Thanks for stopping by and welcome to my first post in our month-long promo of Monique Dillard''s beautiful book for C&T Publishing, Fat Quarter Winners. Nicole, Thelma and I were so excited when our new friend Monique told us about her upcoming book release that we decided to help show off some of her beautiful quilts by making our own versions and featuring them on our blogs.
Yes, it's true, I was the lucky one who gets to make Pinochle - the quilt all of us wanted to make. Here is the quilt as it appears in Monique's book. Beautiful and elegant, isn't it?
I wondered how my choice of fabrics - French General reds and blues from various collections - would work in this quilt that Monique showcases using just one color family. Would my blue fabrics stand out too much? Would it have the scrappy, playful feel that I wanted? Take a look at my test block and I think you will agree that it is a good fit with this pattern.
There are a *LOT* of half square triangles in this block, and a lot of seam matching. I started quilting after watching Shar Jorgenson's PBS show, Quilting From the Heartland. She pressed her quilt seams open, and since I was comfortable with that technique because of garment sewing, I have always pressed my quilt seams open as well. I've even inspired some of my quilt shop coworkers to press their seams open, too. It's very helpful when you have a lot of seams coming together - the points match and the block lays nice and flat.
The most common question I get asked when I mention that I press my seams open is, "Don't you burn your fingers?" Nope, never have. How could I? I've never touched a hot iron!
So looky here - a picture of the back of my block. I never thought I'd be showing THIS on my blog!
Like Thelma mentioned in her post yesterday, one of the things I love most about Fat Quarter Winners is that Monique has a chart with each quilt pattern that shows a variety of sizes you could make using the pattern and the fabric requirements to do just that. I'm actually going to make my Pinochle quilt smaller than the pattern shown - 9 blocks that each measure 16" square, which will make my finished quilt 60" square and a great size to hang in my office at work.
I hope you have enjoyed the first week of our book tour. Please stop by next week when each of us will show our progress, and feature a tutorial for some of the techniques Monique uses to make these quilts.
Nicole will post on Mondays
Monique will post on Tuesdays
Thelma will post on Wednesdays
and check back with me on Thursdays for my weekly post.
Oh, Lisa, it's awesome!! Now, I want to make it in those colors! You did a fantastic job!
ReplyDeleteWow - your version is wonderful, Lisa! I'm also SO happy you posted about pressing your seams open! I've done that on a few of my latest quilts for just the same reason, but I've been in the closet about it until now! It really does work! Can't wait to see your finish!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
I love your block...it will make a beautiful quilt. I really like that the book has different sizes for the blocks. Such a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI really like that quilt, and the colors you've chosen are beautiful. When you press your seams open like that, don't they show through the light colored fabric? That would be my only fear.
ReplyDeleteI love your block with the blues in it! The quilt's going to be fabulous. I've been pressing my seams open lately, too. Someone asked me the other day if the seam is as strong. I think so, don't you?
ReplyDeleteI have lots of French General fabric. Can't wait to see how your quilt turns out! Take care!
ReplyDeletevery very cool block!
ReplyDeleteYour block is beautiful! I press open when I want to reduce bulk, but not always. It's fun learning how other quilters press. Thanks for the photo's!
ReplyDeleteLisa, your choice to use the French General reds and blues was brilliant. My goodness, that is going to be a stunning quilt!
ReplyDeleteLisa, this is going to turn into another beautiful quilt! I have pressed my seams open since you advised me but the women I quilt with socially twice a month are doubtful. They seem to think the seam will not be as strong, but it always worked with dressmaking. One query, how do you stitch in the ditch with open seams?
ReplyDeleteAgain a wonderful pattern. Can't wait to see more of your quilt.
ReplyDeleteLove the fabric choices! This is going to be one gorgeous quilt. I also press open my seams to eliminate bulk. It really does make quilting easier since there are no big bumps for the machine to "hop" over.
ReplyDeleteOH Lisa, your Pinochle is going to be amazing, I just love Rural Jardin, me, the person who doesn't like blue in quilts! This will look great in your office.
ReplyDeleteLove the fabric and the block. I often press my seams open to reduce bulk, too. My question is how do you match seams/points when you can't nest the fabrics? I have struggled with this.
ReplyDeleteI knew there was a reason I was still hanging onto all that French General fabric! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI still think you're a little nuts for pressing open ALL the seams on your quilt but if it works for you ~ and it clearly does! ~ then it is absolutely the right thing to do. Your results speak for themselves.
I love your quilt block. Those colors are really beautiful! The back of your block is as pretty as the front. Look how neat all those seams are!!!!
ReplyDeleteJust love your choice of fabric!!
ReplyDeleteI can see why this pattern was everyone's Number 1 choice. It's my favorite so far too. Love how your blocks look and the fabrics you choose. Thanks for sharing and spreading the word about this fat quarter Winners, appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteJane
Wow! The back of your block looks almost as neat as the front. And I love the fabrics you've chosen to make your quilt.
ReplyDeleteI love that quilt! All the quilts I have seen from the book are just gorgeous. I added the book to my amazon wish list (mother's day is around the corner). On occasion I also press my seams open. It depends if the block gets too bulk. I love your choice of fabrics.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. You have such talent for piecing!
ReplyDeleteThe back of your block is so neat, and the fabric choices are spot on. Thanks for sharing the ins and outs of making this block. alternate email mlwright29(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteAl I can say is wauw, what I stunning book and tutorial. Love to try it out.
ReplyDeleteAnne Cevat