ann (which seemed very appropriate!) The windmill effect of the stars adds to the sense of flying.

There's an inner border of muslin and two-inch squares to maintain the floating effect of the blocks. But that meant the corner blocks had to be slightly elongated. I drafted those on graph paper. Sorry, the sketch is now lost.

Detail of Flying Squares

This is still one of my favorite quilts. I love the vintage feel of pastel-to-medium prints on muslin and the parallel line quilting.

Enjoy the day. Ann