Back in December I joined a round-robin group at my LQS entitled "Head For The Border". This is a round-robin that never leaves the hands of the original quiltmaker, everyone works on their own creation the entire time. As a way of sparking creativity and building skills, the unknown for the next border "round" is revealed each month by the drawing of a color and a design element to be used from a brown paper bag. We don't know where we're headed... it's the journey that makes this experience so much fun.
 |
| In order to develop a sense of direction toward the destination it's important to not only know where you are but how you got there. I often find myself relying on the most basic skills that I learned in the very first quilmaking class I ever took, back in 1983. (Are you reading this, Ann?) Back then we cut templates from plastic and drew every seam line with pencil. I don't use mylar sheets anymore for templates but sometimes certain situations (unusual sizes) call for me to draft the shapes in EQ7 and print them onto freezer paper sheets. I cut them out (on the stitching line) and iron them to the backside of my fabric pieces; then lightly draw around those shapes with a fine mechanical pencil. The pieces won't shift (I use a sandpaper board beneath the fabric pieces to ensure stability while tracing) and then cut them out 1/4" beyond the drawn line. The freezer paper is reusable (over and over and over...). This is much more accurate than using rotary cutting directions to the 1/16th or 1/32nd of an inch. I'm happy to have a solid piecing foundation, basically anything that can be drafted can be stitched using this technique. Even with a closetful of specialty rulers and a die cutter it's always a good feeling to return to the basics. |
 |
Ready for tomorrow... my "Head For The Border" medallion work in progress. This now measures 23.5" square; I believe there are to be three more "rounds". The four "Winding Ways" blocks are where I began. Round #1 saw us adding the color black and the design element of rectangles; round #2: green and flying geese. I can't wait for tomorrow's reveal and to see what everyone else has come up with. As for me, I may not know exactly where I'm headed, but I am guided by good directions and am having an enjoyable time getting there. I believe I am going to name this one "The Long And Winding Road". Stay tuned for more clues along the way to the ultimate destination.
Life is Good!
|
8 comments:
You are so right about the process and the journey . . .
I love this challenge in which you are involved. Your LQS owner is very inventive. All we have around here are Saturday Samplers.
I love going back to the basics sometimes - hand piecing, for instance. My mother drew and hand cut all her templates out of newspaper. I don't want to go that far, but it does speak of slower, gentler times. blessings, marlene
What a great way to stretch yourself and also to try some things that you might not usually try. I like where this is headed and look forward to what comes next.
It is a beautiful quilt so far! I'll bet it is nice to have total control over your round robin quilt. : )
looks great, and I love the name you have chosen
Love it!! A bright and cheery project for a long, cold winter! I still use the basics in my quilt making. I love the process. I only have 3 basic rulers. I never joined the "quick and easy" bandwagon!
Post a Comment