Blue Block Border

The next border is rather plain, very easy and didn't measure out to fit the preceding steps.  This can be an ongoing problem with a self designed pattern.  Nobody has made it before and you never know what monkey wrenches are going to inject themselves.  I have many years of sewing experience, and try to visualize the technical aspects of my design and properly incorporate them into the pattern.  Doesn't always work.  Here is the next border:

The light blue, two inch squares are fussy cut from blue floral fabrics to emphasize a flower or a grouping of flowers.  They are pretty much a medium to light value.  I surrounded them with 1/2 inch dark blue sashing.  Piece of cake (or cloth)!  The problem was that I either had to fill in the ends or change the size of my blocks in order for the border to fit the previous border.  I didn't want to change the size of the 2" blocks so I pulled out some pieces of Paula Nadelstern fabric that was designed to go with the fabric I used in the center Mariner's Compass and fussy cut the pieces to mirror at the mitered corner.  It does the job although I have never been crazy about those corners, but I couldn't come up with another solution that I liked better.  Sometimes I sit and stew over a problem like this and other times I just go with it as I did here.

Lifetime so far in Illustrator

Lifetime so far in fabric.

TIP:  Do you know what "fussy cutting" means?  It is when you carefully cut out a particular element or grouping from a fabric.

I use translucent template material available at any quilt store and cut it the size of the finished piece plus 1/4 inch seam allowance all around.

Mark the seam allowance on all sides of the template and mark any distinctive lines that will guide you to place the template exactly the same on the next piece you cut. Since you can see through the template you may be able to see where you want it without marking.   Depends on how much precision you need.

Place the template on the fabric and mark around it with a fine, black marker (it won't show on the finished quilt because it is on the outer edge of the seam allowance) or if the fabric is dark use a white gel pen or fabric marker.  I often use 1/4" double sided masking tape to fasten the template temporarily to the fabric.  It is available at Joann's and probably other quilt or craft stores.

Cut with small, sharp scissors on the marked line.  This leaves your fabric with gaping holes throughout!  If this bothers you, deal with it.

TIP:  If you hit a problem in your quilt it may help to put it away and work on something else for awhile.  You could also skim through your books, check the library, go to a quilt show or fondle fabric to come up with a new idea.  I find that time usually solves the problem, often while I am sleeping.

Kaleidoscopes

I love intricate complexities.  I love doing kaleidoscopes.  I began the following quilt before the "Stack-n-Whack" craze started.  Enter that in your search engine and you will find lots of directions and at least one book.  I tried one once and was not successful.  My daughter has made several and they are beautiful.  Strange as it may seem, I am happy to work with a template and fussy cut each triangle like Paula Nadelstern directs in her "Kaleidoscopes and Quilts."

Many of the blocks of this quilt were created from the border print that surrounds the center.  I spent one whole weekend at quilt camp putting these together and never tired of it.  Each one turned out so cool although I liked some better than others.

I can't see how I quilted it and since my quilts are buried by more snow I can't get it out to look.  I think it is probably quilted in the ditch.  If I were to do this quilt today I would stitch a pretty design into the light blue border.  That would settle the puckering down.  Each kaleidoscope block would be perfect for interesting flowers, all different from each other.  I probably would have quilted around the motifs in the the border.  However, we have to start at the beginning to get better.

TIP:  How to fussy cut the kaleidoscope triangles:

1.  Cut a triangle template from clear template plastic, including the seam allowance.  The measurement of the triangle depends on your final shape.  A hexagon uses six 60º triangles.  An octagon uses eight 45º triangles.

2.  Move a hinged mirror around the fabric until you find a spot that makes a nice design.

3.  Lay the template over the chosen part of the fabric and make marks with pencil on the plastic so you can line up the template on the same part of another, same motif for the next triangle.  

4.  Line up the template on the fabric and mark around the edge with a fine marker.  Move it to another place on the fabric to the same motif and repeat as many times as necessary.

5.  Cut the triangles carefully on the marked line.

6.  Sew together carefully by hand or machine (that is another lesson).