Stalled

I wanted to keep up the pace I set for myself, but something didn’t work as I thought it would, and that killed the momentum. Let me show you.

Fallasburg covered bridge

The photo is of the Fallasburg Park covered bridge in Lowell, Michigan. I have been across this bridge, and also the other that I will include in the quilt. I loved the autumn colors on the trees, and hoped to recreate them well.

I began as I usually do, deciding the background. I used plain white cotton for the center part that will be completely covered, and a green for the grass, blue for the sky.

I should have done the trees next, but I was excited to work the bridge.

I used a spotted gray for the cement support of the bridge, and turned it wrong-side-out for the river. I added the lovely rocks print. The grass will be all the same green, rather than working in different colors. I used a medium gray and darker gray for the facing side of the bridge. I stitched details, then chose the wood for the entrance of the bridge.

I stitched in the guard rail in gray. At this point I started looking at fall leaf colors. My idea was to take a basic color fabric, but add stitching to give it a blended look. This is the point at which I no longer liked my block.

So, I’ll be replacing it. I chose a different photo with green leaves on the trees.

Meanwhile, I found that my purse was too small so I started making another. I used two orphan blocks from this quilt. I’m also juggling Christmas shopping and wrapping, a flurry of medical appointments, and caregiving. It’s a lot. I get to my happy place (in front of a sewing machine) when I can, but I can’t always get there when I want. I need to sewing on binding around the edges of the (lined) purse, and make the straps.

Barn Quilt – first block done

Thanks to a reader’s comment, I found some motivation to work on the barn quilt.

first block done

I took plenty of pictures to show you how I go about interpreting a photo or painting into a quilt block. Some of it is pieced, and some of it is appliqued. I’ve been enjoying the process of collecting fabrics, 1/4 to 1/2 yard at a time, so I have plenty of textures, shades, and colors to choose from. I keep them in a zippered plastic bag that some bedding came in. I find them very handy for keeping a project together.

I found a photo of a painting of a barn online, and printed it. I’m sorry I don’t have the reference for anyone, but if you recognize it I will surely correct that omission.

As I mentioned in a post last winter, I taped the printed page to a window, right side to glass, and drew basic outlines on the back side with a sharpie. I do this because I am not trained in art, and cannot see the shapes unless I do.

I laid out my fabrics and chose the ones I would use for this block.

Then I looked at the photo and realized I had approximately 1/3 sky, 1/3 other, and 1/3 grass foreground. I used a plain muslin for the center part, which will be covered by barn and trees. I used strips as wide as my block would end up to be, and sewed 1/4 inch seams.

Then I chose the tree fabrics and cut rough outlines. I knew that part would be covered by the barn. I goofed a little bit, but it’s easy to change or adjust. I used a bit of the darkest green to make a treetop peeking out over the closer (lighter) trees at the left.

I sewed the edges of the tree pieces with a narrow, short zigzag stitch, not quite as small as a satin stitch. Just enough to keep the edges from fraying, but not so that I  spend hours sewing small pieces. I didn’t use interfacing on the back, but you may want to. If your zigzag stitch is small enough, it’ll pucker the fabric and interfacing will help stop that. You can also use a double fusible web to fuse your pieces together before you sew. I pinned in place, held my breath, bit my lip, and did just fine.

I edged the barn pieces (and part of the roof) in white to mimic the white painted edges shown in the picture.

I added barn door and windows with white thread. I could do more with the trees, but I’m going more for representational on the other parts, and sticking to details on the barns.

One down, umpty-eleven to go.