Granny Squares?

 

I saw this great idea for making a crocheted granny square for each book that one reads during the year based on the colors in each book cover. This would take a whole lot more colors of yarn than I will ever have on hand (and I'm Not Buying Yarn) and a whole lot more crocheting skill than I currently have. But the idea of it got me thinking, wouldn't it be fun to do a quilt block for each book you read per year?  There's got to be a whole lot of crossover between quilters and readers, right? Or maybe it's just the quilters that I happen to know? Anyways—I am a quilter who really likes reading, so I'm going to work on this project and see if I can get it going for this year. I've already read 12 books so I'm already behind.

This got me thinking, are there any quilt blocks that look like granny squares? I found this one, and this free one. but they don't really come off visually as a granny square to me. They're lacking the laciness of the patterns I think, too block-y (hah!).  This one is much more of a crocheted look, but doesn't appeal to me at all as a block making experience. And certainly not for the number of blocks I'd be making.

This sort of variation of color placements and arrangements from block to block works a bit better when you have them all together in a quilt. After checking out that one version of a quilt block based on granny squares, I realized I had just one version of granny squares stuck in my mind. That meant looking into what exactly are crocheted granny squares? Turns out that they are not just several rounds of color around a central square, there are a whole lot of variations out there. (hey just like quilt blocks!) Interpreting that wide variation in quilt blocks would make for an even more interesting quilt imo.

I got a digital magazine out of the library and started sketching on my iPad inspired by the pictures. I didn't spend time trying to interpret the look of the crocheted squares into quilt blocks that would be able to be pieced (piece-able?). Just getting the idea of the blocks down. I think it could work as an overall project if you used the same fabric as the negative space or openings in the crochet.

Then I went into EQ8 to see if there were any blocks available that would substitute. As you can see I got just a little carried away with my choices. I was going for variety here. Most of these blocks are way beyond my piecing capabilities, this is just for fun. The one block at the bottom that I repeated and filled in with seemed like a really good crochet looking block, when several were put together. I think a combination of circular, diamond, and square/mosaic types of blocks could work out really well to get that Granny Square Sampler look. Or I could just do a bullseye block, and vary the number, size, and shape of the rounds. hmmmm so many options—more thinking on this is required.

Getting Closer

 Running Out of Rain Cloud assembly is continuing.

All the "small" piecing is done now and I'm re-measuring the bigger blocks before I sew them together.

The assembly of the smaller parts into chunks, lining up the connections that are the most important to get right.

Yes, that's good.

Strips Used And Not

 

The only progress I've made on the teeny tiny HSTs is to sort them into matching sets of four. Takes up a whole lot less room. I may or may not include this in the back of the Bohemian Wife quilt, giving myself permission to move along if necessary.

I was thinking of making a block of strips something like this to echo all the strips on the front of the quilt.

But I used a lot of them to border the last couple of blocks that I had made. There are still some strips left to help fit all of this together.

Playing With Pantone Project

 

Now that I finally have a design wall to work with, I can finally play around with the blocks from the Pantone Project. I've been wanting to do it ever since I'd made the last block back in May, but hadn't had the space. I got out the two stacks of blocks and 4.5" fabric squares, mine are on the left, sorted by fabric color. I wanted to try my best and not duplicate any fabrics as I was making blocks. Friend Jaye's are on the right, unsorted. It's a whole lot of blocks.

Even though I have all the information in a spreadsheet (of course), I wanted to get my hands on the quantities of each type of block that I have to work with. First I laid out all of the ones I've received from Jaye. Of course I did this in the afternoon thus all the dramatic shadows.

Then I laid out my own blocks on top to make 28 little stacks.

The first blocks my eye landed on were the Ribbon blocks, there are 11 of them.

I doubt I'll keep this central slash of the Ribbon blocks, but it's definitely an interesting arrangement.

I think I really like making stars or larger shapes out of the matching blocks. 

All the rest of the blocks that are not up there quite yet. I think I need to get the Doreen Speckmann book out again and look at some of her block arrangements. This is starting to get fun!

Section 7

And now...for the final part of the Bohemian Wife quilt top waiting to be assembled, the 7th Section.

This one wasn't too terribly complicated. But it took a while with all of those long strips to get sewn and pressed.

There it is, all together. I'm so excited that all the sections are now pieced!

Final assembly might be happening tomorrow, we shall see. I'm really really looking forward to declaring this a finished quilt top. (and to start working on something else!)

Section Two

Time to work on one of the two remaining Bohemian Wife sections, number Two. Number one is already assembled and ready to be joined up.

Some of the parts together. Only one partial seam situation in this section, so it was much easier.

Section two done and now to join up with section one above. That one strip along the right hand edge is funny looking hanging out there, but that's how it goes together.

Only onee more section is left for me to assemble, #7 here I come.

Section Number 1

In assembling this Bohemian Wife quilt top, I went from left to right, so I'm now finally making section number 1. This will be the upper right hand section.

This section went together really easily. Which was good as I'm pretty out of it from the Covid booster shot I got yesterday. I think this has been the easiest time I've had with the shots, maybe my body is finally getting used to them?

I really like this section of the quilt quite a lot.

Finishing Six

Section Six is getting done today, that was my goal. Here was my first bit of getting the right side of it all sewn together. For reference, the dark polka dots strip on the right is in the next section.

Many step-stutter partial seams sewing in this section, but it all went together really well.

 I had to keep track of which part went where. And to iron in-between partial seam assembly.

I had to keep putting it back up on the wall to make sure I had it line up in the right place.

The final bit left to inset up at the top of the section.

And there it is, all together! 

Three more sections left to assemble: the upper right quadrant, and the lower right.

Still On Six

I've gotten quite a bit of section 6 together now, but it's been a real puzzler.

For the most part the layout makes a lot of sense once you see how the blocks and strips are joined together. But there are some parts that are very unclear, they really could be seen as one way or another.

Here's how it's looking so far.

These sections went together pretty easily in comparison.

There are so many partial seams in just the part of the section that I've finished assembling. And that was the easy part! Those went together with no problem. I know I'm complaining, but I'm pushing through and getting it done. Hopefully I'll look back on this fondly...
 

Sections 3,4,5

I'm motivated to get the Bohemian Wife quilt pieced together, so I'm working on piecing together the next sections.

Sections 3, 4, and 5 are now done! I found an actual pattern error for the size of the one strips in section 5, it was listed as being 12.5" but it needed to be 13.5". This is not a thing that is in the errata to the first edition that the pattern designer has noted. I haven't made many quilts via a pattern, is that normal? To already have several pages of errata, and then there's still more errors left to find? It's a complicated quilt, there's obviously a whole lot of various-sized pieces, but that's why I bought the pattern to make the quilt...

A

Anyhoo, on to working on the section that goes below those 3 newly completed sections, which is Section 6. This is a big one! So big that this section didn't fit on the design wall as I was laying it out because I didn't leave enough room for all the seam allowances.

I got a little mixed up with the order and placement with some of the strips because of that, so I had to lay it all out and label the strips to make sure I was sorted before I began sewing pieces together.

I really wish I had done a worksheet for myself that had a little swatch of the fabric that I cut for each strip. That's a free tip for making this quilt!

9 little strips to put on top of the Nurses Cross block (seen up above).
 

Next Steps

 

My oh my, this is a workout quilt. Well, it is if you're still rehabbing your knee from surgery a month ago. It's a lot of standing up to get all the blocks and strips in the right place.

Put up all the strips I've cut out so far and the majority of the blocks. The ones on the right hand side are either extras or haven't been placed yet. Still a lot of the strips are left for me to get cut out.