Colourful Spools

The Project: Runaway Thread

--PART THREE--

As one would normally create the blocks that make up the quilt top first, and then add the borders, this project allowed for a change in this process. This pattern works... no matter in which order you wish to do things....  So even though instructions still need to be followed, no one will know you changed things up.

I just happened to do it in reverse, as the blocks for the border are smaller and more of them. So you can see, that my wish was to finish this quilt top successfully, rather than getting tired and being stuck with an unfinished top.

Main Block Construction

 

These begin with 6.5" background fabric squares. Then adding scrappy squares to create the spool. When you look at the overall design, the spools in the border are created with the light fabric and the center spools with the scrappy fabrics.

To complete the blocks, they are created the same as the border blocks; however, the fabrics used are just done in reverse. The scrappy fabrics will create the spool, after assembly.

Adding Scrappy Blocks

Cutting Off Extra Fabric

Block Placement

Ooops... Fixing A Dilemma!

Only at this point, did I discover that I had three of these pieces...

 when I actually needed three of these pieces...

If I had not cut off the extra fabric on the blocks, all I would have needed to do was separate the larger scrappy piece and be done. However, since I had cut them, I had to adjust these blocks by thinking up a way to do that...

Not having enough leftover fabric to just cut three more blocks, I decided to add the same background fabric, creating a seam where there actually shouldn't have been one.

Replacing Corner

Now that I had make the adjustments, I could have stopped there. However, to make it look like less of an error, I did the same for all four corner blocks, and the two center blocks on the left and right sides of the quilt top.

Adding Balance at Side Center

Center Blocks Complete

Now, here one could have just added several plain borders until the size was what you wanted. However, the pattern is designed with a more creative touch... a unique block border creating a reverse effect from the center blocks.

Don't you agree, that simple borders would not have been as pretty as this one, here!

Fancy Border Added

I definitely enjoyed this project. There are lots of fun projects in this book. And, since I have more scrappy squares I'll need to revisit the list and see which one I'd want to make next time.

Now, if one wanted this quilt a bit larger, adding additional borders with fabric strips, would be simply easy. The image below shows how is fits on a queen size bed. It wouldn't take much to make it the proper size, if one desired. As I am leaving it as a quilt top, that could still be a possibility.... 

Finished Quilt Top

 

Runaway Thread -- (66" x 78")

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this project... until next time, have fun and do something creative!! For more on the book or the scrap therapy system, visit these links.

 

Happy Quilting,

 

 

 

 

Empty Spools

The Project: Runaway Thread

--PART TWO--

I began with the 3" block sizes as they will be more time consuming. Then made the 6.5" blocks for the main part of the quilt. However, here I will cover only the border strips in Part Two, and then the main part of the quilt in Part Three.

 

Block Construction

To complete the blocks, first a diagonal line is drawn on the wrong side of the background fabric (light). Then placed right sizes together with a scrap fabric block. I stitched just to the right of this line, so when it was pressed it was the proper size.

Stitching the First Corner

The instructions leave both layers as is; however, I cut them off. It worked out prefectly because I was short on the yardage and was able to use this cut off piece to do the opposite corner. I just had to align it properly to complete the blocks.


Trimming the Block Layers

Because I was using the pieces that were cut off, I did not have a square piece to align with the corner of the scrap square (as above pieces with the drawn line). I first sewed one (orange/white below) and then measured it as shown. This edge was used to align the light triangle piece so it would turn out the proper size.



Stitching the Other One

Trimming To Create The Stitching Line

Attaching the Other Corner

 

Border Construction

This was the first time I've ever worked on completing the borders of the quilt before doing the main part. With this pattern, this is possible as it is all calculated out for you in the instructions.

All the blocks are complete!! Next step, was to arrange all the pieces as shown in the book. Then, sewing together three blocks in rows and continue until the border strip was done.

Arranging Borders

Sewing A Row

Sewing the Rows to Make the Borders

Now that I have the rows stitched together into the final border strips, I am ready to stitch together the larger blocks for the center of the quilt. Coming in Part Three...

Ready For the Center

Next week... I will show you the remaining part to complete this quilt top. And also, show you how I fixed a serious error I had made in my block construction. 

 

Happy Quilting,