Butterfly Baby Quilt Flitted Away

The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.

~Vince Lombardi

Quilting

The butterfly quilt is finally finished. Can you believe these blocks began in 2017 and have been hibernating in a box for four years?

The inner border gives a needed break and the light fabric sets off the green backgrounds although a different light fabric might have worked better. Still, this is the best in my stash and these quilts are about using what's on hand as well as welcoming a new child.

Butterfly Baby quilt

Nothing much will show on the busy top but Baptist fans are always a good choice. The directional changes strengthen the quilting. This time I added a curve of petals in each fan.  That took care of the inner section. 

Butterfly quilt quilting detail

The inner border is a simple set of loops.  Then I foolishly created large pebbles for the outer border. It took forever, used loads of thread, and doesn't even show. Sometimes I outsmart myself.

Butterfly quilt outer border detail

The back is a large floral on white from my stash. The binding is a multi-colored batik that blends with most of the colors. 

Butterfly quilt folded

Quilt Specifics

Size: 40" x 40"

Design: String tulips and string block border

Batting: Mountain Mist Cream Rose cotton

Thread: Superior 50/3 light and grey cotton thread

Quilting: FMQ

Approximate yardage: 6 yds

Previous posts:

1. Butterfly blocks

2. The first blocks

3. Designing the top

Reading

I'm losing details of each series by reading one novel and waiting for a couple of months. OTOH, there can be a different loss when reading too many in a row. The quirks of an author become annoying.  I decided to try a different tack - either read them all the way through or at least in groups. Trying to get more out of them without a surfeit.

Anyway I finished three more in Martin Walker’s Bruno mysteries: The Devil’s Cave, The Resistance Man, and The Children Return, plus the novella Bruno and the Carol Singers. This is an excellent series with well-developed characterizations, setting, and knowledge of the region and its history.

We also watched the latest Pixar movie this weekend. Luca, a fish-herding sea creature, meets Alberto, a fellow sea creature who lives in an abandoned tower. They dream of visiting the mainland and buying a Vespa. Their behavior reminded me of my brothers growing up. How did any of them survive to adulthood?

And then DH found Smigadoon! on Apple+, a six espisode take-off of classic musicals. We've watched the first three and enjoyed the talented actors.

Monthly FUR (Fabric Use Rate) 

Two quilts this month. July = 12.5 yds. YTD =  94.375 yards. I purchased some fabric this summer but am still winnowing my stash.

Enjoy the day, Ann

Butterflies Burst their Cocoons

I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. 

Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.

~Pearl S. Buck

Quilting

Ok. So they weren't in cocoons but only because they aren't real butterflies. These are blocks I started years ago that somehow ended up in a baggie in the back of a drawer. Actually only about twenty were sewn. The rest of the baggie was green backgrounds and black-and-white bodies. 

I decided to use larger pieces from the scrap bag and a few other leftovers to make the rest of the wings. The blocks finish at four inches so one hundred should be needed to make a baby quilt... And there weren't enough backgrounds and bodies. After all this time there's no more of either of these fabrics. 

I have no recollection of my original layout for these blocks or even how large a quilt was planned. These days I use found blocks to make baby quilts, the easiest way to move them along. So... how to make it work? My solution was to create a two-inch inner border so the butterfly blocks fit inside and out even though they don't "line up" all the way across the quilt.

Here are four light fabrics as possible inner borders. The one on the left is a remnant from the Shadow Stars border and I discounted it. Looking at it here, it should have had more serious consideration. The floral at the top gets lost at times. The blue at the bottom doesn't have enough contrast.

The print on the right was the final choice. It makes a soft break. 

 

Can you even tell the butterfly bodies taper? I can't. 

I first saw butterfly quilts in a Japanese version with solid black backgrounds. It reminded me of a traditional block Called Arkansas Traveller. The bodies in those versions  didn’t taper. Not wanting to copy exactly, I chose this bright green background and altered the body. Not thrilled with either decision. But I do like the layout. It makes the wings appear to curve. A very cool effect.

At least there were enough parts to create a baby quilt and it works well for that use.

Interestingly, yesterday I ran across another butterfly quilt Hubblebird recently finished. She used a black background and found directions linked in her blog for her slightly larger blocks if you’d prefer that to the small ones I started.

Reading

To escape an unwanted marriage in 1714, Addie bargains with a "dark god" to live freely until she chooses to die. The consequence is that she is forgotten as soon as people's eyes leave her face. Three hundred years later a young man remembers her. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab makes an interesting read. 

It's hot here but this close to the coast, scattered showers build almost every afternoon. This week though we hear lots of thunder and see rain all around but it hasn't fallen on us until today. We had an hour of good soaking rain so I won't have to water tomorrow. 

Enjoy the day, Ann

Butterfly Block Progress: Kaleidoscope of Butterflies 21

Butterflies still flitter around our area but they have been difficult to photograph. A friend has mounds of lavender in her yard attracting loads of bees. If you listen quietly they make the most relaxing hum.

