Tuesday, June 17, 2008

One Patch with Strings

Today I broke out a roll of Worn and Washed Fabric and started to play. First, let me show you my inspiration. This is another of Nancy Ray's wonderful quilts that's featured in Gwen Marston's Liberated String Quilts. [hint hint: another great book now out of print - get it while you can.] This quilt is a combination of One Patch and string blocks. I'm guessing these are 4" finished. Here are my squares. I threw in 3 squares from fabric that Siobhan gave me, otherwise this is the Worn and Washed jelly roll, minus one fabric that just seemed too flimsy and one that had holes in it. Not worn out kinds of holes, it was deliberately holey fabric. That could be fun to use in a Jude kind of quilt, but not this.

So these are my squares randomly laid out. I really like them. These are 4" right now.

I really like the combination of colors and fabrics, some of which I wouldn't have otherwise bought in a million years. I've started piecing some bits together and making a few string blocks. I threw in some solids to make the fabric last longer. The solids seem too dark to me, but I guess this is all part of the experience of making a string quilt. Making do with what you have. The flannels are making sure I'm imprecise.


Lily in the way, glaring at me because I disturbed her nap.

It's been great getting all the comments and emails for the fingers-crossed reprint of Gwen's book. Keep 'em coming. Have you told all your friends yet?

By the way, I'm not responding to the emails, so no worries if you haven't heard back from me. I am getting them though, your vote is being counted.

9 comments:

Finn said...

Hey Ton, love the little piece in progress with the worn and washed bits.
Reminds me of the little plaid sample pieces I sewed together last summer. Since the sample squares weren't square, it made the rows all nice and wonky *VBS* Love it! Gotta get it quilted soon. Hugs, Finn

Nancy said...

Ton, I think this quilt is made of four big string blocks--5 patches made of little strings,(5x5) with two partial blocks at the bottom (5x2). The big string blocks are sashed with solid color squares. The large string block on the bottom right is offset, so the squares in the sashing responded to that, and changed to either two wide or three wide. There's a single row of squares at the top and a row of two at the bottom. It would probably be easy to piece the sashing as for 4 patches or 9 patches, w/out regard to value. Perfect for your plaids!
Hugs to you, Nancy

QuiltedSimple said...

I love your plaids. can't wait to see it finished!!
Kris

loulee said...

That looks like fun, there are some lovely warm colours in there.

~Niki~ said...

I'd love to have you join me and other quilters on my new quilt blog list! Please give me a link back if you join up. Kindly, Niki
http://justusquilters.blogspot.com/

Myra said...

I haven't visited your blog in a while! you've been busy! 8-)
I love the little Home Sweet Home wall-quilt! Very Pink!
Your Jumbo Margarita top is awesome! A wonderfully colorful quilt to be!!! Love it!
Curious about all those plaids! I will have to check in and see later...
Happy stitchings!

margaret said...

Both the "maker unknown" quilt and your squares-in-progress are delicious. Would you like some squares (or strips) from that plaid "coupon" I got in Paris - it could be perfect with the other ones -- let me know what size... Love the contrast those dots provide!

dutchcomfort said...

I love what you did with the washed and worn jelly fabrics! Love it.
I regret I just used the pieces as they came.

jovaliquilts said...

What fun with the worn and washed fabrics! I have collected lots of old jeans for a picnic quilt, but wanted to do something interesting when I piece it. You've given me the idea to intersperse it with other used fabrics. Neat, thanks!