Midnight Moon is a sew-along I have joined where we make blocks in Halloween fabrics from Carrie Nelson's great book "Summer Moon". In the book, the instructions call for making each of the 28 or 30 blocks in THREE different sizes. The blocks are then framed with half square triangles for the very unique setting. I thought that was too much work, so I opted to make my blocks only in the 6 1/2" size. It's been fun and I have enjoyed making the blocks and think this will be a terrific Halloween quilt.
I planned to set the blocks on the diagonal with an alternate plain block (or maybe blocks that would form a chain-I hadn't decided).
What I hadn't factored in is how small the finished quilt would be when made up in 6-inch finished blocks. Seriously? If I had 30 blocks and set them in a 5 x 6 setting with an alternate block, my unbordered quilt would measure 42 1/2" by 51". Now I'm wishing I had gone for the larger size block.
So, here's what I think I will do. To get a decent size quilt, closer to the size of the top of a queen-sized bed, I'm going to need at least 49 pieced quilt blocks. A quilt top without borders made in a 7 x7 diagonal setting would end up being 59 1/2" by 59 1/2". By the time I added a couple of borders it would be the size I have in mind to use as a lap quilt or to fold at the foot of my bed.
Ok, wake up now if you fell asleep during the math. I need 19 more quilt blocks to make the quilt I have in mind. I have a fat quarter bundle I haven't even touched of the fabrics I've been using, so I am good there. I also have scads of the background and some likely contenders for the border. Over the next few months, I am going to make the additional blocks for the quilt. There are plenty of patterns for 6 1/2" quilt blocks, so that won't be a problem either.
I won't worry about finishing the quilt for this Halloween. It will be an ongoing project. It is going to rest for now in its project box, but I promise I will keep working on it. Time to focus on a couple of other tops I started this summer and get them wrapped up.
9 responses to “Putting Midnight Moon Away For Awhile”
You probably wouldn’t have time to finish the quilt before Halloween with the changes you’re planning. Good for you giving yourself permission to put the blocks away for awhile. You’ll be refreshed & ready to finish it up without imposing a deadline on yourself!
You probably wouldn’t have time to finish the quilt before Halloween with the changes you’re planning. Good for you giving yourself permission to put the blocks away for awhile. You’ll be refreshed & ready to finish it up without imposing a deadline on yourself!
You probably wouldn’t have time to finish the quilt before Halloween with the changes you’re planning. Good for you giving yourself permission to put the blocks away for awhile. You’ll be refreshed & ready to finish it up without imposing a deadline on yourself!
I love this fabric line! Technically, I keep my Halloween quilt up until Thanksgiving so…you still have time!
I love this fabric line! Technically, I keep my Halloween quilt up until Thanksgiving so…you still have time!
I love this fabric line! Technically, I keep my Halloween quilt up until Thanksgiving so…you still have time!
My favorite way to size up complex blocks is to find a light and a dark that complements the colors in the quilt and set them on point…half framed in dark and half framed in light. Allows each block to shine on its own and gain 41% more quilt real estate with a pleasing hourglass too boot.
My favorite way to size up complex blocks is to find a light and a dark that complements the colors in the quilt and set them on point…half framed in dark and half framed in light. Allows each block to shine on its own and gain 41% more quilt real estate with a pleasing hourglass too boot.
My favorite way to size up complex blocks is to find a light and a dark that complements the colors in the quilt and set them on point…half framed in dark and half framed in light. Allows each block to shine on its own and gain 41% more quilt real estate with a pleasing hourglass too boot.