I'm continuing my own butterfly blocks. Just a few each month. Making a few each month is also relaxing. I've no clear idea about a final quilt so I'm enjoying taking my time over these. Here's what I have so far.

September Butterflies

There was enough of the light blue in the top right to center wings for one butterfly. It looks like eyes, doesn't it? I posted the pattern here last month if you'd like to join me.

Take a look at Cathy's Kaleidoscope of Butterflies quilt made using a free online pattern, Ghost Moth. Lovely. Barbara Mahan shared a glorious quilt, West Pine Elfin Butterfly, on her guild's website. The site is www(dot)diablovalleyquilters(dot)org/member-quilts(dot)html. So many ways to celebrate butterflies.


Good Night Lights

Have you seen the story about Good Night Lights by the Providence Journals? That's providencejournal(dot)com/news/20161223/goodnight-lights-magical-spectacle-for-hasbro-patients. People in Providence, RI, blink their lights at bedtime to support and encourage sick children. Started by the hospital's volunteer cartoonist, ordinary people, police, and firemen now line up in sight of the hospital to shine their lights. And the children blink their own flashlights back.

Enjoy the day, Ann

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Let's Make Butterfly Blocks: Kaleidoscope of Butterflies 20

It's time for another Kaleidoscope of Butterflies linkup. Last month I decided to make some butterfly blocks. Simple ones. I've looked at them for years and have a Pinterest board here if you'd like more information. Cathy has also made several darling variations.

At first glance, many of the simple butterfly blocks look alike but close observation reveals variations. The low angle wings on Yoko Saito's signature quilt {second photo down} create a curved effect. I'm sure these are larger blocks simply because of the room needed for those signatures. {What a beautiful quilt this would make for a reunion.} I like the four-inch size of Rita's blocks but also prefer the way the wings don't reach the corner on Mrs. Schmenkman's six-inch block. The wings on her five-inch version at the end of her tutorial are farther from the corner.  Fussy, aren't I?

Of course, what I prefer may not be your choice. Use any butterfly pattern you like or make your own as I have here. The only person you need to please is yourself.

Four-inch Butterfly blocks with straight and tapered bodies

So I drafted my own blocks. In addition to low angle wings I also wanted to consider is whether or not to taper the body. I've seen this on some dragonfly blocks but none of butterflies. My tapered body changes from one-half-inch to a quarter-inch. Here are my templates with two wing angles and changing bodies. Download and print them if you wish. Each butterfly should measure four-inches finished so check your printing before use. You can always draft your own or use the angles on your rulers. FYI: Rita's butterfly wings have a 30-degree angle.

Straight Bodies

The straight bodies are easier because left and right sides are the same as are all four background pieces.

1. Cut body strips 1" x WOF. Subcut into 4.5" lengths.
2. Cut background pieces 2.25" x WOF.
3. Cut pairs of wing pieces 4.5" x 2.25".
4. Place wing and background fabric wrong sides together.
5. Cut out the numbered templates for the one wing and one background piece. Place them on appropriate fabric and cut two mirror-imaged wings and four backgrounds ADDING seam allowances.

Cutting fabric with paper templates

5. Place backgrounds on wings right sides together and sew with quarter-inch seams.
6. Press seam allowances towards the wings.

7. Trim each wing set to 4.5" x 2.25" centering the wings in the lengthwise direction while also making sure seams are the same distance from short edges on both sets.

8. Sew narrow side of wings to each side of a body.
9. Press seams towards body. Seam allowances meet at center of body.

Butterfly block with straight body

Tapered Bodies

Working these out took several iterations. I never could get it to finish to size with templates as such. So here's what I finally did.

1. Cut tapered center body strip from overall sketch. Use with wing and background templates from straight body butterfly.
2. Cut body fabric into strips 4.5" x WOF.
3. Place tapered body on fabric and cut, adding seam allowances. Rotate body 180 degrees to utilize fabric most efficiently.

Cutting tapered butterfly bodies

4. Cut wing fabric 5.0" by 2.5" and place wrong sides together. Notice the unit is a half-inch larger than the straight set.
5. Cut background fabric 2.5" by WOF and keep with wrong sides together.
6. Using straight wing template, center on appropriate fabric, and cut pairs with added seam allowances.
7. Using straight background template, center on appropriate fabric, and cut two pairs with added seam allowances.

Laying the templates for cutting 

8. Place backgrounds on wings right sides together and sew with quarter-inch seams.
9. Press seam allowances towards the wings.

Wing seams pressed in and spread

Looking at the photo above, it's easy to see why the templates were cut oversized. Trimming a bit off each side will square the block up in the end.

10. Trim each wing set to 5.0" x 2.5" or at least straighten the inside of the wing set. Then carefully center the wing to be trim to 4.5" but only trim the bottom end of each wing set (the part that will start at the narrow end of the butterfly body. In my photo that's about 7/8" from the inside edge of the wing. Do not trim the other side yet!

