Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Caramel Macchiato

001

My next project. 

I will let you gaze upon the wonderfulness of this subtle palette for a moment.  Let it sink in.

Ahh, the soothing balm of a neutral colored color scheme.   Mmmmm.  Smell the caramel and the coffee?  With a touch of chocolate?  Yes.  Just a dash of cinnamon, and plenty of cream.  Sniff.  Sigh.

Not a red in sight.

Fortunately, I have a substantial stash of browns.  In another lifetime, I once ordered a kit for a brown and white quilt from Fons and Porter, which of course I never made.  I ended up with about a hundred fat eighths of different browns and creams, which really beefed up my stash of browns, so to speak.  I recently picked up a few more lovely chocolates, creams and caramels and decided to embark on a neutral colored quilt.  The pattern I had in mind was Mocha Trail by  A Graceful Stitch.  Which I bought not once, but twice.  Guess I really liked that pattern.

The problem is, I am not loving the asymmetrical alternate chain block.  My mom had a bit of a compulsion about things being symmetrical, and I think I may have inherited that gene from her.  I would like to incorporate an alternate block that is a more traditional chain block, instead of the one given in the pattern.

This is the block I have in mind:

Mail.google.com
I found this block on a lovely woman's blog site, but now I can't remember who she was.  I can tell you that she is from Tasmania, that is all.  Darn, I hate it when I do that.  If anyone knows who I am talking about (especially my Aussie friends), do let me know.  I want to talk to her.  Especially since I just used her photo without her permission.

Any way, my math skills are bad. Really embarrassingly bad.  Sucky.  Don't hate me, we are all good at different things.   I need help figuring out how to make this block 12 1/2" unfinished.  Can anyone help me?  I am pretty sure the plain blocks should measure 4 1/2", right?  And the nine patch too.  But how can I strip piece those corner blocks?  Would the dark strips be 1 1/2" wide? And the longer light strips 1 1/2" x 3"?

If any of you can direct me, I will send you my extra Mocha Trail pattern!

Added about an hour later:

Ok.  OK.  OKAY.   I give up.  I won't be changing that alternate block.  The math is trickier than I thought.  Check out Thema's calculations if you don't think so.  Oye.  That is why I never got better marks in math.  Bren saw the problem right off the bat, and after thinking it through, I am not going to mess with perfection.  I will make those alternate blocks just as shown.  Bren suggested using a lighter color for the offset part, and I am going to investigate that idea.

Let's go back to enjoying those gorgeous fabrics and not fill our heads with these abstractions.  I need a piece of chocolate

Added about 3 hours later:

Changed my mind again.  I have had so many great suggestions on how to make this work, that I can see I will have to do some experimentation.  Sorry, I won't be using any 1/27th of an inch measurements, but I will knock out a couple of alternate blocks and share the results with you before I decide how to proceed!  THANKS EVERYONE!

 

64 responses to “Caramel Macchiato”

  1. Nicole – I stink at math too but the corner blocks are a 9 patch just like the middle block. Wouldn’t you piece it with one dark strip and two light strips? You’d make 3 strip sets – one with the dark on top, one with the dark in the middle and one with the dark on the bottom. But now that I reread your post, you want to make two of the light squares into rectangles. Wouldn’t that measurement be the finished measurement of two squares plus 1/2″ for the 2 seam allowances? I probably shouldn’t have commented since I usually have two left sleeves when I sew garments!
    Karen L.

  2. Nicole – I stink at math too but the corner blocks are a 9 patch just like the middle block. Wouldn’t you piece it with one dark strip and two light strips? You’d make 3 strip sets – one with the dark on top, one with the dark in the middle and one with the dark on the bottom. But now that I reread your post, you want to make two of the light squares into rectangles. Wouldn’t that measurement be the finished measurement of two squares plus 1/2″ for the 2 seam allowances? I probably shouldn’t have commented since I usually have two left sleeves when I sew garments!
    Karen L.

