It isn’t like me to be in a quandry about what project to work on, but that is just where I found myself last week. Do you ever find that you can spend a day deep in thought about quilting projects, and at the end of the day, have accomplished exactly nothing except making a collosal mess in your sewing room? Yup, that was me last week, only it wasn’t just one day, it was the entire week wasted.
Finally I made my choice. I decided to work with the red, green and white fabrics and the project selected was the Toulouse pattern by Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co. From the get-go, things didn’t start off all that great.
Now, you all know I am Carrie Nelson’s biggest fan. Seriously, I go ga ga over that woman and her patterns. But, this time I have a teensy complaint. Carrie, girlfriend, in all honesty, with this pattern your cutting instructions were way complicated.
The problem is, Carrie loves things to be as scrappy as possible, and for this quilt she directs you to cut out a gazillion 1 1/2 inch squares to make all those nine patches. 60 nine patch units, 540 teensy squares, if I did the math right. My brilliant and practical friend Lisa emailed to say, "I hope you are strip piecing those nine patch units". Huh? Oh, right. That is a GOOD idea. Luckily she caught me before I had cut out all the little squares, and I still had lots of fabric left to spare.
I do not think that by strip piecing these nine patch units I sacrificed one bit of the scrappy look. In all these patches, I did not duplicate one single red fabric. Carrie, Carrie, why couldn’t you have given us the *option* of strip piecing, and included those instructions in the pattern? For dopes like me, it would be such a big help. And I bet, if you took a poll, 99% of quilters would not want to deal with 540 1 1/2 inch squares if they didn’t have to.
So, being rather stupid about math, I dithered and guessed and fiddled around cutting out various strips of red and white fabric for the nine patches. Thank goodness I have a surplus of fabric for this project, or I would be even more frustrated. I finished 36 of the nine patches, and have 24 more to go. Needless to say, I am cutting the strips as I go.
I haven’t even cut out the green and white print fabric for the half square triangles, or the units for the flying geese. I am just taking this one step by step, which isn’t the way I normally operate. I like getting the entire project all cut out and organized into little sandwich bags before I start sewing, rather than just plunging in half prepared.
It will be OK. Once I get the nine patches cranked out, I can tackle the green and white half square triangles, then I am home free with the flying geese units. One step at a time. I know I will love the finished quilt. It is a Miss Rosie design, after all.
46 responses to “Red and Green Woes”
This is going to be a beautiful quilt. It looks so fresh with the red and white. I have to remind myself to read ahead on patterns to see if there is a way to make the piecing simpler too. Otherwise I get into a quilt and then I won’t finish because of the time factor. Enjoy.
This is going to be a beautiful quilt. It looks so fresh with the red and white. I have to remind myself to read ahead on patterns to see if there is a way to make the piecing simpler too. Otherwise I get into a quilt and then I won’t finish because of the time factor. Enjoy.
Gorgeous pattern — and your fabric choices are fabulous! Can’t wait to see more!
Gorgeous pattern — and your fabric choices are fabulous! Can’t wait to see more!
Oh what a beauty you’ve got going there *s*
Oh what a beauty you’ve got going there *s*
I love her designs as well but the instructions are intense. I have Ruby Slippers partially made.. just became overwhelmed. Love all your red and white.
I love her designs as well but the instructions are intense. I have Ruby Slippers partially made.. just became overwhelmed. Love all your red and white.
Delicious! However you do it, this is going to be a loverly quilt Nicole.
xoxo
Delicious! However you do it, this is going to be a loverly quilt Nicole.
xoxo
Love the design, I am always on the look out for the easies way to piece things, I hate it when you have to work it out yourself, that’s why I buy patterns, so I don’t have to stress the brain.
Love the design, I am always on the look out for the easies way to piece things, I hate it when you have to work it out yourself, that’s why I buy patterns, so I don’t have to stress the brain.
Love the design, I am always on the look out for the easies way to piece things, I hate it when you have to work it out yourself, that’s why I buy patterns, so I don’t have to stress the brain.
Love the design, I am always on the look out for the easies way to piece things, I hate it when you have to work it out yourself, that’s why I buy patterns, so I don’t have to stress the brain.
Hang in there – sounds like your game plan will work now. I NEVER want to know how many pieces there are until AFTER I’m done sewing them together! Maybe it’s called “Toulouse” as in “to lose your mind” or “to lose your temper.” Seriously, though, it looks soooo gorgeous!
Hang in there – sounds like your game plan will work now. I NEVER want to know how many pieces there are until AFTER I’m done sewing them together! Maybe it’s called “Toulouse” as in “to lose your mind” or “to lose your temper.” Seriously, though, it looks soooo gorgeous!
Hang in there girlfriend at Lisa had her thinking cap on for you. I am always double thinking on Ms. Rosie patterns too. You will have to do want I do when I run into problems, I call 1-800-PERRY. LOL
Hang in there girlfriend at Lisa had her thinking cap on for you. I am always double thinking on Ms. Rosie patterns too. You will have to do want I do when I run into problems, I call 1-800-PERRY. LOL
I love the fabrics you are using. You are right about it being a beautiful quilt when you get finished. Don’t you just hate it when you can’t get in a rhythm on a quilt? That seems to be me at the moment, too.
