I've been making these Little Monkey Wrench blocks for a couple of years now.
I have a big pile of them - well over 200.
I want to start sewing them together.
My first inclination is NO sashing...
...but then again...I don't know...I kind of like Bonnie Hunter's sashed Little Monkeys.
What would you do?
Black/brown/gray are the "colors" of the month for the RSC.
I've completed 3 kaleidoscope blocks but not sure if I'll use that b/w one. Yikes...that's hard on the eyes.
Anyway, each month I've been making 12 inch kaleidoscope blocks - one of color of the month, another with color of the month and previous month and one of color of month and its complement. This month it all went awry.
Anyway, here's three blocks and the leftovers.
And I had a few 2.5 HSTs left over after making those Little Monkeys so I made an 8 inch Depression Block, a few pinwheels and a 6 patch HST block.
Got Scraps?
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I vote for no sashing. I never know how to quilt sashings so I avoid them. Not a good reason huh? I feel the same about borders, maybe I am a lazy quilter!
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the sashing - either would look lovely.
ReplyDeleteI think perhaps if you did not have sashing it would look a bit busy as you have a multitude of fabrics and colours going on there. Sashing would calm it down a little.
ReplyDeleteDo you want the quilt to be all about order and organization? If so - go with sashings/cornerstones. They give the blocks more room to breathe (and show off).
ReplyDeleteIf you want the quilt to truly be a riot of color, then no sashing / that said, I would try not to be put two similarly colored blocks next to each other (to help define the 'block' and control the chaos just a bit).
I personally lean to NARROW sashings without cornerstones, mostly to keep my head from exploding (also removes the need to line up all those block-to-block seams)
I vote for a quiet sashing
ReplyDeleteLeeanna at not afraid of color
I'm back again -- NO sashing yields a fabulously scrappy look for the secondary pattern . . . maybe you need to go with your first inclination after all!
ReplyDeleteWell do you want it to be SANE or CRAZY ? :)
ReplyDeleteIt would look nice either way but you'll have a fun secondary pattern in there without the sashing
How about putting the monkey's on point with a tiny sashing (1.5 inch unfinished?) in black or dark brown?
ReplyDeleteLove those smiley faces.
My vote would be for no sashing. I like the intensity of all the color without breaking it up with sashing. Besides ..with 200 blocks, it would be HUGE! :-)
ReplyDeleteI made a Little Monkey quilt and used the same sashing as Bonnie. It sure did make assembly easier, those seams would be hard to match up given the tiny size of the blocks. Maybe a smaller sashing though, to let the blocks take center stage? Great collection however you plan to set it!
ReplyDeleteI would sash the Monkey Wrench blocks. The Kaleidoscope blocks looks good.
ReplyDeleteBeing the scrappy maven that I am I vote for NO Sashing...like how the colors play together off of each other
ReplyDeletea lot Hugs, Julierose
Because each block has several fabrics and colors and each block is so beautiful and distinctive, I think sashing will give every block a little breathing room and a chance to shine on its own. (By themselves they look like little gems!)
ReplyDeleteSome monkey wrench blocks without sashing create a primary and secondary pattern because of a uniform placement of lights and darks. Your blocks don't have the same light/dark placement in each block and won't create that overall pattern.
I do this, too: I ask for others' suggestions and thoughts about blocks and placement. Sometimes someone will suggest something I didn't see or think about before. Sometimes I end up more uncertain about which choice to make.
Go with what you think you'll like best in the end.
Beautiful blocks! I would do sashing to avoid the headache of trying to nest seams. Also, it will let each block stand alone for a "look at me" moment. I'd do different colors of corner blocks in the sashing that will increase the quilt's scrappy look.
ReplyDeleteHere's the question - Do you want the monkey wrenches to show up or the diamonds on point? Once you decide that the answer will come to you. With sashing the little monkeys are the focus. Without the sashing the secondary pattern really jumps out first.
ReplyDeletePut me in the "put the blocks on point without sashing" camp. Or to ease up the sewing use sashing, but make it scrappy (not crumby).
ReplyDelete