Floating Triangles

Last spring, I took a class for this quilt, Floating Triangles.  It's a fast, easy quilt to do and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's a perfect pattern for a "layer cake" fabric bundle (10-inch squares).  I purchased this one on eBay.  At first, I didn't like the colors very much because it's sometimes hard to tell on the internet.  And that's also why it's sat unfinished for nearly 6 months.

Using a paper template, the squares are cut into 4 pieces and then sewn back together using a center triangle from one of the other blocks.  It's really easy to put together.  The pattern calls for 25 blocks, a narrow stop border and a wide outer border.

I don't follow instructions very well because I used all the squares in the layer cake (42), put on a 2-inch stop border and a 3 1/2-inch outer border.

I thought it turned out very well until I realized there were 2 big "mistakes."  One was that the stripes in the backing were going crosswise instead of lengthwise.  The other is that the top thread I was using to quilt is actually thread for embroidery machines!  And I've used it on not 1 but 3 quilts!!!  Is there such a thing as a perfect quilt?  Or will I ever learn all the "right" ways to make them?  Maybe I should just quit sweating the details and enjoy the process.

P.S.  When folding the quilt to put it away, I discovered that one end was a 1/2-inch wider than the other.  I thought I'd squared it up properly before adding the binding, but I wonder how that happened?  Stretching during the quilting process maybe?

Floating Triangles

Last spring, I took a class for this quilt, Floating Triangles.  It's a fast, easy quilt to do and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's a perfect pattern for a "layer cake" fabric bundle (10-inch squares).  I purchased this one on eBay.  At first, I didn't like the colors very much because it's sometimes hard to tell on the internet.  And that's also why it's sat unfinished for nearly 6 months.

Using a paper template, the squares are cut into 4 pieces and then sewn back together using a center triangle from one of the other blocks.  It's really easy to put together.  The pattern calls for 25 blocks, a narrow stop border and a wide outer border.

I don't follow instructions very well because I used all the squares in the layer cake (42), put on a 2-inch stop border and a 3 1/2-inch outer border.

I thought it turned out very well until I realized there were 2 big "mistakes."  One was that the stripes in the backing were going crosswise instead of lengthwise.  The other is that the top thread I was using to quilt is actually thread for embroidery machines!  And I've used it on not 1 but 3 quilts!!!  Is there such a thing as a perfect quilt?  Or will I ever learn all the "right" ways to make them?  Maybe I should just quit sweating the details and enjoy the process.

P.S.  When folding the quilt to put it away, I discovered that one end was a 1/2-inch wider than the other.  I thought I'd squared it up properly before adding the binding, but I wonder how that happened?  Stretching during the quilting process maybe?

Postage Stamp Basket

Last night, I was watching Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims on the computer and Alex made one of these Postage Stamp Basket blocks and has a neat trick for the handle.  So I played around with a few scraps.

This on is my first try and ended up a little wonky.

Each try got a little better.  Finished size is 4 1/2 inches.  I'm not sure I have enough "stick-to-it-tiveness" to do a whole quilt, but it's a great way to use up scraps.

Yesterday I found some batting I'd put in a safe place and forgot about it. Now that I have 4 tops waiting to be quilted, I can get started on them (after the laundry gets done)!

Postage Stamp Basket

Last night, I was watching Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims on the computer and Alex made one of these Postage Stamp Basket blocks and has a neat trick for the handle.  So I played around with a few scraps.

This on is my first try and ended up a little wonky.

Each try got a little better.  Finished size is 4 1/2 inches.  I'm not sure I have enough "stick-to-it-tiveness" to do a whole quilt, but it's a great way to use up scraps.

Yesterday I found some batting I'd put in a safe place and forgot about it. Now that I have 4 tops waiting to be quilted, I can get started on them (after the laundry gets done)!