I worked on Windmills quite a bit this weekend, mostly prepping fabric and cutting and getting organized.
The blocks required are pretty simple-hourglass blocks, pinwheels made from half square triangle units, and flying geese. It seemed like it took ages to get to the cutting stage. With the wet weather we have had, starching, drying, and pressing the 70 fatquarters I had pulled took forever. Well, two and half days actually. Once I had cut out the fabric to make my three block components, I laid them out on my table with labels to keep it all straight in my head what was for what.
Then I started in on making the hour glass units.
This little ruler by Open Gate Quilts is such a handy tool. Fit to be Quarter, designed by Monique Dillard, it is just what you need to square up hourglass blocks. The pattern called for cutting 5 1/4" squares for the hourglass blocks, but I knew that I needed to cut the fabric squares larger and trim them down for the best results. So, I cut my fabrics 5 1/2" square and did just that. There wasn't much to trim, but it made the difference between slightly wonky blocks and nice square perfect ones. Did I mention that the blocks for this quilt are 4 1/2" square?
So, here is the thing I have come to terms with: This scrappy layout is way too random for me. There is too much going on. Too much color, too many patterns, no place for my eye to rest. Give me a day or so to work on it, but I plan to come up with a plan to get this pattern to conform to my comfort zones.
Here is another random note- Over the weekend I did an upgrade to my MacBook Air laptop and now my photos are coming out mirror images of themselves. Look at the print on the top of the pattern. What the heck is that about? Ah, technology.
27 responses to “Windmills: Getting Organized”
Morning Nichole, If you did your computer update over the weekend, don’t think that’s what is causing your image problem as it looked like that in your Friday post too. Might need to look for another cause? Think this going to be a spectacular quilt!!!
Morning Nichole, If you did your computer update over the weekend, don’t think that’s what is causing your image problem as it looked like that in your Friday post too. Might need to look for another cause? Think this going to be a spectacular quilt!!!
Morning Nichole, If you did your computer update over the weekend, don’t think that’s what is causing your image problem as it looked like that in your Friday post too. Might need to look for another cause? Think this going to be a spectacular quilt!!!
great hints for perfection. Can’t wait to see your version of coloring. You are so organized!
Mary
great hints for perfection. Can’t wait to see your version of coloring. You are so organized!
Mary
great hints for perfection. Can’t wait to see your version of coloring. You are so organized!
Mary
Love your organization and fabrics! Could those Flying Geese in the border be the cause of the busy look in this quilt?
Hugs!
Love your organization and fabrics! Could those Flying Geese in the border be the cause of the busy look in this quilt?
Hugs!
Love your organization and fabrics! Could those Flying Geese in the border be the cause of the busy look in this quilt?
Hugs!
70 fat quarters!?! Wow, that’s quite a bit. But destined to be wonderfully scrappy. I’m proud of you for listening to your gut in regards to the busyness of your quilt and I’m looking forward to seeing your progress.
70 fat quarters!?! Wow, that’s quite a bit. But destined to be wonderfully scrappy. I’m proud of you for listening to your gut in regards to the busyness of your quilt and I’m looking forward to seeing your progress.
70 fat quarters!?! Wow, that’s quite a bit. But destined to be wonderfully scrappy. I’m proud of you for listening to your gut in regards to the busyness of your quilt and I’m looking forward to seeing your progress.
I noticed Friday when I zoomed in on the pattern that it was reversed. Updates always make me nervous & this just proves my point! Good to see that someone else labels e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.! In the end, it saves time & possibly fabric from being sewn into the wrong place! Have a great week!
I noticed Friday when I zoomed in on the pattern that it was reversed. Updates always make me nervous & this just proves my point! Good to see that someone else labels e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.! In the end, it saves time & possibly fabric from being sewn into the wrong place! Have a great week!
I noticed Friday when I zoomed in on the pattern that it was reversed. Updates always make me nervous & this just proves my point! Good to see that someone else labels e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.! In the end, it saves time & possibly fabric from being sewn into the wrong place! Have a great week!
Wow, you are super organized! Can’t wait to see with which way you will come up to make this scrappy layout not so scrappy at all I’m sure it’ll be amazing.
BTW the last picture was a mirror image on friday too and the other pictures look fine. Hope the update didn’t mess up things for you after all. My laptop did an update a while ago and now one of my apps isn’t working anymore:-(
Wow, you are super organized! Can’t wait to see with which way you will come up to make this scrappy layout not so scrappy at all I’m sure it’ll be amazing.
BTW the last picture was a mirror image on friday too and the other pictures look fine. Hope the update didn’t mess up things for you after all. My laptop did an update a while ago and now one of my apps isn’t working anymore:-(
Wow, you are super organized! Can’t wait to see with which way you will come up to make this scrappy layout not so scrappy at all I’m sure it’ll be amazing.
BTW the last picture was a mirror image on friday too and the other pictures look fine. Hope the update didn’t mess up things for you after all. My laptop did an update a while ago and now one of my apps isn’t working anymore:-(
Love your colour choice and thank you for the hint about getting a perfect 4 1/2 square.
Love your colour choice and thank you for the hint about getting a perfect 4 1/2 square.
Love your colour choice and thank you for the hint about getting a perfect 4 1/2 square.
I’m so impressed at how organized you are! Love your color choices and can’t wait to see your progress! My friend had that mirror image problem, I think it has to do with your camera settings, you can probably google it and find a quick fix.
I’m so impressed at how organized you are! Love your color choices and can’t wait to see your progress! My friend had that mirror image problem, I think it has to do with your camera settings, you can probably google it and find a quick fix.
I’m so impressed at how organized you are! Love your color choices and can’t wait to see your progress! My friend had that mirror image problem, I think it has to do with your camera settings, you can probably google it and find a quick fix.
Keeping track of all those pieces is a perfect way to get happy results. I’m with you about making these types of units bigger and doing a little trimming. It also makes for happy results.
Keeping track of all those pieces is a perfect way to get happy results. I’m with you about making these types of units bigger and doing a little trimming. It also makes for happy results.
Keeping track of all those pieces is a perfect way to get happy results. I’m with you about making these types of units bigger and doing a little trimming. It also makes for happy results.