  3. Nicole: You are right – the large squares should be cut 4.5″. The little squares will finish at 1.5″, so should be cut 2″. Cut your longer light pieces 2″ x 3.5″. I think that should do it. Enjoy!
    Connie

  4. Nicole: You are right – the large squares should be cut 4.5″. The little squares will finish at 1.5″, so should be cut 2″. Cut your longer light pieces 2″ x 3.5″. I think that should do it. Enjoy!
    Connie

  5. I hate to break the news to you . . . but sometimes there’s a really good reason there is an ‘addition’ of some sort to a design. (In this case the ‘border’ on the sides of your block.) If you were to try & make the block (in the photo) to finish at 12″ – you would be needing to cut strips 1.833″ wide for the smaller 9-patches – for it to work. (Because of the fact that the large 9-patch needs to finish at 12′ – which makes the smaller 9-patch sections needing to finish at 4″ (not easily divisible by 3. . . ) so, you get the odd cutting size required. ick.
    Perhaps you could make it the size on the pattern (probably 9″?) – & add a border on all 4 sides to make it 12″ – & symetrical. . .? . . . Or – use a lighter color for the off-set side borders . . ? (I do like those little 9-patches in the corners. . . a sweet touch!)

  6. I hate to break the news to you . . . but sometimes there’s a really good reason there is an ‘addition’ of some sort to a design. (In this case the ‘border’ on the sides of your block.) If you were to try & make the block (in the photo) to finish at 12″ – you would be needing to cut strips 1.833″ wide for the smaller 9-patches – for it to work. (Because of the fact that the large 9-patch needs to finish at 12′ – which makes the smaller 9-patch sections needing to finish at 4″ (not easily divisible by 3. . . ) so, you get the odd cutting size required. ick.
    Perhaps you could make it the size on the pattern (probably 9″?) – & add a border on all 4 sides to make it 12″ – & symetrical. . .? . . . Or – use a lighter color for the off-set side borders . . ? (I do like those little 9-patches in the corners. . . a sweet touch!)

  7. I am going to put my two bits in, but the center piecing on the 9-patch as well as the catywompous corner blocks, they dont look the same width to me. I would think that if your finished squares would be 4″ the pieces making up these squares would be 1 1/2″ for the outside ones and 1″ for the center one, which would be 4″ finished, now just add your 1/4″ all the way around and you are done. Use graph paper 1/4″ grid and it is easy to figure out your longer off-white pieces in the catywompous square.

  8. I am going to put my two bits in, but the center piecing on the 9-patch as well as the catywompous corner blocks, they dont look the same width to me. I would think that if your finished squares would be 4″ the pieces making up these squares would be 1 1/2″ for the outside ones and 1″ for the center one, which would be 4″ finished, now just add your 1/4″ all the way around and you are done. Use graph paper 1/4″ grid and it is easy to figure out your longer off-white pieces in the catywompous square.

  9. I agree with Bren~ to have the 9 patches finish at 4 inches, you will get some unusual measurements… there are a lot of other patterns for joiner blocks~ do you EQ? Maybe try it with 4 patches instead of the 9 patches?

  10. I agree with Bren~ to have the 9 patches finish at 4 inches, you will get some unusual measurements… there are a lot of other patterns for joiner blocks~ do you EQ? Maybe try it with 4 patches instead of the 9 patches?

  11. Hi Nicole, the alternate blocks would bother me also. . .so I completely understand your need to change it.
    My math skills are terrible also. . .which is why I find EQ6 so useful. You could do a search of the block & then print out the rotary cutting directions.
    But, I agree with a previous poster. . .it appears that the center square of the 9-patches are smaller than the outer squares.
    Perhaps the measurements are 1 1/2″ for the larger squares and 1″ for the smaller (be sure to add seam allowances). . .that would give you 4″ finished 9-patches. The solid squares would be cut 4″ (PLUS seam allowance). . but I would cut a practice block, because, like I said. . . my math skills are not the greatest.
    Enjoy!

  12. Hi Nicole, the alternate blocks would bother me also. . .so I completely understand your need to change it.
    My math skills are terrible also. . .which is why I find EQ6 so useful. You could do a search of the block & then print out the rotary cutting directions.
    But, I agree with a previous poster. . .it appears that the center square of the 9-patches are smaller than the outer squares.
    Perhaps the measurements are 1 1/2″ for the larger squares and 1″ for the smaller (be sure to add seam allowances). . .that would give you 4″ finished 9-patches. The solid squares would be cut 4″ (PLUS seam allowance). . but I would cut a practice block, because, like I said. . . my math skills are not the greatest.
    Enjoy!

