Friday, June 1, 2012

The last retreat project

I dug up these blocks I started several years ago and had abandoned and decided I'd play around with them since I had a lot of the hst done and ready to go. I still like the blocks and wanted some simple piecing project to do. Wasn't I good not starting anything new? Mind you, this is so old it's like new again.
These are the blocks I had already sewn and when I put them together again, I thought all the 2" triangles were making the top look rather busy.
The project originally came from the Purl bee blog which was inspired by an antique quilt shown here.
I thought what  if I did blocks with less  smaller triangles , it might open up some more negative space so I downloaded a page of graph paper and did some colouring in to give me a starting point.
I ended up ditching the drawing and just played around with the configuration of each 12" block.
I'm happier with the blocks now that I've combined them all together and this is where I'm presently at.
For some reason the orange triangles are photographing much brighter than what they are but it is a grey day here and hard to get the light right. I think I can only last as long as it takes to do a single sized quilt. I've tried to sew a block a day so it doesn't end up being put aside again, so far that plan is working out fine.

Thanks for visiting, Janet

43 comments:

dutchcomfort said...

That’s looking so good Janet! Love the scrappy look!

Dar said...

I think it looks really good. It's cheerful and bright.

Susan said...

I love it Janet! It is interesting to go back and forth between your photos and block arrangements to see the design decisions you have made! It's a beauty...keep going in!

Cathy @ CabbageQuilts said...

That is absolutely gorgeous! xo

Adele said...

Haven't visited your blog for ages....love that little bag of yours and this quilt....well just lovely.

Adele xx

antique quilter said...

oh this is so fun! now I understand your comment on my blog!!!! LOL
I love the randomness look keep going this is going to be a fun quilt.
Kathie

sewyouquilt2 said...

very very nice! am loving it..cant wait to see how you will quilt it

Rachaeldaisy said...

Lots of lovely triangles!!! The colours are so springy and fresh. I love the random feel and wonderful movement of this quilt.

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

That looks fantastic! I love how you didn't use a pattern too.

Abby and Stephanie said...

I'm glad you dug them out again. A block a day keeps the UFO away! :o) Sounds like a good plan. HSTs are amazing in a quilt but can be a pain to make so many. I love the colors and lay out you've chosen.

Mary said...

Fantastic Janet! This was a great one to bring out and dust off!

Pinkadot Quilts said...

A good reason to put things away sometimes, you come up with a better design that you like and it feels like a new project! I do like how you changed it up, adds a lot of interest and keeps your eye moving.

Sujata Shah said...

I love this scrappy quilt. Orange is a tricky color to photograph. I do like how it pops in this shot.

Cherry's Prairie Primitives said...

I love how you redesigned it and made it your own!! Perfect!!

Carrie P. said...

what a fun quilt. I really like both versions.

Teresa in Music City said...

Wonderful! It would be a shame to let all those blocks go to waste in a project box somewhere :*) I like the direction you are taking them in. They are playing together very nicely and you are going to have a really beautiful quilt when you are done.

Karen said...

What a great looking quilt!! I love all the different sizes. Hope you can perservere and finish!

Heather said...

I think this quilt looks great. These days bright and happy colors really speak to me. :-)

beth said...

Wow! What a wonderful quilt!

Lori said...

That is nice and I really like the mix of the hst sizes.

Tina said...

I love this block-I like the sizes of the half square triangles. This would be a great way to use up stash! I have to stufy thsi and see what I can do-look at all of the sizes you have! I might have to "borrow" this design.

Thanks!

Nedra said...

I really love this quilt! A great way to use up scraps (I am always on the hunt for scrap patterns)

Terry said...

It's looking great! And good for you pulling out an old project instead of starting a new one! :0)

Darlene said...

Wow, Janet, it's a wonderfully happy quilt. Something old becomes new - applause, applause!!!

Sew Create It - Jane said...

So many possible arrangements ...I can't choose a favourite :-) lovely fabrics and colours...it is going to be a cheery quilt.

Janet said...

I love your blocks in any arrangement! A block a day is a good goal.

Mimi said...

You must be seeing hst in your sleep. It is well worth it though. It's very pretty.

Annemieke said...

It is a pleasure to look at, really nice! Not too busy at all anymore. I see it from a distance only, so that is different, I think, comparing to see it in front of you at your sewingmachine.
Groetjes
Annemieke

Julia said...

Looks great Janet...scrappy fun!
Julia

Sewjournal said...

I like it any way it comes. HSTs are always lovely.

Sheila said...

I love this layout and all its randomness. Would definitely be a solution for the stack of HST's i prepped a while back and was just waiting for some inspiration

Pokey said...

I do like your scrappy triangles, so happy! The randomness is perfect ~
:-}pokey

Heather said...

Really nice, I like the way the quilt is coming together. I don't think it's too busy at all, especially the way you've laid it out.

Dora, the Quilter said...

Oh this is so cheery. And it's so much more entertaining than if every block had exactly the same configuration. This one will provide hours of pleasurable looking.

Shirley said...

A lovely fun and cheerful colour and beautiful whatever size it ends up.

imquilternity said...

Good for you!!! I wish my UFOs looked that good! :) I really like the way you've changed it up. It's such a bright and cheerful quilt. How will you quilt it?

Ivory Spring said...

WOW! I am liking what I see. But then again, I love all your quilts anyway. ;)

Nifty Quilts said...

Your quilt it BEAUTIFUL!! I like what you did with more negative space. I wouldn't have thought of that. It really works. You are a courageous quilt maker!

kim mclean said...

Looks great Janet, I like the big and small triangles. You'll have to do an applique borders next!!Just kidding - K

FlourishingPalms said...

It's definitely a good thing you took some time to play around with the blocks. YOUR eye is excellent... much better than drawing on graph paper. Good for you to have worked out the best layout. I love it, and it's gonna make a beautiful quilt. (I like Kim's suggestion too. Applique would set it off perfectly!)

Thimbleanna said...

It's looking great Janet -- Love those hst's!!!

Nanette Merrill said...

I love old projects made new again. Bravo. Delightful.

Lee Prairie Designs said...

Wonderful Janet! Very cheerful colors and prints.

Thanks for sharing!

:) Carolyn