The Border of the Month project is coming along. This is the sew-along Corey Yoder is hosting. She has a blog, Coriander Quilts, and a YouTube channel where she talks about the fabric lines she designs for Moda, as well as her ongoing projects and tutorials. I really enjoy following her. Anyway, we started with a simple checkerboard center and have added a new border each month.
Some months the task is super simple, such as the first and third borders, which were just strips of fabric to frame the blocks. The second border wasn’t too bad either, with easy strips and squares to combine to make 16 blocks. I am doing a color story design, so I do have to plan ahead somewhat, but this quilt is adorable when done all scrappy. Great scrap buster too, by the way.
This is Corey’s picture of the blocks that make up the fourth border. I am a long way from actually getting to this stage. I thought these blocks looked easy breezy as well, but found that they require a LOT more planning when doing a specific color layout. I wanted to make a test block, so I started with my first block, the one in the upper left. It had a pieced navy section on one corner and a pieced pale blue section on the other corner. I got it all pieced together and saw that I had my chain going in the wrong direction. Hello Jack the Ripper.
I am going to have to have a diagram of my color placement in front of me as I make each and every block combination so I not only get the colors right but also have the chain going in the right direction. That’s ok; I still have a gazillion four-patches and half-square triangles to finish before I start seriously piecing the blocks. Stay tuned, as this step will take me all week!
Believe me, I have thought a number of times how this wouldn’t be an issue at all if I had just decided to go scrappy. I could merrily assemble the blocks away willy nilly and they would all work out fine. Keep that in mind if you decide to do this project!
One other thing I should mention is that all the seams have to be pressed open with this project to fit together without bulk when you assemble the blocks. My long pressing bar has really come in handy. The construction of the blocks is simple enough with this project, but the details are pretty labor-intensive. Still, it will be a super cute quilt when I finish it. What else am I doing anyway? The time is going to pass regardless, so I might as well have a cute quilt at the end of it, right?
12 Responses
Wow that is interesting about the border. I have a quilt project of several years’ duration that has that same chain border; the last one on a beautiful medallion quilt. Thanks for the warning ahead of time!
I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me ahead of time, but there you are. It was an unwelcome surprise!
Love the look of that border! I usually press my seams open and use the same pressing bar.
I use the shorter ones most, but this one is so handy for pressing complete block seams.
Another pretty, summery quilt, a very cheery project!
It’s fun seeing these quilts shared by the makers on FB. Corey Yoder sis a wonderful designer and so generous to share her designs.
I saw a really unique variation on the FB page this morning and got permission from the maker to share the picture tomorrow on my blog. It is so imaginative.
Thanks for the reminder about a pressing bar! It would be useful because I’m working on a runner right now that needs the seams pressed open. That’s a good way to look at spending the time–your quilt will be cute & why not?
Those pressing bars are so handy. I started with one shorter one, bought one more, and then splurged and got the long one. I use them all the time.
same……after you recommended it. I bought a short one and then turned around and bought a long one. ;p
Love that outer border with the chains. I pretty much do open seams, but it would be nice to have a pressing bar! Recently finished a quilt that had nested seams – it drove me crazy, so many lumps and bumps (made by another lady) that the poor longarm protested a few times!
I used to be so lazy about open seams, but do them 80% of the time now.
Love the pieced border! I have a couple of ancient (not really, but about 30 years old) border books that I still refer to.
I nest some seams and press others open. Whatever works at the time.
Yesterday I finished Skylines, a Hoffman panel of the NYC skyline that I added plain borders to. The panel was colorful enough. Hope to get a good photo of it today.
Hugs!