Saturday, November 17, 2012

Octagons -- finally done!

This quilt has been years in the making.  Literally.  It started with admiring MacQuilts' Paperweight quilt that she made from a kit of Kaffe shot cottons.  And then I got the pattern and hunted down the recommended kite ruler.  And I started cutting...and cutting. 
This pattern calls for width of fabric strips in 2.5" and 2.0" so as I bought fabric, I'd cut two strips and put them in a bin.  Since I'm a scrap quilter, I have no "palette" -- and you can see that as you look at all the different octagons.  Not all brights nor reproductions nor novelties nor prints nor.....
This is an Aardvark Quilt pattern and I do love it.  She gives good directions about using lights, darks, mediums in order to get a sense of depth in the quilt.  I didn't really achieve that as well as I'd like.  I used black on black fabrics for the kites -- as you look at various examples, this is easier said than done.  
The pattern calls for this to be assembled in rows with inset seams.  Not my preferred method of construction so I put mine together in blocks.  This requires laying out a lot more as you go and not being able to move the octagons around for balance.  That was ok with me.  I had my wedges done -- just not assembled and I previewed those.  I would absolutely put it together like that again.
AND, to that point -- there will be another quilt.  This uses a boatload of fabric because you are cutting 60 degree triangles and that results in an equivalent number of "opposite" triangles -- but rarely enough for a full hexagon.  I was able to use some of them for the half hexagons on the edges of the quilt.  When putting together "unmatched" triangles and maybe scrappy-pieced kites, it will be a lot more fun and layout will be a lot less important because it should be a happy bedlam of scraps.  How fun is that.  I hope to put that on next year's list -- I needed to walk away from these for a while.
But, it's done and I do like it a lot.  I quilted it last spring and finally finished the binding last nite.  It is going on the guest bed for Thanksgiving and is the washer right now!  Yea!!!!  It's a small queen and I couldn't get a picture of the entire thing so you'll get bits and pieces.
I've done a few other things in the meantime -- two more charity quilts delivered, started an occasional block for myniecetheathlete's batik quilt -- that is my "spring project" for sure.  Finished a baby quilt from a class I took -- more on that later.  My Hurricane Sandy quilt is on it's way to New Jersey Project Linus (see last week's post if you want to help out).  It is so cold and the coverage is heartbreaking. I hope it can keep someone a bit warmer during all this tragedy.

AND, I did manage to spend three days in Houston with mom22smartchix -- here's my loot before I packed it up to come home.  I bought two kits which is not like me at all and two goodie bags from Cherrywoods and a few other things.  More on that and the incredible quilts and great booths and trends.

I wish each of you a wonderful, healthy, family filled Thanksgiving....with plenty of good calories.

Jan

21 comments:

One Minnesota Quilter said...

Absolutely love it. This is on my list of to do quilts someday. I have never purchased the pattern because I was warned of how it went together. I think I will do it your way.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Judy

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

I see you got on the band wagon and finished it! LOL. Congratulations!

It is spectacular! I put it together by doing two at a time then hooking four together. It was not difficult!

I need to quilt mine!

glen

SewSweetVIntage said...

So colorful and quirky. LOVE it. Pinned! I posted "dolled up" to Craft-o-Maniac Monday:) Following you now. Follow me too at www.sewsweetvinatge.com and share a like to my Facebook page if you have a minute!

Julianne said...

I love this quilt...It reminds me of the spider web quilt. I have been saving strips to make one for years.

Cathy said...

I love your quilt. Reminds me of a spider web also.

Anonymous said...

These types of quilts do seem to take forever. I have a few done and I'm not sure how I will use them.

Carla said...

Your quilt is fabulous! I love the background.

Vicki H. said...

beautiful quilt and I can't wait to see the bonus quilt from the left overs. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Jill said...

WOW!! Those octagons look amazing! Great work!

Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Judee said...

that is a wonderful quilt! It looks like a paper pieced Spider Web. Thanks for giving us the details. Happy Thanksgiving to you also.

Lori said...

That's a great looking quilt. Scrappy--nothing better!

Elaine said...

Congratulations on a fantastic finish! I haven't seen that pattern before - it looks like a lot of fun to make!

jjthor said...

What a wonderful quilt!! I don't think I would have the patience to put that one together!! I love the way your colors came out.
Happy Gobble Day!!

mtnquiltr said...

What a lovely quilt. Worth all the work!

Glenda said...

Now that is some quilt. Looking forward to seeing it on the bed, those colours sing, but Ohhhhhhh what a lot of work there, hours and hours and sooooo many seams. But well worth every stitch. Cheers Glenda Down Under www.patchworkdreams.com.au

Bunny said...

Very pretty quilt I have made one of these but still has to be quilted. It really is a fun quilt to make.

Esther Aliu said...

Stunning! What a great quilt...

Lucy | Charm About You said...

What a fantastic project and such a great finish!

Jill @ Create.Craft.Love. said...

Great job! I love octagons! They are one of the latest trends. You are a fantastic quilter! Thanks so much for linking up to the Keep Calm and Link Up! Hope to see you back next week!

Lynette said...

I *love* this quilt~!! It is so incredibly fantastic to get a super-long-term project finished, eh? This one is well worth the years of marinating. :D

Nicole said...

Those are so pretty! They have such a nice old fashioned feeling to them!