Do You Know This Block?

Since finishing my Dutch Treat quilt on the 17th, I've been kind of bouncing here and there trying to settle on something to work on.  I spent several nights catching up on my Raggedy and Friends blocks.  I finished the embroidery on all three I was behind, but have only pieced one of them, so no pictures taken yet.

Last night I dug out my container of quilt pieces from my Grandmother.  I've posted pictures of these in the past but it's been awhile.  I decided to work on some of these blocks

I don't know the name of the block.  The closest I can find is that it might be a variation of the Hexagon Star in Maggie Malone's book.  Grandma had several of these hand pieced

I had a skirt made from the orange fabric in the first picture. My sister and I had skirts from the two fabrics in the upper left of the second picture. I had the turquoise and she had the lavendar. 

In addition to the pieced blocks there is a string of cut pieces

The string on the left contains pieces for this block, only slightly smaller.  All of the components are there, strung in order.  I can't imagine having the patience to sit and cut all of these pieces out.  I'm more of a "cut a few, piece a few" type gal.

I dug out another stash of pattern templates from Grandma and found these pieces cut from (I think) a Workbasket magazine.

Unfortunately there is no name shown for the block.  Grandma had several cardboard and sandpaper templates cut.  She seemed to have issues regarding seam allowances.  The pieced blocks correspond pretty well to the size shown in the pattern.  The string of cut pieces seem to be minus the seam allowance.  And, at least for her, cutting with scissors didn't yield perfectly sized pieces. 

She also used a variety of white fabric and it isn't the best quality so I've decided to cut new white pieces and use her fabric for the hexagon and colored triangles. 

I pieced two of them by hand.

My points are never as sharp as Crispy's.  Wish she lived close enough to give me lots of one on one hand piecing tutoring.  I know in theory what to do. It just doesn't always work out that way.  Of course it would help if the pieces were a bit more accurately cut.

So maybe this will be my sitting in the recliner, listening to TV evening project for awhile.  I'm thinking there is no chance the blocks will set together like show in the pattern so I'm considering sashing them all.  Or I found an enlarged block with this as the center in Maggie Malone's book . That might work too.  I may decide to take apart the blocks Grandma pieced and cut them down to size to fit with the others.

Anyone recognize this block?

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  We did. 

Stay warm.

Mary



Better Pics

Had a chance tonight at quilt guild to get a couple of pics of Dutch Gold straight on.  The pics still aren't great, but at least you can see it fully.

My fingers have been lost the last couple of nights.  Doing some embroidery trying to catch up on my Raggedy Friends blocks.  But it just isn't the same satisfaction as doing these little appliqued blocks.  How long can I resist starting #3?

Santa Train

A couple days ago the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express came to Pittsburg.  Naturally all the boys and girls were excited to see it, including the boy in this house.  We went in the afternoon while it was setting up.

And back in the evening to see it lit up.

There were lots of model trains running inside.

But the best part of all was getting to meet Santa!

Dutch Gold

Can you believe it?  I'm still here!  I haven't had much to share in recent days (or weeks) but I've been dilgently working to finish Dutch Treat #2..the gold version.  And Tuesday night I finished the quilting.  I would have been done with the binding yesterday except 3/4 of the way through it I decided it really needed to be narrower to look good on the scalloped edge, so I redid it. 

Now it's done, washed and dried and I have a huge sense of accomplishment.  I started this one April 1, spent 5 1/2 months doing the hand reverse applique (196 blocks) and setting the blocks together.  I started hand quilting it Sept 19, so it took a few days shy of  3 months to quilt.   Considering I finished DT#1 Feb 1, I am really proud that I can say I completed two of these in 2010 (even though I started #1 in 2008). 

I think I may take a break before starting #3..if I make one, that is.  I have several other big projects that need  finished..like quilting my Dear Jane for instance.

It's hard to get good pictures inside and without help holding it up. Perhaps I can get better ones later. So without further ado..here is Dutch Gold.

 Before washing, the quilting perhaps shows a bit better in this picture

Giveaway

My friend, Geta in Romania has done it again!  Another great pattern, and since she is so very generous, another great giveaway.  

Visit her blog and enter for your chance to win.  Caution...once you enter her blog, you won't want to stop looking and drooling at her amazing quilts.