Woo hoo, a new project and it isn't a sew-along. These are the Apple Sauce quilt blocks I've made so far. I had so much BasicGrey fabric leftover from the Sampler Spree project that I decided to try to use it up by making a "companion" quilt to Sampler Spree.
I love this pattern, but sad to say, I do not find that it is well written. When I made the block several times following the instructions in the pattern, it did not come out well at all. The points were cut off every time, making me think the measurements were off. I contacted the pattern designer but did not get a response.
I found a very similar block called Aunt Addie's Album in my Judy Hopkins 500 Quilt Blocks book. With a few modifications, I was able to construct the block, making the flying geese units oversized. When trimmed down to 2 1/2" x 4 1/2", the points were not cut off and the block looks as it should.
These blocks are actually kind of fun to make, now that I have my system down.
It took me a while to figure out how to cut my fabrics that have a directional print. Even though this same fabric was used in the pattern sample, there was no mention of the fact that if you want your block to look like the one in the sample, you have to carefully cut directional prints on the diagonal. See the navy and brown blocks on the left? That's what happens when you don't cut the directional print diagonally. Oh well, live and learn. I've been sewing long enough, thank goodness I figured it out after a few false starts. Also, lucky that I have loads of fabric.
I'll have some bonus blocks for the back, I guess…
7 Responses
I LOVE your blocks! I am a huge basic grey fan too.
I have finished one quilt and have a lot of fabric left from the three lines.
I bought several patterns featuring those fabrics and and thinking about starting the one with the different leaf blocks. Unfortunately it by same designer and one leaf has a drunkards pattern style unit in it.
I think I can simplify it though and use a different technique.
Oh boy, I like this block design. So glad you find a better way to make it, after the initial frustration. I’ve had that happen before too. There are some designers who use a lot of pattern testers and work hard to get it right and others who…don’t.
They are super blocks! Nicely done. Pretty fabrics too.
Thanks, Kerry
I think your pieces cut on the straight of grain leaving the pattern in the block on the diagonal make far more interesting blocks than the illustration.
I think a lot of patterns are designed without the fabric actually being there and that’s why there is the issues with directional fabrics. I’ve gotten burned by that so many times!
That’s a great use of your leftover fabric! Now that you have a ‘system’ figured out you’d better get all of the blocks made. I’d have to because putting it away for any length of time would mean that I’d completely forget how I made them!
Very nice looking stars, and good job finding (what looks like) the exact star that you needed from a more understandable pattern book! 🙂 This will be a beauty when finished.