  13. I’m not sure I can add more that what the other ladies wrote, but it looks to me that in order to not have to cut funky sizes, she made the patches two different sizes. The outer patches are a bit larger than the inner patch. So, the finished size of the outer strips are 1 1/2″ and the finished size of the inner patch is 1″ (in width of the dark patches). Of course, then I would have to think on the white patches. lol
    Clear as mud? I thought so. But now I have to work out the puzzle! I’ll be back!

  14. I’m not sure I can add more that what the other ladies wrote, but it looks to me that in order to not have to cut funky sizes, she made the patches two different sizes. The outer patches are a bit larger than the inner patch. So, the finished size of the outer strips are 1 1/2″ and the finished size of the inner patch is 1″ (in width of the dark patches). Of course, then I would have to think on the white patches. lol
    Clear as mud? I thought so. But now I have to work out the puzzle! I’ll be back!

  17. Okay, I’m going to have to test it, but I think the outer patches are: light – 2×3, dark – 2×2; inner patch – light – 1 1/2×2, dark 1 1/2×1 1/2. I’ll let you know!

  18. Okay, I’m going to have to test it, but I think the outer patches are: light – 2×3, dark – 2×2; inner patch – light – 1 1/2×2, dark 1 1/2×1 1/2. I’ll let you know!

  19. I just LOVE a good math problem, absolutely my most favorite part of quilting! Dividing a 12 inch finished block into 1/3s is easy, but then dividing that block into 1/3s is not. According to my calculations if you cut your strips for the corner and center blocks 1 and 13/16th each, you would end up with an unfinished block of 4 and 7/16th..a smidge too small. ( 1/16 too small) If you cut your strips 1 and 27/32 wide, you would get an unfinished block of 4 and 17/32 inches, still off but this time a smidge too large. (1/32 too large). It would take some fudging but you can do it!!
    The block above would require 3 different strips sets, a black cream black and cream black cream, cut at either 1 13/16 or 1 27/32 wide, once sewn, cut at the same width as the original cut.
    The third strip set would be a black 1 13/16th strip with a cream 2 19/16 strip, that makes 4 1/2 ,then cut into 1 and 13/16, if you want to go with the 16ths. This strip set will make the top and bottom row of the corner blocks.
    Could someone else please check my math, THANKS!
    Good Luck! And thanks for the morning brain teaser!

  20. I just LOVE a good math problem, absolutely my most favorite part of quilting! Dividing a 12 inch finished block into 1/3s is easy, but then dividing that block into 1/3s is not. According to my calculations if you cut your strips for the corner and center blocks 1 and 13/16th each, you would end up with an unfinished block of 4 and 7/16th..a smidge too small. ( 1/16 too small) If you cut your strips 1 and 27/32 wide, you would get an unfinished block of 4 and 17/32 inches, still off but this time a smidge too large. (1/32 too large). It would take some fudging but you can do it!!
    The block above would require 3 different strips sets, a black cream black and cream black cream, cut at either 1 13/16 or 1 27/32 wide, once sewn, cut at the same width as the original cut.
    The third strip set would be a black 1 13/16th strip with a cream 2 19/16 strip, that makes 4 1/2 ,then cut into 1 and 13/16, if you want to go with the 16ths. This strip set will make the top and bottom row of the corner blocks.
    Could someone else please check my math, THANKS!
    Good Luck! And thanks for the morning brain teaser!

  23. I made this quilt according to the pattern and just realized I never posted a pic of the completed flimsy! Don’t believe we ever TOOK a pic! Perhaps I still don’t have borders on? Oh, dear. I will check. If it is done I will try to get a pic for you . . . .

  24. I made this quilt according to the pattern and just realized I never posted a pic of the completed flimsy! Don’t believe we ever TOOK a pic! Perhaps I still don’t have borders on? Oh, dear. I will check. If it is done I will try to get a pic for you . . . .

  25. I am not sure how many times I’ve tried to “do the math” it’s so hard! I could not be a pattern writer to save my life. Your new quilt is going to be so gorgeous. I love the colors.

  26. I am not sure how many times I’ve tried to “do the math” it’s so hard! I could not be a pattern writer to save my life. Your new quilt is going to be so gorgeous. I love the colors.

