Let Her Rip
Let her rip, first came to me as a focus for the post, when I was contemplating my past week of fast paced sewing. Then, I realized it was a pun. Let’s face it, most of us who sew do some frog sewing as well. For those unfamiliar with the term frog sewing, it comes from the frog’s vocalization transcribed as rip it, rip it.
Butterfly Sanctuary
I was unable to get to work on the first of two July Butterfly Sanctuary blocks until Thursday. However, I did make good progress. Most of the blocks, like butterflies, are symmetrical. Therefore, I like to piece the sections of symmetrical pairs simultaneously, versus one wing at a time.
Metamorphosis, contains two wings and these have an upper and lower section. The image is the upper left wing. When I stitched this, I pieced its partner, the upper right wing. I didn’t realize until I had the wing pinned to my design wall, just how patriotic the colors and stripes look. Technically, the colors are as you see them, pale pink, dark pink and a rich plum purple. They do read as red, white and blue. Rather appropriate for July and our Independence Day celebrations.
Yes, some ripping and fixing was required. If I have one complaint about Butterfly Sanctuary’s patterns, it is the Fabric Guide.
Each color is represented by a different black and white pattern. However, it is very difficult to distinguish those patterns on pieces that may not be bigger than my pinky finger nail. So, I occasionally used the wrong fabric. Hence, some of the frog sewing. Lesson learned, I hope. I now keep a magnifying glass on my cutting table. It helps.
Keeping It Reel
My design wall is getting quite full. Most of my works in progress are there. I have scanned the wall in a reel, which can be seen on either Instagram or Facebook.
Rainbow Scrap Challenge
My primary focus this week was to finish the final three blocks of my Cats in the Attic quilt. They are done. Of course, there is more work to be done. They need eyes and whiskers, don’t you think? Why stop there? I also have visions of adding setting and corner stones. I found some really cute mini mice. These will be embroidered on the setting strips before attaching them. You know I have to add some machine embroidery, right?
The image above is of one of the three blocks I made this week. I really had fun playing with the background fabric. I dyed the window sill fabric years ago.
Question of the Week
What is your favorite season to for creativity and why?
I’m linking up to the following posts:
Yes to embellishing those kitties! I like the mouse idea too! I’ve had similar issues with tiny paper piecing sections. I will color the section with color pencil which helps choose the correct fabric. My favorite season for creating is winter. Dark, dreary, stormy days lend well to stitching! I can work with bright colors and the weather makes being indoors at the machine the better and warmer choice!
I had a feeling you would like the mouse idea. You and I have a tendency to go for more is more. 🙂 Seems we are simpatico with the seasons, too. I love heading to the studio after the bustle of the holidays. Finally…Peace.
I love your cat blocks. Is this a pattern you designed or can I purchase it somewhere?
Great question, Marie. The original Cats in the Attic pattern is free and available online. Go to Pinterest and enter Cats in the Attic under search. There you will find the four different block patterns with instructions. I used these as a reference, but did NOT follow them. They felt too fussy and likely to lead to more waste and frog sewing, than I would want. So, instead I drafted them in EQ8. This way I could paper piece them. Not sure redrafting was worth it. The blocks are 6″ H x 7.5″ W. Therefore, those tiny HST are seriously tiny. Of course, by paper piecing the seams come closer to alignment than if I had pieced them.
that butterfly pattern– WOW — so many tiny pieces I rarely do foundation with that tiny of pieces have fun with it and I bet you will do it beautifully
Thank you, Karen. What I find odd with Butterfly Sanctuary patterns is the extreme differential in size. You can have an odd shaped piece that barely covers the first digit of my first finger or something 8″ x 4″.
The cat blocks have each been sweet as you’ve worked on this, so I can’t wait to see how they all come together in the quilt. The butterflies look very intricate but should be gorgeous.
Yes, those butterflies are quite intricate. Several have close to 100 pieces. Since I am choosing fabric from my stash vs. buying the kit, I’m not quite sure how my butterflies will turn. Just the kind of unknown that keeps me motivated.
I’m working on an Australian Animals fpp bom. The pieces are very tiny. I found that if I took the time to write out a color key I didn’t make mistakes about fabric choices. It was worth the time. I also colored my fabric placement guide, but the list helped more.
You and I are tackling our BOM very similarly. Fortunately, Wonderfil actually provides the color guide. Admittedly, I do swap out colors in order to use fabrics I already had on hand. However, the big problem is the teeny tiny code associated with each color. It is discernible in the color guide. It is not easily discernible on the actual foundation pattern. Those squiggles look very, very alike when crammed into a space no bigger than 3/8″. I do mark the foundation pattern before I start cutting and sewing.
I love the mouse fabric idea! I can’t imagine working with pieces that are so very small on those butterflies. Wow! Your blocks are so pretty.
It’s one thing to come up with the idea. Quite another to execute it. Still, while the mice racing along the setting strips is only an idea, I am optimistic.
If I had known how tiny some of the butterfly pieces would be, I probably wouldn’t have started the challenge either. Of course, I could also stop mid way. But who am I kidding? Once I start something I typically see it all the way through. I am fascinated by how each block is unique.
Thanks for the kudos, Kathy.
So fun to see what’s on your design wall in the reel, Gwyned – the butterfly blocks are gorgeous! I’ll enjoy seeing how you put the cat blocks together, too. A whimsical sashing sounds perfect! I love creating in every season – it’s a part of my daily routine no matter what season we’re in. Sometimes the colors I’m working with or what I’m making change with the season, but I enjoy sewing and stitching year round!
I’m so touched that you check out my reels, Diann. Clearly, I need to get through some of those projects on my design wall to make room.
Your love of quilting no matter the season, comes through in your posts.
Your butterflies are awesome, Gwyned! Isn’t that interesting how it’s a pink/purple butterfly, but when put together looks RW&B.
Do you have a kitty? Just wondering with the kitty blocks…
Wow, my favorite season for creativity is all of them!
Thank you, Nancy. Yes, I was shocked to look at my carefully curated palette of pinks and purples and discover how I inadvertently created a patriotic butterfly.
Yes, we do have a cat. In fact there has nearly always been one or more cats in my life from when I was 15 months to now, 72 years later. The current one is 16 years old. She is my office, studio, and is that lap for me? cat.
Seems you are not alone with no seasonal preference for quilting.
Can’t wait to see the cats with their faces added. I also like the idea of adding mice. Those butterflies sure are intricate! I like sewing all year round and always have a long list of potential projects to work on. I’m hoping to get a few quilt tops quilted this summer. There is a pile of them in my sewing room and our guild show is coming up next Spring. It would be nice to have some done for the show.
I think the cats will take on more personalities with embroidered faces. Guess I need to go down the Pinterest rabbit hole to see how others have embroidered faces onto cats.
Guild shows are a great incentive to go from flimsy to finished quilt. I have confidence your work will be done in time.