Thursday, November 12, 2015

Bow Tie Block Swap: Bordering on a Dilemna


My friend Barb at FunwithBarb hosted a bow tie block exchange. A few months ago she put out the call for anyone who wanted to participate. I resisted, and oh it was so hard, but I did resist because I still haven't finished the quilt I'm making from her nine patch exchange last year...but then at the last minute she asked for a volunteer to take the place of someone. Being the "Queen of Last Minute" I said yes immediately. I can resist only so long, and if the universe is going to drop a second chance in my lap, who am I to refuse? 

So I sewed up my 80 bow tie blocks and shipped them off to Barb. She had two groups, civil war repros or brights with light grey backgrounds. Obviously, I participated in the brights, the block above pretty much gives that away. 

Last week a happy little bundle of swap blocks arrived and I almost squealed with excitement. Okay, I did squeal, please don't judge. Then I raced to my sewing room and put the blocks up on the wall to admire them.


Gorgeous aren't they? I moved and shuffled them quite a bit until I realized they wanted to be in in circles...


Then I realized they wanted to be in rainbow order!


But if I was going to have a complete rainbow, I was going to need to make a few more. Like a 100 or so...


So I got busy. I started cutting scrap and bits from fat quarters and raiding my stash for any color that seemed to be missing. I also pinned them up on the wall to fill in the spaces as I went to monitor my progress.



And I kept sewing. And cutting, and sewing and I couldn't stop! 


And then I moved them around a few more times, and then a few more, and then I realized to could keep shuffling them around or just go ahead and sew them together already!


So I shuffled them around one more time, just in case, and then I sewed them together.


And then I had to choose a border. So I called my friend Martha and asked her to meet me at the quilt shop to help. She's amazingly patient with my indecisiveness and it's a good thing. Because I couldn't for the life of me figure out which border fabric to choose. They either were all purple-blue-pink or...


waaaaaay too dark. And yes, I lay my quilt tops on the floor of the quilt shop and bring dozens of bolts to place next to it to audition. And I do usually take photos of every option because sometimes it's easier to see which fabric works best in a photo rather than in real life. Not sure why, just trust me on this one.

And some seemed almost perfect but maybe not. Then I had to decide if I wanted to make two borders from one fabric and two from another. Or did I want to piece them? Or did I want to do multiple borders? Blah, blah and blah. See what I mean about indecision? It was killing me!


And two hours later I left with a half yard of the purple for the inner border. I already had the grey and the green. I'm still not sure I'm even going to use this. Feel free to voice your opinion and let me know what I should use. I'm happy to run back to the quilt shop if needed. :)

And I would like to thank Barb again for getting me into this fun dilemna. I looooove these blocks!

Enjoy every stitch!
Diane

21 comments:

  1. OMG! I would probably actually scream instead of jus squealing when all those blocks arrived. It is gorgeous what you have done with them!

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  2. I see a couple of my blocks in your quilt! I don't have any ideas as far as a border goes but I am sure whatever you pick out it will be great.

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    1. Thanks Kelly! Your messages aren't arriving by email for some reason! Dang it, I haven't been ignoring you I promise. :)

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  3. I love your rainbow setting! I'm seeing a lot of the circle setting for the moderns and I think its great.
    I can't believe how fast you did this!! you are amazing.

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  4. LOLOLOL !!! Whatever you choose, your quilt will be gorgeous !!

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  5. Great job. I kind of like the swirly fabric and maybe would go with a pinky, cherry red instead of the gray. Sometimes this is the hardest part.

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  6. For my 2 cents worth, I would ditch the busy green print, use the gray for an inner border and the purple for the outside border. This is of course offered without seeing it laid out, which might again make me change my mind, too............decisions, decisions! I do LOVE what you have done with the blocks!

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    1. I've actually tried that and I think you are on to something. The green is a favorite fabric but not perfect for this quilt. The gray inner border was my first thought. Maybe I am just overthinking this. Thanks for your help!

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  7. You are one crazy lady! LOL Not really, but you sewed those like the speed of lightning! Whatever you chose for a border will be completely awesome!

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  8. Hey there Diane. Theborders do a great job of stoppingthe movement at the edge and the borders you chose then highlightyour pattern . Well done, again. Miss you all! Haz

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  9. Hey there, ġiane. I love the borders as they stop the movement and highlight well the colors. Well done. Miss you all in Atlanta. Hazel

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    1. Hazel! We miss you too! I hope you are doing well and having fun in the sun. Thanks for commenting, it makes my day to hear from you!!

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  10. Beautiful circle setting--that is my own fave for bowties, too. Love the rainbows--joust lovely...hugs, Julierose

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  11. Genius! This will be so worth the extra work!

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  12. I think the green Kaffe Fasset fabric is a bit too dark for this beautiful rainbow quilt but I know this print is available in other colors too. Perhaps this would be an idea?

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  13. When you get going, you really get after it! Love the circle look and the rainbow colors. This really pops! Love it!

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  14. Awesome!!! You really know how to listen to your blocks and fabric!! The rainbow layout is an inspired choice!!

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  15. Take a bow for all those bows! The rainbow setting is a wonderful modern take on a simple traditional block.

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  16. Oh! I so identify with the indecisiveness thing! Good job you can make up lost time by putting your blocks together so quickly. The quilt top looks wonderful. I agree the green fabric is too dark for the border, of all the bolts on the shop floor I really liked the rainbow swirl. Looking forward to seeing what you decide to do.

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  17. Diane, you are so creative! I loved each of the layouts but they all looked so different. Inspiring!

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  18. I like purple inner border and the grey outer and ditch that green for another project. And I really love the bowties in those bright colors.

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