Friday, June 13, 2014

Final Medallion Border: Test Blocks

My medallion top has been hanging on my design wall for weeks and weeks, waiting for inspiration to strike.  What block will I make for my final border?  I wanted it to be 6.5 x 6.5 inches and pieced without templates.  As every other part of the quilt has been paper pieced, I'm getting a little tired of that and have been wanting to just sit and sew.  


As the rest of the quilt is very angular, I thought a basic square/rectangle block might be a nice change.  After a quick vote on Instagram (@fluffysheepquilting) it was decided that I'd start making super scrappy blocks on a LV background.  I went to town and made 8 tester blocks.


But then when I placed them side by side on the design wall, the design didn't pop against the LV prints.  Out came the seam ripper....


And instead I made matchy scrappy blocks on a LV background.  Now these you could see easily. 


Although the rest of the quilt is hog wild scrappy, I sort of like the grouped, color-coordinated scraps in these final little blocks.




I think the coordinated scrappiness jives relatively well next to the crazy scrappiness of the rest of the quilt.You can easily see the block pattern against the background, too.


The one thing I'm not sure about is that there's no secondary pattern between the blocks in the outer border.  They seem quite jarring against one another.  I tried making mirror image blocks and inserted them in between, but that's even worse.


Suggestions are welcome, but for now I'll just keep piecing these little cuties until (again) inspirations strikes and I find a better way to unify the blocks in the outer border.  I have two pretty good sized piles of scraps cut ready for chain piecing, so it's perfectly mindless and rewarding just sitting and piecing a few blocks as I walk by my sewing room.  Happy days.


9 comments:

Susan said...

I see the previous elements (the centre medallion, the square-in-a-square and the triangles) all pointing to the outside of the quilt. Your new shapes are not following the eye in that direction. Does this make sense? Sorry, I don't have any better suggestions, though....

Sarah said...

I think I would try piecing those little units in a step type layout. Then you would get a secondary pattern of lv steps mixed with your matchy scrappy steps. I am going to email you a crude sketch of what I mean.

pennydog said...

I like Sarah's idea!

Andee said...

I wish I could help you, I am stuck on my medallion too! I LOVE your tall triangle border and I am sure you will come up something amazing or this will work! I am enjoying seeing it come together!

Andee said...

I wish I could help you, I am stuck on my medallion too! I LOVE your tall triangle border and I am sure you will come up something amazing or this will work! I am enjoying seeing it come together!

Canadian Abroad said...

I like it, but what do I know. ;-)

Henry's Shed said...

I love it! All the different fabrics make it so fascinating to look at, not very helpful I know! Sorry! xx

Nicky said...

On point? or a double border of these blocks? Like it though and you are right to coordinate them.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I like Sarah's idea but I bet you've finished it by now!

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