It may seem like the only thing I did at retreat was stitch one triangle border together, but I actually got a few other things done.
For starters, I cut out those super skinny sashing strips and the borders that will go on the outside of the triangle rows.
I also got validation from my quilty friends that I did not have to do scallops on that outer border.*
Instead, I’m planning to have a straight edge border of the same width as the scallops would have been.
Retreat seemed like the perfect time to cut out all those long strips – something I’m just not that skilled at – because at retreat, I can take advantage of much larger cutting mats than the ones I own.**
Of course, I also cut out some super skinny strips that were much shorter, to make the red asterisk in this block.***
I think I changed the green fabric choice at least four times on this block, till I finally hit on a directional fabric that wasn’t too dramatic. That way, I could play with the directional placement of the fabric and mitigate the effects of green fabric touching other green fabric.
But I was tired, trying to finish this one on the last night of retreat, and I ended up sewing a bunch of light green pieces to other light green pieces … all with red thread! Back at home, I had to pick apart about 10 inches of seams and redo them with a more appropriate thread color.
It was exciting being at retreat during the home stretch of piecing my Dear Jane. I got so many suggestions for colors of hand quilting thread to use, different batting to try, etc. One friend even suggested I put this quilt in a juried show.****
The project is getting to the point where I’m going to have to think about these little finishing details. At least the scallops decision***** has been officially made.
Footnotes:
* I’ve done scallops before (on a wholecloth quilt), but they’re just not my style.
** Larger cutting mats mean fewer folds, which mean fewer opportunities for accidentally V-shaped strips.
*** There, I’m finally talking about this footnote-reminiscent block, so that it isn’t relegated to a footnote in its own blog article.
**** I’m not sure I’m a juried show kind of person, but I’m touched that someone thinks my quilt is of that caliber.
***** Technically, it’s the “no scallops” decision.