When a friend suggested blue sashing for these red slabs, I cringed. I've never like red/blue combinations unless it was jeans and a cowboy shirt. In this case, the reds are fairly bright and the blues are loud, loud. However, I didn't have anything else in my stash so gave it a shot. When the top was done, I was not overly impressed, so decided to add a piano key border, partly because that would make it big enough for a Quilt of Valour. I had just enough scraps left to do it. Here is the result...
Now I changed my mind about red and blue, not because of the particular values, hues, etc. but because of the balance. The top had too much blue yelling at me, but adding those keys toned down the blue and gave red the prominence. Balance is another thing to think of when making a quilt.
This photo is the top. I've cut strips for the binding, blue and a bit of red. The backing is a wild pieced thing with almost all my red scraps from that scrap bin plus some blue/red plaids.
The bin has a few little pieces left and one that is about 8" x 10" so I am happy with that. Of course, my stash still has reds, but bigger pieces, not scraps.
From a small box of red scraps I made this quilt which looks far better than the photo. My hubby claimed it as soon as he saw it. Now am working on this one (below) and will make another one also, all from that box of red scraps. The three of them are lap size or larger (or will be) for big laps!
The blue sashing is not my choice. A friend convinced me to try it. I've never been a fan of red/blue together, but it does have a certain appeal. Besides, it is from the stash and I am not buying more fabric! The left two verticals are sewn, with the third ready to attach and the fourth just hanging there looking messy. I am thinking of a 5" piano key boarder with leftover reds (they multiply in the dark when no one is looking). There is enough of them, plus a bit of blue to accent or put in the corners.
The third quilt has a brown/red print ready to cut up for sashing.
Making these slab quilts is easy and fun. I'll quilt them with a panto and they will likely go to QoV Canada.
Scott's king size quilt is done, but no photo yet. We are taking it to our church where we can hang it from a beam and get back far enough to take a picture. It will be quite a production needing two ladders, at least two men, lots of clamps and patience on my part!
Since last post, this top is ready to sandwich. My quilt wall and camera fight over blue for some reason, so the top picture gives a better idea of colors. This one is a lap size for a lovely friend who is small.
The sunlight is bright today, so the blocks on the top right show the color the best.
I made a bunch of 12.5" slabs from my bin of red scraps a few months ago. Twelve of them became my hubby's quilt, which he claimed as soon as he saw the blocks with the background. (Btw, this photo does not do it justice.)
The other slabs sat. I didn't want to buy more fabric so tried a few larger pieces for the sashing without being too happy with them. Yesterday, a friend was here and made suggestions I would not have thought to try. One is using brown for most of the slabs that have a touch of it, and the other is using a bright blue because many of the slabs have a dash of blue. I have twelve with blue in them and sixteen with brown - and one leftover. It amazes me that all this came from a plastic bin that is about 9" x 12" x 14" full of red bits and pieces, and it was not packed full.
Now the red bin is almost full again and there are eleven more in other colors. Sigh - will I live long enough!!
Incision is healing. Still cannot lay on my left side or do anything that requires lots of energy, but that should change after the next procedure!
Here's a couple close-up shots showing the fun I had quilting this one. These two look the similar and actually there were two of each design on the quilt, but true to my ADD, I had to do a different design on each block. (See this post)
Also finished my hubby's lap quilt. I've been teasing him because he is treating it like a kid who never had a blankie! It is 52" x 76" and quilted with free-motion leaves. It is also really soft and cuddly. I might have to make myself one like this!
Next is a king-size for my son. I might not be back for awhile. I've been procrastinating on this one for a couple years.
This one is now ready to quilt. I've planned rectangle spirals (not the right term but you know what I mean) on the blocks and three parallel wavy lines in the sashing. Simple.
I've enough slabs leftover for at least two more quilts. This is from a small box of scraps — and I am still astonished. Don't throw them away!
Happy New Year!
Every spare minute over the past couple of weeks I've been sewing slabs of reds, mixed with mostly reds and a few oddities that have red in them. There are now enough 12.5 x 12.5 blocks to make two, maybe three quilts.
I tossed a few colors on the floor and tried the red slabs on them. Black was harsh, white not too interesting, but my hubby loved this one, and I think I do too. It is a bit darker and more dramatic than the photo. I'll make one with this print in likely a 2" sashing which makes the blocks look like they are floating. I've a plan for one with a lighter background but don't have the fabric selected yet.
All of these blocks came from a small plastic tote of scraps. I am amazed. I may have said this already, but one friend tosses all her scraps. I was thinking of these being charity quilts, but my hubby has already claimed the first idea for himself. He says he needs one for his occasional naps!
My fabric scraps are sorted to color and in boxes that are about 9" x 10" x 15" and most of them are nearly full. The red one was at about 3/4 and I just watched an episode on The Quilt Show on making 'slab' quilts. This technique has been perfected by a woman from Calgary, Alberta. Her name is Cheryl Arkison and she has three books out. The video on TQS was fun to watch and making these improv blocks is so relaxing.
What amazes me is that with a few scraps, I already have 15 large blocks (12.5") and will have at least 15 more, just in the reds and reddish scraps from that bin! There are variations in prints, tonal values, etc. but all red and shades thereof. Here is a picture of the blocks so far. To the left is a pile of larger pieces that will finish up 15 more slabs that are already partly sewn.
