Nine Patch Progress - The Eighth Section

 I seem to be avoiding the large upper right hand section (32” x 36”) like the plague.  So after tackling the center section, I turned my attention to the lower right. This section measures 12” x 23” and needed to balance out the lightness of the lower left and the mid-tones of the upper left without taking anything away from the center.  No short order there.  If there appears to be a method to my madness, er, design, there’s not.  At least not a conscious, totally graphed out big picture design plan like I usually do ahead of starting a project.   This is turning out more of a ‘let’s work on each section as a complete mini quilt’ and then, ‘let’s see how they all fit together’ project.

In actuality, if I really think about it, it totally makes sense to do the largest section last.  It will incorporate more fabrics, values and needs to bring the whole quilt all together.  Or maybe, I can justify just about anything and everything if I put my mind to it.

The eighth section had its own challenges.  The dimensions were not evenly divisible, not by length (32”) or width (12”) or patches (3 x 3 or 9).  That meant my blocks were not going to be square but rectangular instead, and they still needed to be nine patches but different, as I wanted balance, but not boring, here for the repeated blocks.

Graph paper before fabric:

I wanted the lightest value to be light but more of a medium light – like the lightest fabric from the upper left. So I used that fabric as the largest rectangle in my block and shaded from there. 

For the center row of each block, I ended up using the same three focus fabrics from the upper left.  For the outside rows in each block, I went dark – indigo dark – and shaded to lighter dark values.  I was shooting for a framed leaded glass Prairie Style window effect for the blocks.  The center ‘waves of dots’ fabric is actually directional, but that got lost due to the small size of the rectangle.  

I cut and alternated the direction in each block and will quilt it in that same direction to add the lost movement back into the block. That’s the plan anyway. 

I didn’t quilt this section right after finishing it but I did quilt the center section.  As soon as this one is quilted, I’ll show both of them together.   In the meantime, here’s a shot of the design wall with Eight of Nine in place.

Eight down, One to go!

Wild Cherry goes Cherry Limeade

I was supposed to be working on the Nine Patch over the weekend and I did.

BUT…

I got distracted. (No big surprise there)

It’s not my fault!! Wild Cherry is home and she is proudly sitting on the cutting table.

Just sitting there - Naked.

I’ve waited so long to indulge myself in a painted FW and then endured the time she was away having the makeover done that I sure as heck wasn’t going to shove her in the case & tuck her away!  But the machine looked, well, machine like.  So, that started a conversation in my head with Inside Voice and it went something like this:

Inside Voice - “Of course, it looks machine like.  That’s because it is a Sewing MACHINE! DUH!!! How is it supposed to look – like a Pillow??”

Me - “NO - Not like a Pillow. Just softer than a machine and like it’s at home and happy and cozy.”

IV - “It’s a Sewing Machine – how’s it supposed to look cozy?”

Me - “HMMMM, Good Question. With fabric accessories – that’s how!”

Like a flash , I was off on a tangent, digging in the stash, thinking about what to make and which fabric was right, something that captured her spirit, her history, her new finish.

IV - “It’s a MACHINE!”

ME - “I KNOW THAT!!!”

Sometimes, Inner Voice is really, Really, REALLY annoying! GEESH!!

This is what I dug out of the stash – Cherry Limeade batik!

I quilted it with simple diagonal cross-hatching

I’ve had this for several years and it’s been waiting for just the right project.  It’s perfect for this!  Oh, you want to know what ‘this’ is?

It’s a quilted bed protector.  With a bright pink wavy batik for binding.

Featherweights have a tiny design flaw.  The face plate thumb screw will scratch the bed of the machine when it is folded up for storage in its case.  

Not going to happen on my watch!  Enter the bed protector.

I took some basic measurements, added a little for seam allowances and fitting room, added just a little more for quilting shrinkage and got busy. 

But then the foot controller was feeling left out.

IV - “Oh, for Pete’s sake – now what??!!”

A little matching quilted bag for the foot controller to protect its new finish from scratches and dings.

Wild Cherry is feeling very cozy and at home now.

Me – “But what if she gets cold now that it’s autumn and winter is coming?  “

IV - “You have lost your mind!!  It’s a MACHINE”

Yes, it is a machine - a finely crafted, precision machine with a gorgeous new paint job that needs to be protected for many years to come.

I’m thinking matching dust cover. 

Going to need a few more measurements here…

Oh, and Inside Voice – Just so you know, they sell FW protective cover sets on eBay for around $70.  I used fabric from the stash and batting scraps – so there! PFFFT!!!

A Large but Not Squishy Box Arrived

 A box from ARKANSAS!!!

While the DH knew my machine was away for its makeover, he neglected to call me the minute this box arrived at the front door.  I forgave him because he was rather involved in a room makeover (more on that later).  He did bring it when it arrived because Fed Ex rang the doorbell, so he gets credit for that. But REALLY?! No phone call – sigh.  On a side note, he also didn’t think it was my sewing machine because it didn’t weigh that much.  I need to educate him on the finer points of the Singer Featherweight – like they don’t weigh a ton. Get it? Feather Weight!