  29. I bought this pattern a few weeks ago, so I will delight in watcing you put it together. I have no fabrics in mind yet, and own only 4 browns. Sad. Yours is going to be gorgeous…as usual!

  30. I bought this pattern a few weeks ago, so I will delight in watcing you put it together. I have no fabrics in mind yet, and own only 4 browns. Sad. Yours is going to be gorgeous…as usual!

  31. Can I just say first that I really like the original quilt and blocks? I like the slightly off-center look of the blocks. And will you throw something at me if I remind you that there was a reason you bought that particular pattern? 🙂
    As for the rest, while I agree with all the logic and calculations given so far… I think you have two not-too-arduous options.
    Option 1 ~ Make the star block at 9″ x 9″. That’s an easy fix. You’ll have to make more blocks to get a good-sized quilt but I think it’s safe to say you’ve probably got plenty of fabric.
    Option 2 ~ Make the units in the alternating block in slightly different sizes. If the center nine-patch finishes at 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ and the corner units finish at 3 3/4″ x 3 3/4″, then you’ll have a 12″ x 12″ block. The side plain squares would be side plain rectangles instead. You’ll also symmetry and balance. And the cutting won’t involve 1/8″ or 1/16″.
    Have fun!

  32. Can I just say first that I really like the original quilt and blocks? I like the slightly off-center look of the blocks. And will you throw something at me if I remind you that there was a reason you bought that particular pattern? 🙂
    As for the rest, while I agree with all the logic and calculations given so far… I think you have two not-too-arduous options.
    Option 1 ~ Make the star block at 9″ x 9″. That’s an easy fix. You’ll have to make more blocks to get a good-sized quilt but I think it’s safe to say you’ve probably got plenty of fabric.
    Option 2 ~ Make the units in the alternating block in slightly different sizes. If the center nine-patch finishes at 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ and the corner units finish at 3 3/4″ x 3 3/4″, then you’ll have a 12″ x 12″ block. The side plain squares would be side plain rectangles instead. You’ll also symmetry and balance. And the cutting won’t involve 1/8″ or 1/16″.
    Have fun!

  33. Couldn’t you make the block as a 9-patch (like the center block) just make sure the colors are layed out correctly?

  34. Couldn’t you make the block as a 9-patch (like the center block) just make sure the colors are layed out correctly?

  35. I’m feeling your pain Nicole! I’m a symetry junkie too which is one of the reasons why I am terrible at scrap quilts. I love them but I’m too controling to have it ever be comfortable. Since you have decided to step out of your comfort zone and follow the pattern I will just wish you luck and look forward to the final product (which will wowo us all, I’m sure)

  36. I’m feeling your pain Nicole! I’m a symetry junkie too which is one of the reasons why I am terrible at scrap quilts. I love them but I’m too controling to have it ever be comfortable. Since you have decided to step out of your comfort zone and follow the pattern I will just wish you luck and look forward to the final product (which will wowo us all, I’m sure)

  37. If you look at the picture closely, you will see the middle block of the corner units are smaller then the others.
    To have an unfinished 12 1/2 block means you want a 12″ FINISHED block.
    So the FINISHED dimensions are: the outside corner is 1.5″ – 1″ – 1.5″ then the centre is 4″ and the other outside corner is 1.5″ – 1″ – 1.5″. Add it all up and you get a 12 inch finished block. So you know to add 1/2 inch to each piece before cutting. If not I can tell you if you wish.
    Good Luck.
    It is alot simpler then it looks.

  38. If you look at the picture closely, you will see the middle block of the corner units are smaller then the others.
    To have an unfinished 12 1/2 block means you want a 12″ FINISHED block.
    So the FINISHED dimensions are: the outside corner is 1.5″ – 1″ – 1.5″ then the centre is 4″ and the other outside corner is 1.5″ – 1″ – 1.5″. Add it all up and you get a 12 inch finished block. So you know to add 1/2 inch to each piece before cutting. If not I can tell you if you wish.
    Good Luck.
    It is alot simpler then it looks.

  41. I think Connie (the second commenter) is correct with her measurements. I think everyone else is making it harder than it needs to be!!

  42. I think Connie (the second commenter) is correct with her measurements. I think everyone else is making it harder than it needs to be!!

