Back in December I had finished making 25 fourteen inch Country Roads blocks. I'm calling my quilt Salmagundi Road. The blocks were inspired by a vintage quilt from the Jim Tharpe collection. The vintage quilt has sashing which appears to be wider than the sashing piece in the blocks. I WAS going to add sashing that was about 2.5 inch wide or larger. So I auditioned several pieces I had on hand. This was the one I liked best. But after figuring how much fabric would be needed I found I didn't have enough.
Then I tried this one. Too light. And I don't think I have enough of it either.
So then I tried this one. No. It's not right. And I probably don't have enough of this fabric either.
Ok. Maybe.
Why don't I just make more blocks to get a bigger quilt? I have plenty of small pieces and scraps. Then I won't add sashing. Just because the quilt that inspired me has it doesn't mean I have to add it. I don't like adding sashing anyway and I do love piecing.
Hey! - I'll use the auditioned fabrics for a pieced backing.
So I made more blocks.
I made 11 more blocks for a total of 36 blocks which in a layout 6 x 6 would make a quilt 84 x 84.
Then I went to sew them together.
And, darn it, I think they need sashing.
And now that I have more blocks maybe I'll make a narrow sashing - 1.5 inch maybe.
Ok. Maybe I need to add a solid. How about dark brown? Yes, maybe!
Or lighter brown?
How about terracotta?
So...my OMG (One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts) is to decide on a sashing and cornerstones and get these blocks assembled into a top.
Dithering time! So familiar🤷 I vote for narrow solid.
ReplyDeleteGreat blocks Cathy.
ReplyDeleteThe Sashing of Salmagundi Road (hope I spelled that right) sounds like an adventure novel!
I do enjoy your design process, as I've said before. Reading about your decisions helps me
relax in making my choices.
Design is supposed to be fun after all.
Glad to see I'm not the only one making it up on the fly and dithering all the way . Love the blocks and the name.
ReplyDeleteA conundrum for Salmagundi Road...... hope you sort out the sashing issue. Thanks for sharing the process.
ReplyDeletelove the process posts - whatever you decide will look great, because it always does!
ReplyDeleteOh yes I too loved these progress shots and reading about your ideas! This is a great block and I look forward to seeing where you end up regarding the sashing decision! Thanks for sharing with 'sew stitch snap SHARE'
ReplyDeleteDon't you hate it when that happens? I would rather make more blocks too, but maybe it will look better with thinner sashing. Any of the browns look good. Are you going to use another color or print for the cornerstones?
ReplyDeleteI like the terracotta, but you featured that earlier in the post as one of the choices for a wide sashing, and you said you didn't have enough. So will you have enough for skinnier sashing? You could also do a double sash. For each four blocks use the same skinny sashing. Then assemble the four-block units with a wide sashing. Each of the fours would have its own skinny sash; same wide sash throughout.....Just to stir the pot for you.
ReplyDeleteNann sounds like she's onto something!
ReplyDeleteI love these blocks so much, including back in the day when they were just Blazin' Hot!
Quilts are sometimes so particular! I like the solid sashing -- either of them -- but somehow a print seems more your style. I do love seeing how others work, how they choose fabrics, how they are limited by quantity, and what they do next. This will be another beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteI really like the narrower sashing. And even though it seems weird to say to you, the Queen of Interesting Prints, the solid brown works well to highlight the blocks. Part of me really wants to vote for the chili peppers! Of course, my vote is worth exactly what you paid for it :)
ReplyDeleteI always agonize over sashings and often ask for help, but in the back of my mind I think I already know which one I prefer--lol! Can't wait to see what you decide!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you're not mixing the fabric up on the sashing too! Keeping to the antique traditions. hehe
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is leading you on a merry dance. Does the sashing need to be all one fabric?
ReplyDelete