Don't Fail to Plan, Especially on Family Rules!

Back in early May I began a new project, but I got disgusted and left it lying on the bed a while; actually I think I even failed to mention it or show a picture.  Indeed, I have just had to retrace through my pictures to even find when I began working on it.

Then in my last post, I showed pictures of some black and white four-patches, but was very vague about what they are for.  I should tell you now that the four-patches are my second attempt to get this thing together;  I'll explain the first attempt  later.  Yesterday I got them together and put them around a panel I had ordered from Nancy's Notions back on March 27.  I had wanted it to be a wall hanging.  Here's how that came out:  (I didn't get it pinned straight on my design wall; I'm out of practice!)

The panel was 42"x 23", and each four-patch finishes at 3".  The inner black border around the panel finishes at 3/4"; the outer black border will finish at 1".  So that makes it be approximately 51" x 33" if my math is correct.  My opinion is that's a little large for a wall hanging, and way too small for a throw.  So what to do next?

That's when I remembered that back in early May, when I first got disgusted, I had made a bunch of log cabin blocks to go around this panel (before ever considering the four-patches); I had not calculated anything; I just cut 2" strips and started sewing them together, with the blocks to finish at 7.5".......which would not fit the length or width of the panel!  Rats!  Forget about the mess!  I did!

Here was my original mess before the black border:  (The side wasn't too bad; but the top and bottom just was not going to work!)

So this morning I dug those log cabin blocks out, laid them around the panel with the four-patches and two black borders on the design wall, and they almost worked!   I will have to add a black strip between where the black side of the log cabin blocks come together to fill a narrow space there, and it will work just fine I think.  I almost shrieked "Hallelujah!"  I had the panel too close to the right edge of the design wall to put the blocks on that side, but I do have almost enough blocks made!  I'll have to make two more, and then I can put those log cabin blocks around the panel.  That should make the thing about 66" x 48", again if my math is correct.  Not really quite large enough for a throw, but better anyway.  Here's what that should look like:  (Almost acceptable!)  Then I can bind it in black to finish off the white corners.

Okay, so I'm feeling better about the project.  Then I turned around to the sun room counter and saw all those 2" strips of all the different fabrics lying there. (Remember, I told you I did not calculate or count anything when I began back in May (the second picture).)  I've never cut so many strips in my life without counting!  And to be truthful, I don't really even like the fabrics, but they were all I could find to go with that black and white panel.  I'm thinking I would never find anything to use them on again, and then when I look over at the table, I saw a stack of the fabrics not yet cut, thank goodness!

So what should I do now?  Put those excess strips and fabrics in my stash, or use them on this project?  My son was here today, and I asked him what he thought.  That was silly, of course.  He asked, "What would your best quilting buddy say to do?"  Knowing her very well, I said she would probably say  go for it; use it up on that quilt!  So I took my camera over to show her, and that's exactly what she said.  I really think maybe I have enough left to make another set of log cabin blocks to go all the way around, or at least the top and bottom, which would make it a longer throw at least.

So guess what; when I get time I'll make two more blocks and then get blocks already made together and around the four-patches, and then make more log cabin blocks.  I think (hope) if I run short of fabric, I can still get enough at the quilt store to finish.  Even as I type this, I'm thinking I'll get all the blocks made as far as the fabric goes before I sew together what I already have made.  That way I can play with a new and probably better arrangement since log cabin blocks are so versatile.   Good idea, don't you think?  Who knows, this quilt may be large enough for a twin bed before I finish!

Now for the reason I bought the panel in the first place.  The second oldest of my four grandsons got married last Saturday.  I had known for sometime their date, and had hoped to have this job finished in time for their wedding shower in May.  That didn't happen because of my disgust!  And back to the beginning, I had really wanted it for just a wall hanging!

On a happier note, an area quilt shop (actually only a vendor at quilt shows) is going out of business, and will have a huge sale this week-end.  I'm told fabric will be $3 and $4 a yard, Moda and the like!
Guess where I'll be!  (I'm just going with my friends; I don't plan to buy a thing!  You believe that, don't you?)

Are you ready for the next Moda Block Heads Block No. 16 tomorrow?  I'm hoping it will be an easy one again!

---"Love"