Sunday, July 8, 2012

A Zillion Blocks


I made 620 hourglass blocks plus 9 "odd" blocks to toss into the mixture for fun.  Why so many?  For each two 5" squares, you end up with 2 identical hourglass blocks.


Duplicate blocks are being stacked on my cutting table to be used in the lower half of the quilt top.  


Although the directions for this quilt pattern say to sew the blocks into rows and then sew the long rows together, I am sewing blocks into a four-by-four grid.  This makes it easier for me to check fabrics to make sure the same fabrics are in the same grid... or in the grids on each side of them.


Like most folks, I don't have a huge design wall, so I moved the 3x3 grid of 4x4 super-blocks to the left to open up some more space.


So far, this method is working for me...














18 comments:

  1. I think sewing quilts together in sections instead of rows whenever possible is a much better option. I learned it from a blog last year and have been so grateful!
    Your assembly method looks well thought out. Can't wait to see the finish!

    ReplyDelete
  2. looks great, love those hourglass blocks

    ReplyDelete
  3. And we have to do whatever works for us, right?

    ReplyDelete
  4. A well thought-out plan Freda and when it works for you...thats the most important for you(?)
    Greetings

    ReplyDelete
  5. A zillion blocks is a lot! I agree with you that sewing them into blocks first will work better. I've been debating that with my 3 inch bow tie blocks. I was trying to decide if sewing them nto 6 inch blocks first wouldn't be easier than doing long skinny rows?

    Love your quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Agree here....long rows are not the way I sew. Much prefer what you call "super blocks"---love the term---and helps you get the fabrics balanced out. This is looking so wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I like it when a plan goes smoothly. Your super blocks are looking good, It will be fun to search for the odd blocks once the top is finished.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm with you sewing them into larger squares instead of strips...love seeing a plan come together!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your quilt just keeps getting better and better. Thanks for the tip of 4 x 4 piecing, I'll go right now and put that in my instructions. Looking Good.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You make your native country Kazakstan proud!

    ReplyDelete
  11. looks great....4x4 sections makes a lot more sense to be as well!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow - that is going to be spectacular!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sewing in super blocks makes perfect sense to me. It's coming along swimmingly! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  14. i love seeing the blocks coming together!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great job.
    Lillian
    lillianscupboard.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm waiting for your beautiful quilt to be finished.
    And that's a good idea keeping back the duplicate blocks.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I like your method of creating larger blocks instead of long rows. I find that gives me more control as I build the quilt larger and larger. The long row thing just gives me crooked quilts. This quilt is going to be fantastic!

    ReplyDelete