I love the fabrics you are using. You are right about it being a beautiful quilt when you get finished. Don’t you just hate it when you can’t get in a rhythm on a quilt? That seems to be me at the moment, too.
Just love your fabrics you picked it will look lovely when finished I cant beleive how quick you seem to make up these blocks I am always amaized at your work.
Hugs Mary.
Just love your fabrics you picked it will look lovely when finished I cant beleive how quick you seem to make up these blocks I am always amaized at your work.
Hugs Mary.
I’ve come across the same problem. Luckily, the pattern I’m using is much smaller and uses less squares. However, it does say to cut out the 2″ squares separately and then sew them into 9 patch blocks. Whatever happened to strip piece instructions?
I’ve come across the same problem. Luckily, the pattern I’m using is much smaller and uses less squares. However, it does say to cut out the 2″ squares separately and then sew them into 9 patch blocks. Whatever happened to strip piece instructions?
Wow Nicole — that’s going to be a great quilt. I love the green print in the bottom right hand corner of the last picture. Can’t wait to see this one finished!
Wow Nicole — that’s going to be a great quilt. I love the green print in the bottom right hand corner of the last picture. Can’t wait to see this one finished!
Toulouse is my all-time favorite Miss Rosie’s pattern. And I agree wtih everyone else that your fabric choices are heavenly. Please don’t forget to share a pic of the project when it is complete!
Toulouse is my all-time favorite Miss Rosie’s pattern. And I agree wtih everyone else that your fabric choices are heavenly. Please don’t forget to share a pic of the project when it is complete!
But your gonna have one beautiful quilt once your finished. Your my hero for taking on that challenge. I can’t wait to see it finished. I’m glad you went with the red/green combo.
But your gonna have one beautiful quilt once your finished. Your my hero for taking on that challenge. I can’t wait to see it finished. I’m glad you went with the red/green combo.
Gorgeous fabrics! Hang in there, have the utmost confidence in you! 🙂 Keep Ozzie out of the way (send him over to my house awhile if you must…my granddaughter Abby would love to entertain him…lol)
Gorgeous fabrics! Hang in there, have the utmost confidence in you! 🙂 Keep Ozzie out of the way (send him over to my house awhile if you must…my granddaughter Abby would love to entertain him…lol)
Sorry this one has been so frustrating for you. I’m really surprised the instructions were not simplified. Then again, you know Carrie and her bent for ultra scrappiness! Still, it looks like yours are plenty scrappy! I will have to keep this in mind for when I put my Toulouse quilt together!
Sorry this one has been so frustrating for you. I’m really surprised the instructions were not simplified. Then again, you know Carrie and her bent for ultra scrappiness! Still, it looks like yours are plenty scrappy! I will have to keep this in mind for when I put my Toulouse quilt together!
This is going to be SOOOOO PRETTY!! Love your fabric choices and the pattern looks great. Shame about the limitations of the cutting instructions – probably best that you are tackling the cutting one step at a time 🙂
This is going to be SOOOOO PRETTY!! Love your fabric choices and the pattern looks great. Shame about the limitations of the cutting instructions – probably best that you are tackling the cutting one step at a time 🙂
I’ve made this quilt and cut out and sewed the gazillion squares. I followed the directions like a good girl…grumbled quietly, screamed into my pillow at night and stomped my feet in a temper tantrum. I made it through to the end and just like childbirth, you’ll soon forget the agony! Just persevere and when you are done you’ll probably want to do another one!
I’ve made this quilt and cut out and sewed the gazillion squares. I followed the directions like a good girl…grumbled quietly, screamed into my pillow at night and stomped my feet in a temper tantrum. I made it through to the end and just like childbirth, you’ll soon forget the agony! Just persevere and when you are done you’ll probably want to do another one!
Love the pattern! I love looking at other people’s fabric pile and saying, yea I have some of that, and that oh and look, this one too! You have great taste! ;o) lol
Love the pattern! I love looking at other people’s fabric pile and saying, yea I have some of that, and that oh and look, this one too! You have great taste! ;o) lol
I complete understand this post and have had occassion to think that very same think working on the Scarlet Begonia. I couldn’t figure out how to “strip it” so I just went with tiny squares for my nine patches. Painful.
I can’t wait to see the photos of the nine patches!!! I’m excited.
I complete understand this post and have had occassion to think that very same think working on the Scarlet Begonia. I couldn’t figure out how to “strip it” so I just went with tiny squares for my nine patches. Painful.
I can’t wait to see the photos of the nine patches!!! I’m excited.
LOVE these fabrics!
LOVE these fabrics!
your fabric choices are great! This is going to be a gorgeous quilt. I agree about the strip piecing of the 9 patches. Way too fussy cutting all those tiny squares!
your fabric choices are great! This is going to be a gorgeous quilt. I agree about the strip piecing of the 9 patches. Way too fussy cutting all those tiny squares!