That would be Red Pineapple, my homage to French General fabrics, their reds in particular. It seems that there are a lot of folks working on Pineapple quilts lately! I shamelessly copied Cathy (Quilting on Main Street), her colors and her method. Thelma
has been working on a foundation pieced version of her own, but hasn't posted recently on
her progress. A little bird told me she has made 30
blocks however! Carrie is making an amazing Pineapple quilt, and has around 25 blocks made. Check out her blog to see a gorgeous scrappy version. She has some extremely interesting facts about various methods of making the Pineapple block. Also, her impression of making the blocks is a little different than mine, which makes for interesting reading. Don't you love it when folks who are doing the same thing have slightly different experiences? Professional vs Amateur. lol
I made one sample block a couple of months ago, right after I cut out all my fabrics. This week I had some sewing time, and decided since Hill Country Baskets is just about done, I could give myself permission to get back to work on my Pineapples. I am using the Pineapple Ruler by Possibilities to make my blocks.
So here is my impression of Pineapple blocks thus far:
They take a TON of fabric. A T.O.N. If you want to reduce your stash, this baby is the answer.
It takes FOREVER to cut out the strips. Since you are using a ton of fabric, that is probably obvious. But seriously, this took me a week to cut out the strips. I like cutting, so I didn't mind too much.
It takes a while to get used to using the Pineapple Ruler. There is a pdf file that you can download that explains beautifully how to do it, but being a Quilter of Very Little Brain, there was a learning curve for me. My blocks are coming out mostly the same size, so I think I am doing it right.
Making the blocks takes a very long time. The six blocks on my design wall took me well over three hours to make. I chain pieced, but you have to press after every round and then trim. There are ten rounds of strips that surround the center square. Carrie seems to be going a lot faster than I am. Maybe with practice I can speed this process up.
Lastly, there is quite a considerable amount of waste, especially on the last round. What you see below is what I had trimmed for those six blocks. If you are trying to use up your stash, this may not bother you one bit.
Bottom line, I love the way these blocks look. Everyone should make at least one Pineapple quilt in their life, and once this challenge is tackled, will have something to be very proud of. No regrets so far!
38 responses to “Ananas Rouge”
My blocks came out “mostly” the same size too, but when I sewed them together, I did not have much difficulty. There tends to be a bias edge in there somewhere and I could ease and tug to get them to fit together so the seams met up as they are supposed to. Good luck with it; of course I like your color scheme.
My blocks came out “mostly” the same size too, but when I sewed them together, I did not have much difficulty. There tends to be a bias edge in there somewhere and I could ease and tug to get them to fit together so the seams met up as they are supposed to. Good luck with it; of course I like your color scheme.
I tried this block with this ruler about three years ago, and abandoned the blocks midway through. I ended up finishing them a different way, because I loved my fabric so much. I just could not get that ruler to be my friend. I decided quilting is supposed to be fun for me, so I gave away the ruler and never looked back. These pineapple quilts are so pretty, but I’m going to just admire them from afar.
I tried this block with this ruler about three years ago, and abandoned the blocks midway through. I ended up finishing them a different way, because I loved my fabric so much. I just could not get that ruler to be my friend. I decided quilting is supposed to be fun for me, so I gave away the ruler and never looked back. These pineapple quilts are so pretty, but I’m going to just admire them from afar.
My hat is off to you and the others who are making these Pineapple blocks! Each is lovely and a real tribute to its maker. Thank you for the links to the other blogs and other quilts! Applause, applause!
I made a few smaller foundation pieced Pineapple blocks some years ago and decided I didn’t like the jagged look so just put it all away. That’s just me.
Hugs!
My hat is off to you and the others who are making these Pineapple blocks! Each is lovely and a real tribute to its maker. Thank you for the links to the other blogs and other quilts! Applause, applause!
I made a few smaller foundation pieced Pineapple blocks some years ago and decided I didn’t like the jagged look so just put it all away. That’s just me.
Hugs!
Love your red pineapple blocks. I’ve never made a pineapple quilt but after seeing yours…..another quilt on my bucket list. Dang, my list is getting long. I could get more quilts done if I didn’t have this “work” thing in the way. Keep up the good work, it’s going to be a beautiful quilt when your done.
Love your red pineapple blocks. I’ve never made a pineapple quilt but after seeing yours…..another quilt on my bucket list. Dang, my list is getting long. I could get more quilts done if I didn’t have this “work” thing in the way. Keep up the good work, it’s going to be a beautiful quilt when your done.
I think this quilt is going to be beautiful. I don’t have a lot of scraps or fabric so this is not in my future for awhile. Love all the French General fabric.
I think this quilt is going to be beautiful. I don’t have a lot of scraps or fabric so this is not in my future for awhile. Love all the French General fabric.
