I made another 12 inch Clarissa hourglass block. With only 3 blocks made so far I'm only 1/14th of the way finished. I'm making a quilt similar to the one made by Clarissa White Alford c. 1890 . This block takes 1.5 inch strips to make the hourglass units. When I was finished with the strips I put the scraps into the 1.5 inch scrap bin and then I started hearing VOICES.
You should try to figure out how to make those OTHER vintage blocks you like. They look like they can be made from 1.5 inch pieces.
But I was going to use all the 1.5 inch scraps I had at year end to make more spider web blocks.
You can still do that but make the little hourglass units with wings first.
Ok, but I should clean off the mountain at the end of that cutting mat. I can barely cut a 1.5 inch square of fabric.
That's no fun.
If you clean off half of it you can reward yourself with a new start.
Deal!
Gosh. These are no fun. It's a pain trying to get that red square in the middle of those units to make an octagon. Then I'm not sure how to sew them together with connecting red squares. Ok. I think I got that block out of my system.
Wait a minute...what if...
...what if I add some red corners. Then I will have a square block and connecting them will be so much easier. Hey, that might just work. But, you know...now that I look at it I see an Ohio Star variation.
It would be so much easier to construct them like this instead of trying to make those octagons.
Oh, yes!
And guess what...since you cut a 1.5 inch HST piece off the beginning of the 1.5 inch scrap before you started cutting hourglass pieces and after you cut hourglass pieces...
...you can make some little 2 inch Broken Dishes blocks.
You really need to finish cleaning off the end of that cutting mat now.
Then may I start something else new?
14 comments:
A gorgeous Clarissa block! Reminds me to get going on the one I have in progress.
I know exactly what you mean about hearing the voices with crazy ideas about new blocks and new projects to start.
Oh! OhOhOh! Those sound like the voices I hear, too!
Now I've always had a fondness for Kathy's Clarissa, but I fell madly-deeply-completely in love with those bright multicolor blocks at first sight! (Like I need another squirrel...)
Sounds like voices I hear too!
Oh, those voices! Lots of us hear them - and listen, too! Looks like you were having fun trying things and figuring them out. That's way better than cleaning off the cutting mat!
I so love reading your posts and hearing how you figure out how to make your blocks. All those small pieces, you must have a lot of patience as well as creativity, Cathy.
Can you hear me laughing? :)
I need a red background in my blocks too. It really sets off those scraps. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!
(...now you have set the voices off in my head!)
Red backgrounds are glorious, I’m so glad you’re listening to the voices for all these blocks. What fun to watch you put them together.
Your post today just made me giggle. . . .doggone voices get us down "rabbit holes" way too often! Loved seeing what your voices were telling you and I sure hope you were able to get the end of the cutting mat cleared. . .perhaps, in your next post, I'll see what you started NEW!
Well, I don’t hear voices, but I’m totally with you on the red. I bought 5 yards of it last month for a spiderweb quilt ( center portion) next year. Maybe I need to add some tin foil to the strainer on my head to get better reception...
Hooray for the voices! Love the octagon blocks and the way to you figures out how to put them together!
I just found your blog. Kindred spirit for sure. I set up 3 of my sewing machines in my sewing room. Just have to figure out what I want to sew on each one. If i get tired of one project, I can just move over and its already set up.
By the way if you have an Accquilt you can turn your strips horizontally and get squares. Love the tiny 1 1/2 inch squares. I drew straight lines across all my dies. Took longer to draw those lines than cut the squares. I started sub cutting rectangles. So if i need 2 1/2 in x 6 1/2 bricks I cut my fabric 6 1/2 inches WOF then put it on die horizontally. Why I didn't think of that before is beyond me. You can stack them using the lines you drew all the way down the die. So more sewing time!!! WIN WIN
It was such fun to read the evolution of your thoughts on these blocks, Cathy. They are bright and beautiful. I think the red gives a unity to the quilt/blocks that wouldn't otherwise be there.
It doesn't stop, does it?
Your Clarissa block looks great! It is so much fun to take the time to play, create, and discover.
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