Wednesday 12 June 2013

Seam ripping and Chevrons

You would think wouldn't you that when making blocks that require a seam ripper for every strip i.e. the Scrappy Trip Around the World blocks from Quiltville, I would try not to have to use the seam ripper on any other part of the block? You would think that, but you would be wrong!

Scrappy Trip Strips


Quiltville's method for putting together Trip Around the World blocks involves sewing strips together in a loop then cutting them to the square size and ripping out a seam in each strip to make graduated strips.



So, for each 6 strip block you have to rip out 6 seams, which means in a 25 square quilt I am ripping out 150 times, more than sufficient for anyone.

Scrappy Chevron Oops


Apparently not! The two aqua/black blocks in the bottom rows should be at the other end of the row. Unfortunately, this wasn't the only occasion I did this :(



And you would not believe (well, maybe given the above you would!) the amount of times this is the way these urns were facing when I looked at the finished block.

Upside down Urns



Perhaps my subconscious enjoys seam ripping more than I realised, or maybe it is because I would really like to have this finished before my son comes home for the weekend in a week's time.

Despite all the seam ripping going on I am more than halfway with this quilt top, which is kind of a minor miracle at this stage.


Halfway there


Two more rows to go, and goodness knows how much seam ripping and I will have a quilt top! I am not following the Trip Around the World pattern exactly as I have gone for a 5 x 5 arrangement I thought it would look a bit odd, so have gone for chevrons instead.

If you haven't already check out the free patterns at Quiltville you should there are loads, all aimed at using up your scraps :)

So here is how my list is looking

  • In Color Order HST BOM - quilting started!
  • Sunday Morning Quilt Bee blocks received 
  • Sunday Morning Quilt2 Bee 10 sets of blocks received
  • Sunday Morning Quilt2 Bee blocks sent (on schedule)
  • Star of Africa Bee blocks completed and sent (3 months behind schedule)
  • Scrappy Trip Around the World Bee -  COMPLETED AND SENT
  • And And Sew On BOM - four blocks completed (one behind schedule)
  • Crafty Cooks Apron and Recipe Swap  - COMPLETED AND SENT
  • Son's quilt - 3 rows sewn, 2 rows to be added
  • Paris Cushion - fabric received
  • (Almost) Irish Chain quilt basted  
  • 5 blocks of NY Beauty QAL completed and fabric cut for remaining 5 blocks 
  • 18 blocks of Craftsy BOM completed (only 2 more to go!) 
So that's my progress looking forward to seeing yours.

Linking up to WOW


WIPWednesday Quilter in the Closet

Fresh Poppy Design

30 comments:

  1. I'm not a big fan of this pattern but your version is looking good! Nice combination. Sorry to hear about the ripping part.

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  2. Whoops!!! Worth the effort, though, I hope. Love your chevron version and the colours are working together nicely.

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  3. It's looking really good! I've had to pick out a few of my rows too.

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  4. I have never made one of these as I was never interested in that pattern but yours looks great and I will have to look into it. LOL in my spare time. Your quilt will be wonderful. bunny

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  5. I had the same problem. You are not alone.

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  6. This quilt is looking good!! It my be a pain to work on but he will really enjoy it when you have it done so it will be well worth it!!

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  7. I made one of these blocks for a bee and I agree, it took an awful lot of thinking for a "easy" block. Looking good!

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  8. You know I did the same thing a few times and messed up the placement of the rows:/ In the end it all worked out of course. I like your fabric selection for your Scrappy Trip!

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  9. That looks really hard, I would never have the patience!

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  10. Good Afternoon to you, Oh my, I have patience, but I don't think I could keep on ripping out seams. I have to say that your quilt is looking stunning, so it is worth all the effort.
    Your son will be thrilled with the colours you have chosen.
    Happy seam ripping!
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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  11. that sounds like a bit of a pain in the hiney! lol

    I am stopping by from the WIP post, hop by if you get a chance! http://domesticdeficitdisorder.blogspot.com/2013/06/wip-wednesday-june-12th-edition.html

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  12. I love this quilt top, and commend you for your patience! If I read a tut for a quilt top that mentioned seam ripping as a normal part of making the quilt, I would run screaming in the other direction; go you!!!

    I'm stopping by from the WIP Wednesday linky party, this is my WIP post if you wannt drop by my blog: http://thesehandsofmine.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-wednesday-i-found-out-about-this.html Keep Creating!

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  13. The fabrics and colors in your chevrons are wonderful. I made a bargello quilt awhile back that called for a lot of seam ripper action and a friend kept telling me to think of it as "unsewing" ... still seamed like ripping to me ... the result is worth the effort, though ... :) Pat

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  14. beautiful...although I would not have the patience to make the blocks with all that ripping!

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  15. Your blocks look great! I love the colors you are using :)

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  16. That would drive me potty! Glad it's coming together though despite liberal use of the seam ripper! Looks good.

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  17. It certainly looks like the final product will be worth all the ripping- it's already gorgeous!

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    1. Thanks I love the block, I am just not so keen on all the unpicking!

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  18. In spite of all the ripping, it looks fabulous Fiona!

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  19. It looks fab now. I think that's a rip to far for me though!

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  20. Looking great, but not sure how you can get it wrong , lol

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  21. Wow, that project is really coming along wonderfully.

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  22. Very eye catching, Fiona!!! I love it, but there's no way I could ever use a pattern that deliberately uses a seam ripper... LOL!!!

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  23. I had to make one of these blocks for one of my Queen Bees, I don't know that I'd like to rip more than one - Your quilt top is looking fantastic regardless, keep it up! :)

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  24. It is looking really good. I love the pattern that you chose instead of the traditional. Despite of the ripping it is a fun block to make.

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  25. I like the chevron layout. It really catches my eye. Hey, I would be making the same silly mistakes. I always seem to be attaching a piece upside down somewhere.

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  26. I had the same issue, plus my seam ripper kept getting lost under piles of fabric :D. It is difficult to keep everything in order! I love how you laid yours out! It is really unique and eye-catching! The colors are great!

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  27. I don't consider it a productive day's sewing if I haven't ripped more stitches than I've put in. The quilt is looking good!

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  28. wow, what a fantastic version of the scrappy trip! love!!

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