Professional? Amateur? Who’s who? Unless you mean professional strip cutters. (That read better than professional strippers… snort)
Mea culpa… pleasa forgiva. I have mistakely created the impression of pineapple speediness. Even though I was making 25 blocks at one time, they still took several days to make if you put the time continuously. There is a reason there isn’t a Pineapple In A Day book! 🙂
I’ve been told that as much as 60% of the fabric is in the seams – and the trimmed parts. Oy vey!
But they are worth the time because nothing else looks like a pineapple quilt. Yours will be gorgeous.
Professional? Amateur? Who’s who? Unless you mean professional strip cutters. (That read better than professional strippers… snort)
Mea culpa… pleasa forgiva. I have mistakely created the impression of pineapple speediness. Even though I was making 25 blocks at one time, they still took several days to make if you put the time continuously. There is a reason there isn’t a Pineapple In A Day book! 🙂
I’ve been told that as much as 60% of the fabric is in the seams – and the trimmed parts. Oy vey!
But they are worth the time because nothing else looks like a pineapple quilt. Yours will be gorgeous.
After seeing yours and Cathy’s I have to be a shameless copycat and make one too! I love how you’ve talked about the the different ways of going about it in your earlier post and what your thoughts are now. I know that they are time-consuming, but so worth it in the end.
After seeing yours and Cathy’s I have to be a shameless copycat and make one too! I love how you’ve talked about the the different ways of going about it in your earlier post and what your thoughts are now. I know that they are time-consuming, but so worth it in the end.
Yours is so beautiful. I have always wanted to make a pineapple quilt.
Yours is so beautiful. I have always wanted to make a pineapple quilt.
This quilt is going to be gorgeous when you are done and so worth the work you are putting into it .
This quilt is going to be gorgeous when you are done and so worth the work you are putting into it .
Perhaps a European sham would be just enough to satisfy my curiosity and desire to make this block. It would be hard to see that much fabric go into my ‘stuffing’ box. 60% in seam allowance and waste! Wow! But it is spectacular looking, can’t deny it.
Perhaps a European sham would be just enough to satisfy my curiosity and desire to make this block. It would be hard to see that much fabric go into my ‘stuffing’ box. 60% in seam allowance and waste! Wow! But it is spectacular looking, can’t deny it.
Those blocks are beautiful! I love the French General reds too and this is a good use for them. I just read about Carrie’s pineapple blocks and was thinking about one day making one, maybe one just like yours!
Those blocks are beautiful! I love the French General reds too and this is a good use for them. I just read about Carrie’s pineapple blocks and was thinking about one day making one, maybe one just like yours!
Can’t wait to start mine but I am chicken and using paper!
Can’t wait to start mine but I am chicken and using paper!
Your pineapple blocks are gorgeous. I have made a few pineapple blocks in the past, and agree with the points you made. One more to add: because of all that fabric, the resulting quilt will be really heavy. But none of those things take away from the fact that the end result is stunning!
Your pineapple blocks are gorgeous. I have made a few pineapple blocks in the past, and agree with the points you made. One more to add: because of all that fabric, the resulting quilt will be really heavy. But none of those things take away from the fact that the end result is stunning!
I can’t begin to tell you how much I love the colors you used…it’s beautiful! I have the book and the ruler so one of these days I just might tackle this myself.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I love the colors you used…it’s beautiful! I have the book and the ruler so one of these days I just might tackle this myself.
I have had fabric set aside for a pineapple quilt for ages, and I think with all this pineapple chat in the blogging world I may just get the motivation I need to get things rolling. Yours is absolutely lovely! Its red, its French General and it a pineapple pattern…sounds like a winning combination.
I have had fabric set aside for a pineapple quilt for ages, and I think with all this pineapple chat in the blogging world I may just get the motivation I need to get things rolling. Yours is absolutely lovely! Its red, its French General and it a pineapple pattern…sounds like a winning combination.
Ananas Rouge! Love it!!! All those french General reds are gorgeous!
I have never made a pineapple block before. I have seen a few around on various blogs. I think I need to put this block on my list!
Ananas Rouge! Love it!!! All those french General reds are gorgeous!
I have never made a pineapple block before. I have seen a few around on various blogs. I think I need to put this block on my list!
It is going to be one beautiful quilt! The blocks themselves are gorgeous!!
It is going to be one beautiful quilt! The blocks themselves are gorgeous!!
Gorgeous! You have certainly inspired me!
Gorgeous! You have certainly inspired me!
I want to thank you for posting the neat trick for the Winding Ways quilt (no seam in the centre). This quilt stood high on my to do-list but for the trouble I had making just one block, I didn’t have the courage making 30+. Yesterday I purchased the Marty Mitchell templates at a quiltshow, and after I’ve finished my Double Wedding Ring I will try -no, I will make myself a Winding Ways quilt.
I want to thank you for posting the neat trick for the Winding Ways quilt (no seam in the centre). This quilt stood high on my to do-list but for the trouble I had making just one block, I didn’t have the courage making 30+. Yesterday I purchased the Marty Mitchell templates at a quiltshow, and after I’ve finished my Double Wedding Ring I will try -no, I will make myself a Winding Ways quilt.