11. Starting at the narrow end of the body, align wing sets and sew. Be sure to sew from the narrow end of the body because the taper causes the wings to spread. Sewing from the wide end will make the resulting block too short! See above photos.

12. Press seams towards body. Trim to 4.5" square block. All four sides will need a slight trim, so center the ruler along the center axis of the body. For a 4.5" block, that's 2.25".

Butterfly with tapered body ready to trim

Seam allowances overlap near bottom of body.

Four butterflies with tapered bodies

The blue butterflies wings are centered better than the orange ones now that I've figured out how to trim them before sewing to the body (steps 10-11.)

This is the first group of fabrics I've pulled for these blocks. The grey is the background for the straight bodies while the green is the background for the tapered ones. On the left are wing fabrics that look good on both backgrounds. On the right, the top set will make wings for the green while the bottom set looks better on the grey.

Butterfly fabric choices

Bhavna Mehta

Have you seen Bhavna's work recently? A fine artist who works in paper and embroidery, she recently combined art and social justice in a very creative manner. Monthly this year she sells a First Gift whose proceeds are all donated to a specific non-profit. And look! Several of them include Monarch butterflies!

I'm impressed with her savvy solution to the constant requests for artists to donate work for auctions. In the US at least, the artist gets only a minimal amount of tax write-off and undersells herself on the open market but devaluing her work. Read one of many articles here. Bhavna's method allows artists to maintain a respectable price and generously fund social justice. Artists deserve financial justice.

Enjoy the day, Ann

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It's All About the Cardinals and KofB #12

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone good health, good friends, and safety in 2017.

QS informed me this quilt needs cardinals - the favorite birds of our sister and grandmother. I'm not sure how they will fit in but know I need them on hand before sewing the vine. Since my drawing skills are lacking {or at least my confidence in those skills is lacking} I combed the web for easy bird outlines. The final two choices were:

1. Beth Donaldson posted a number of free quilt blocks from old newspapers, including the Cedar Waxwing and Hermit Thrush.
2. There are too many "bird on a wire" silhouettes to list. Best thing? Very few have legs... and they look good. That should make it easier.
3. EDIT: How could I forget Barb's bird when it's part of her blog header? Love the way she added part of the wing in silhouette.

It took the whole evening to draft simple cardinals. I planned to cut the crest off some for other birds or perhaps draft hummingbirds.

Cardinal Silhouette templates ready to use

My t-shirt quilt friend sent the beautiful flowers for Christmas. The bouquet contains lilies, carnations, and roses with special additions of pine and bright red berries. The berries are "the berries." Perfect. What a kind gesture.

Looking at the quilt top again, my cardinals are too fat. Those toile birds are sleek and streamlined. Back to the drawing board.

In case I change my mind, I placed a pdf of the cardinal template  on the Tutorial page downloading. Let me know if there are problems. This is my first attempt at pdfs in Blogger.

Streamlined toile bird silhouettes

At 6.75" this border is more narrow than I hoped. I'm not sure how to curve the vine and also avoid tiny leaves on the outer curve. {Like most beginners} my eye is caught by the most elaborate applique. Quite beyond my expertise.

Possible vine ideas were distilled to simpler, diffuse ones that might better fit the style of my quilt.

1. The border on Stamp of Approval by Tonya Alexander. Easy curved vine, nice big leaves, yoyo berries. Now I wonder if the leaves are too fat. They match my chubby cardinals but everything may need to go on a diet.
2.  Is there a way I can incorporate Susan McCord's string pieced leaves? Their longer, skinnier style matches trim birds.
3. Quilted with Grace posted her first hand applique. I love the multicolored leaves and the groups of berries on this vine.
4. Of course, Aunt Millie's Garden by Piece o'Cake has two beautiful vine borders. The first is too wide for my border but the narrower is a charming way to make leaf-like flowers.
5. Jan Hutchison made a quilt from Applique Affair by Edyta Sitar. Jan's second photo shows a section with only a few leaves, a bud, some berries and a bird. Hmm. All the elements I want.

After rereading parts of Collaborative Quilting by Freddy Moran and Gwen Marston, I cut my vine fabric 1.5" before folding. The final width ranges from one-half to five-eighths inches.

I pinned it in a very curvy fashion. Too curvy for the relatively narrow border so it will be changed next week. I think diffuse leaves all the same size will be a good first vine.

This vine is too curvy for the border width.

How do spiderwebs fit with butterflies? I designed the triangles of the webs with my kaleidoscope ruler. Weak, but there it is.

Want something a bit more butterfly-y? Janie at Crazy Victoriana pointed me to Missouri Star Quilt Company's latest YouTube video, Easy Strip Butterflies. It looks like a great way to use some remnants. I see a baby quilt in the near future.

Enjoy the day, Ann

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