  43. Well, looking closer – now I am not so sure. But your colors are beautiful! Can’t wait to see the finished quilt. Knowing you it will be in a day or two. 🙂

  44. Well, looking closer – now I am not so sure. But your colors are beautiful! Can’t wait to see the finished quilt. Knowing you it will be in a day or two. 🙂

  45. Hi Nicole, An easier symmetrical alternate block is possible, using the measurements we are most comfortable using. Sketch a 12 inch grid. Pretend each square is 1 inch finished for the rest of this description. Start in the top left corner colouring four-patches (dark and light) towards the centre, in the orientation you want. Continue to the bottom right. Then do the same from the top right corner to the bottom left corner. Symmetrical right? In the centre 4 dark squares meet, so why not make that a 2 inch finished square? That means a little change in the construction. It is as if you made 4 25patch blocks separated with 2inch sashing. Again, that would be the finished size. I don’t think this would be harder to make than the double nine-patch you are thinking of, but it is a classic chain block which I have seen before. If my blathering makes no sense Email me and I could send you a proper drawing. Love your blog. Rae Parkin.

  46. Hi Nicole, An easier symmetrical alternate block is possible, using the measurements we are most comfortable using. Sketch a 12 inch grid. Pretend each square is 1 inch finished for the rest of this description. Start in the top left corner colouring four-patches (dark and light) towards the centre, in the orientation you want. Continue to the bottom right. Then do the same from the top right corner to the bottom left corner. Symmetrical right? In the centre 4 dark squares meet, so why not make that a 2 inch finished square? That means a little change in the construction. It is as if you made 4 25patch blocks separated with 2inch sashing. Again, that would be the finished size. I don’t think this would be harder to make than the double nine-patch you are thinking of, but it is a classic chain block which I have seen before. If my blathering makes no sense Email me and I could send you a proper drawing. Love your blog. Rae Parkin.

  47. Hello again, I had a hard time finding a picture of the quilt pattern, but now that I have seen it, it would not be hard to make nine inch blocks to fit with the double nine-patch blocks if that is what you would prefer. In any case it is a beautiful quilt. Rae.

  48. Hello again, I had a hard time finding a picture of the quilt pattern, but now that I have seen it, it would not be hard to make nine inch blocks to fit with the double nine-patch blocks if that is what you would prefer. In any case it is a beautiful quilt. Rae.

  51. Oh, that pesky math! Who knew there was so much math in sewing? Glad those with better math brains than mine are helping you out…I’m sure there will be a decision sometime, right?

  52. Oh, that pesky math! Who knew there was so much math in sewing? Glad those with better math brains than mine are helping you out…I’m sure there will be a decision sometime, right?

  53. Oh boy. After all of that, I’d put it back in the cupboard until everyone has forgotten about it and have a latte.

  54. Oh boy. After all of that, I’d put it back in the cupboard until everyone has forgotten about it and have a latte.

  57. It sounds like you have figured out what to do with the block so for now I’ll just drool over the gorgeous fabrics! Who knew brown could bring such a response!?

  58. It sounds like you have figured out what to do with the block so for now I’ll just drool over the gorgeous fabrics! Who knew brown could bring such a response!?

  61. Hi Nicole,
    I totally missed all of the excitement yesterday. I just now pulled up the pattern “Mocha Trail”. A thought came to my mind of an idea. Don’t even know if it would work or look well but I wondered how it would be if you made 2 more of the little 9 patchers and make the overall block into a 16 patch block? You would have all the same measurements basically but make 2 more of the little 9 patchers and arrange them in the block in an alternating fashion . Does this make any sense? If you have questions about what I explained let me know.
    I think it looks like a pretty quilt idea. A neutrals quilt would go anywhere!!
    Have a good weekend.
    Beverly in WA

  62. Hi Nicole,
    I totally missed all of the excitement yesterday. I just now pulled up the pattern “Mocha Trail”. A thought came to my mind of an idea. Don’t even know if it would work or look well but I wondered how it would be if you made 2 more of the little 9 patchers and make the overall block into a 16 patch block? You would have all the same measurements basically but make 2 more of the little 9 patchers and arrange them in the block in an alternating fashion . Does this make any sense? If you have questions about what I explained let me know.
    I think it looks like a pretty quilt idea. A neutrals quilt would go anywhere!!
    Have a good weekend.
    Beverly in WA