Welcome to Dust Off A Quilt Book blog hop. For this blog hop, I dusted off a book I kept renewing at the library. It is called Use Scraps, Sew Blocks, Make 100 Quilts by Stuart Hillard.
The library wanted it back, and I wasn't done with it, so I tried to buy a used copy, and they were out of stock so I tried and succeeded in buying yet another used copy. It's from a different library. Normally, I don't work that hard to buy something.
What do I like about this book? Well, there are 100 quilts in it, as the title says, all made out of scraps. Although it includes some traditional patterns, they all have a little twist that makes them from looking like the same old quilts. It shows you how to make the block, but it also shows you a quilt made with that block which I find really helpful. Most of them are virtual quilts, which only makes sense that it would be difficult for someone to actually make 100 quilts before writing a book.
It makes me think of Pinterest, lots of inspiration, but the limit of 100 keeps you from scrolling mindlessly and gives you enough choices to find something to make. There is one to three pages to describe each quilt, so there isn't as much hand-holding as a beginner might need. There is more reliance on the general instructions than a beginner person would get in most newer patterns. No pictures showing how to cut each piece and how to sew each seam. But if you read the general instructions and follow the directions, I think it tells you everything you need to make the quilt.
The book doesn't say the fabric requirements, except in a general way, or how many blocks you have to make. This is the quilt I made, and I did not have any trouble following the directions.You have to look at the picture and count the blocks and use the picture to figure out the layout. Or you can make whatever number of blocks you want and choose a different layout. I would have to do all that if I were copying a quilt from Pinterest.
It is a simple pattern using jelly roll strips, but to me, it doesn't look like a simple quilt. I can't imagine anyone saying I made a quick and easy quilt and didn't make any effort. The jelly roll strips have pinked edges, which is annoying to me, but I figured I could trim the block to a consistent size. Unfortunately, I trimmed after I put in the corner triangles.
This led to some improv-looking triangles. You can't see it very well in these pictures. I like to tell people when I make something improv so they know I did it on purpose. I knew before I started trimming that it would happen, but it doesn't bother me so I didn't bother to dust off the seam ripper. In fact, I like when things look improv because then I can chalk up any mistakes to improv too.
I didn't notice the flange in the border until I got to that part. But it is what makes the quilt special so I added it. I haven't used a one inch border before.
If I make this quilt or border again, I should 1. o sew the flange to the border first, then attach the border to the center, and 2. make the outer border bigger and then trim it down to size before attaching the binding.
Finished quilt top, sandwiched. The pattern combined with the fabric gives the quilt an art deco vibe.
I was in too much of a hurry to notice that I didn't lay out the blocks the same as the picture and wound up with five instead of four center diamonds. It looks fine to me.
Quilting in progress
Ahh so close. I have to admit that I wasn't able to finish it on time. I still have to finish quilting it and binding it.
Because of my limited schedule and because I would rather make a good quilt instead of meeting a deadline, I decided to show you what I have. I probably won't be done with it by the end of the blog hop. It will be finished soon though and I will show the finished quilt when it is ready.
Thank you for visiting, and do come back to see the finished quilt. Links to the other people who are participating in this blog hop are in yesterday's post on my blog.
