No Pattern ? No Problem. Right ?

subtitle : Log Cabin Rescue Project  Adventure

 

before I begin today's post I want to let everyone know that I will be back to my old self and

blogging about all types of art, painting, cardmaking, zentangle, whatever.

I am currently focusing on sewing because I am on vacation and

 I brought my sewing machine with me.

Now on with today's post.

 

I picked up 24 log cabin blocks at a yard sale.

They were bright, sunny and wrinkled

 and

all for $1 !

One Dollar!

wow...

I knew I could do something quick and easy with them so

I snatched them up and smiled the whole way home.

 

All piecers and sewists and quilters know that sewing in general, is a series of problem solving.

and

Sewing without a plan or pattern requires more problem solving.

Easy right?

right.

 

So after ironing and squaring up the blocks, which I found were

not only not square....they were not even the same size.

   



 

Problem # 1

If I trimmed them to be the same size it would mean some

of the blocks would lose some precious points.

Can't have that.

So this led to thinking and a trip to several Quilt shops in seach

of 24 batik fabrics that would mix, match and blend with the log cabin blocks.

24 half yards later......

and a 3" border added around the blocks...

 

Problem #1 ----  Solved !

 

(this is also where I realized this was not going to be a quick and easy bargain beach blanket )

 

 



 

Problem # 2

I could still tell the blocks were not the same size and this bothered me.

 

So I trimmed the four sides at an angle and turned the blocks into

12" square Wonky Blocks.

This made me very happy.

Problem #2 --- Solved !

 

 

I arranged the blocks on the bed and decided the finished quilt would be

too small for a beach blanket for two and a few dogs.

 

Problem # 3

Need to make it larger without a pattern and without spending a ton of money.

I already had leftovers from the half yard cuts.

So I cut 12" blocks.

I decided to make a disappearing 9 patch.

It's a pattern but you don't need a pattern.

You can wing it.

 

I made 6 of these:

 

 

nine patch block

 



cut them like this:

 

no longer a nine patch block

 

 

Turned the two opposite corners like this:

 

 

Problem #3 --- Solved !

 

at this point I had to move the blocks to the floor because it was huge.

not a big problem

 

I was enjoying the task of arranging the blocks.

 

I love the secondary pinwheel pattern that was showing up.

 

But I twisted , turned, rotated, rearranged those darn blocks for

 TWO DAYS!

I could not get them to fall into a balanced design where two blues would not touch

or where all the yellows would not be on one side.

 

Problem # 4

 

I need therapy.

I am too picky.

I am not able to settle for just okay.

 

sigh.

 

 So on DAY THREE of this "easy" "quick" project

 

I bring out the seam ripper.

and remove the offending fabric.

 

 

bad fabric...not playing well with others...lower right

bad fabric ....around wonky log cabin

bad fabric....upper left

 

and replace it with yet another fabric that I had to go to the LQS to get.

yep....more $$$.

at this point the ladies in the shop, who know me as Bosley's Mom,

 laugh at my delema.

 

I am now hating those blasted log cabin blocks and wish I had never seen them.

 

(but the new orange fabric was pretty and I purchased two yards of it so I have enough for another day)

 

Same blocks...new fabric added:

 

this required many cups of tea.

then I ran out of clean cups....small problem.

I washed the cups and took a shower.

 

 

Problem #4 ----- Solved !

 

I finally came up with a pleasing layout and quickly stitched it all together.

 

In the proccess I had to eliminate 4 blocks because it would have made

the beach blanket too big and too heavy to carry to the beach.

 

Which leads to another problem

I have to come up with a quick and easy way to use these leftover blocks.

 

 Maybe I should have a yard sale.

 

 

nah.....in a future post I'll show you how I turned the extra blocks into a beach bag.

 

Problem --- Solved !

 

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Please leave a comment and please let your followers know I"m back.

xo

Marianne

 

 

I am linking this post to Sew Many Ways

Sunday Linky Party

pop over to see what other creative types are doing.

I also linked to  Freemotion by the River

I love her site!