I was excited and nervous at the same time!  I was literally too scared to open the box by myself.   I know that sounds ridiculously crazy and it was.   But I waited for years to pull the trigger on this project and here it finally was – right in front of me.  DH placed it on the coffee table, grabbed the scissors and gently cut through the tape.  There aren’t any pictures of the process because I was totally in the moment, not thinking about anything else.  While my Sweet Man carefully wrestled the machine out of the box, I snatched out the foot controller and unwrapped it.

And thought there was a mistake – it looked black.  Even my DH commented: “Is it black??  I thought you were getting a COLOR?” I was terrified!  What had I picked?  Is this really my machine??

Part of the problem is that the lighting in the living room in the evening is wretched.   I like LIGHT, DH likes light – minimal amounts of little tiny soft white light.  I swear he’d live in a cave if he could.   Once we got the machine unwrapped from a mile of bubble wrap, it still looked dark, like black dark. CRAP!!  But then, I carried it into the kitchen where the lighting (almost totally my domain) is almost bright enough to do surgery – all was AWESOME!!!

 

Looking deep wine in Sunlight

Yes, ‘Wild Cherry’ is a dark color, think, perfect dark Bing Cherry, with an almost violet undertone.   None of these pictures really do the color justice, the shine of the machine does not let it photograph well.

Defused indirect light from the left with flash

It’s deep and rich and perfect!!  And it looks different, in different light. 

More Violet on the Sewing table with the light behind me

I think the color pays homage to the FW’s original factory black finish, while sharing my flair for color.  I didn’t even bother to try to take pictures of it Friday night.  I waited until Saturday in the studio.

  

Thank you, Gerald Holmes!!!  Featherweight in Color is his website - check it out.

You not only did a beautiful job on my FW, you helped me celebrate a Milestone birthday with a lasting gift that has a past, present and future!

   

While I am thrilled to have my new Wild Cherry FW, it was a long time coming (totally worth the wait) and I will cherish her.  I can already tell you that this will not be my only repainted machine.  I have a sinking feeling getting them repainted is addictive – like building a fabric stash, getting a tattoo or eating potato chips. You can have just one!  But it won't be for quite a long while.

81 Pieces of Blue

Friday night in the Studio and it was colorwash time!

The other night, I laid out the first version of the center section. 

It was okay but not good enough for me.  So, it was back to the stash.  

Much better! The value transition is much smoother in this version.  A little while later the piecing was done.

And I laid it out next to the accent section for comparison. I'm happy with both of these pieces.  

Even happier that this was completed on Friday night.  The plan for the weekend was to get all three remaining sections of this project done. One down, two to go.

Bailing Out & Bali Charms to the Rescue!

I Bailed Out!

I Bailed Out .......on starting the large upper right section.

I just was not ready to tackle that section on a week night.  It needs a longer stretch of time to work it!  But that doesn't mean I didn't hit the studio. No Excuses - Need to move forward on this project.

I switched over to the center square section.  I am repeating the 3 x 3 layout of traditional nine patches from the red accent square.

Bali Charms to the Rescue!!

Yes - I have mid tones!! And some great lights & deep darks.  The two small piles on the right side are the blue shades that lean more toward the aqua/teal/turquoise. They are separated out from the clearer true blues.

Tonight was all about teeny squares - they'll finish at 3/4 inch.  Here's the prelim layout:

And it's not quite up to snuff. I only have 7 fabrics here and the color transition is not smooth enough.  I need to dig back into the stash and switch out some of these squares. Surprise - it needs more mid tones! ARGH! I knew it, i just knew it when i was laying it out.

The coming weekend is all mine - I'll be in the studio.  There will be Downton Abbey on the DVD player and chips & salsa at the ready.  Drake will be tucked under the sewing table keeping me company and DH is heading out of town.

Upper Right Hand Corner Section - Color Wash Nine Patch

Six Sections are done, Three Sections to go! 

I want to repeat the 3 x 3 grid of nine patches that I did for the accent red/orange piece, for the center section.   So that’s decided. 

For the upper right section (32” x 36”), I was envisioning a colorwash series of different nine patch layouts.  And then I thought I go a little nutty and use different size nine patches and collage them together. Maybe something like this:

Rather than plan everything out, I'm going to try to be spontaneous and just get down in the studio and start cutting fabric, sewing it together and see where it leads. Cross your fingers.

Uneven Nine Patch(es)

Another section of the Nine Patch done!

Sunday afternoon, between loads of laundry, I tackled the smallest of the blue sections – just 12” x 14”.   

It’s pieced and quilted already.  I guess you’d call it an uneven nine patch, inside an uneven nine patch, inside an uneven nine patch.  The smallest square on the innermost block is a half inch finished. 

I find myself debating more than normal over fabric choices for the blue sections.  It’s because of the value issue I have – not a lot of clear light true blue in my stash.   After I finished this section, I remembered I have a few charm packs of blue & green batiks stashed in a different cabinet – bought them for this project and promptly forgot about them when I started pulling fabric. 

They will be a big help when I move on to the upper right section – it measures 32” x 36” and I want to work the nine patches in colorwash style. At least, I think I do. And maybe a collage of different size nine patches.  Going to take some planning there – back to the graph paper I go!