Thursday, June 4, 2020

A Nameless Project

Do you attend retreats? Do you have a special bag which is used to store your projects while at retreat? Do you have a 'just in case project' that is stored in your bag that is only worked on if you have run out of other projects?

I can answer yes to all those questions. The nameless project started out as 2-1/2" white squares and a bag full of an assortment of triangles left from mitering binding and other projects. They were were all bagged together and stuck in the retreat bag. I know they have been living in the retreat bag since at least 2017. Three years isn't a very long time but I've decided to make some progress since there was no quilting retreat this spring.

After piecing some of the blocks, I decided there was just too much white. I like white in quilts, I love the brightness and how it makes bright fabrics even brighter and also makes dreary fabrics happy. But there is such a thing as too much white.



I got the idea to sew a triangle onto the opposite corner.  


I previewed a couple different arrangements.

This setting has two colored triangles meeting in the corner with white in the other two.

This does not appeal to me at all, too much chaos


But I like this arrangement and this is what I'll go with.

This is another easy start and stop project but I admit, trimming is quite time consuming!
I sewed several of the blocks together so I could see how they looked.

This is a straight set.

This set is on diagonal.

I'm going to go with the straight set.

In a perfect world each block would finish at a perfect 8" but I'm not a perfect sewist and this is not a perfect world.

I'll work at this project until I tire of it then back into the retreat bag it will go.

Linking to Peacock Party, Confessions of a Fabric AddictTGIFF!Brag About Your BeautiesFinished Or Not FridayUFO Busting, Oh Scrap

25 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

those are all very pretty - I have never been to a retreat

Created by Kathi said...

I went to a retreat when I scrapbooked... but have never been to a retreat for a week or weekend since I have been a quilter... that would be fun I think though :)
I love how much progress you made making something out of scraps! Awesome :) Kathi

Sewing Up A Storm said...

Wow I really love how you took your project and changed it up to a new direction. I love this idea and think it will just be stunning when you finish it. You could just add sashing around the blocks to make them all the same, that might add yet another pleasing element to your quilt.

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Fun to have a retreat bag ;) Beautiful project, I love how youplay with these blocks and find pretty layouts!
Thanks for linking up with TGIFF, feel free to come back on Sunday for Patchwork & Quilt linky party ;))

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

I like the straight set too - but how interesting to see it on point - almost makes it a different quilt

Florida Farm Girl said...

I love retreats and I'm hoping that the one this fall will take place as scheduled. I see these girls only once a year since we are from all over a bunch of states.

Verveine et Lin said...

c'est très beau!
j'aimerais aller à des retraites, mais en ce moment en France ce n'est pas possible...

chrisknits said...

I don't have a nameless project, but I do have ones that need to be brought out and finished. That's why I am doing the 12 UFO Challenge again this year. To move them on to done. So far I am 5/5 and hope to end the year with 12 finishes, even though for a few the goal was to finish the top, who knows if they will get quilted this year.

Gretchen Weaver said...

That's a great idea! I hadn't thought of that but it's a possibility. For now I'll content myself with piecing the blocks.

Cathy said...

I've never been to a retreat.

Those look like Indian Hatchet blocks. How do I know? I am currently working on those with some scraps left over from another project! I'm not a perfect sewist either!

The Joyful Quilter said...

Love, love, LOVE your super scrappy "Retreat" project, Gretchen!!!

Gretchen Weaver said...

Thanks for the info!

Gretchen Weaver said...

The April retreat I attend was cancelled but I sure hope the November retreat is possible! I love this retreat!

Gretchen Weaver said...

It makes a big difference as to where the retreat is held. The guild retreats are normally held at some camp and the food isn't really that great. My favorite retreat is the Jane Stickle retreat held at the Farmstead Motel in Shipshewana, Indiana. Our rooms are motel rooms, so much nicer than a room at a campground. For meals people are responsible to feed themselves. There are many restaurants in town so people can eat what they want, when they want, how much they want. Since there are refrigerators on the rooms, people can bring food from home too. There is a huge conference room, again much nicer than the camps.

The April retreat was cancelled but I'm hoping the November retreat happens.

Yvonne said...

From scraps to something very beautiful. This is going to be a lovely quilt!

Bernie Kringel said...

Fantastic use of tiny pieces! Love it on point and straight - either looks wonderful. :-). So many events cancelled this year (including my niece's wedding!) I cannot wait to see things start to turn around. Take care.

QuiltGranma said...

I've never been to a retreat either. But till this Covid a small group of us would meet once a month at a church gym to sew... Crafty Ladies we are called. At least then I would get something sewn each month. I live in a very small space so it was really helpful. I would have whatever I was going to work on cut and ready to sew, and I would just sew! I love your scrappy triangle pieced squares!

Marly said...

I like the result of your frugality! You're getting a very pretty quilt there. Is it finished or are you going to continue when the lockdown is over and retreats start happening again. I've never been to a retreat, but I'm sure it's a wonderful experience.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Those are great blocks! It's always amazing to me how different the layout (made with the same type of block) can look depending on whether you use prints or solids, how much of the center square is left showing, and how you orient the blocks. Your design is a neat one!

Gretchen Weaver said...

I'm still working on the individual blocks, I'll spend the afternoon trimming. I'm going to go ahead and see how many larger blocks I can piece then decide if I want to sew this into a flimsy now or keep working on a larger quilt. Whenever I get it finished, I'll definitely post about it. Happy stitching!

Kris said...

Fun I love it when you can play like this!

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Great start to a fun scrappy project. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

K Reeves said...

That's a creative use of scraps for sure. Reminds me of my pot holder adventure a few weeks ago. :)

Bonnie said...

Great use of leftover triangles. I was surprised when you said they ended up as 6.5" blocks. I agree on your setting choice and maybe a sashing would add interest and control sizing a bit. It'll be interested to see.

maggie fellow said...

wonderful - and i have a box of lonely waste triangles