Friday, October 14, 2011

DCCB - Progress . . .

So I got all 832 half square triangle units for Door County Cherry Baskets pieced and trimmed! Now I'm in the basket weaving - cherry picking business. (Door County Cherry Baskets is a pattern in Lisa Bongean and Carole Charles' book Summer Gatherings.)

I'm not making my basket blocks as called for in the pattern. My baskets will be the same size and I think look the same, but I think I came up with a way that works better for me. Me being the "lets square things up and much as possible as we go" me.

To help get each little piece in just the right place I made this help sheet.



I'm making my baskets in 4 units, A, B, C, and D. Once those are pieced I combine A to B and C to D. Once those are pieced I sew AB to CD. And there you have it, a nice, neat, square basket.

So this is the before picture.

And here's the after, with each unit in its proper place. I think it's a real time saver. I try to chain piece as much as possible on any project I work on, but I think the best way to keep these pieces all going the correct direction is to piece one cherry basket block at a time, so that's what I'm doing. So far so good. I'm not tired of making baskets yet, but I do have a ways to go!

Remember that great Red and White quilt show I mentioned at Temecula Quilt Company? They've created some great red and white quilt patterns. A booklet with 6 small patterns and another pattern called Red and White Favorites. If you've been looking for some great red and white traditional looking patterns, you should check these out. (click here for patterns)

12 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Remember I mention my problem with baskets in the other post... The problem was that the hst kept getting turned around!!For some reason between the design wall and the sewing machine the little pieces would turn on me! I love your solution. Like I would say to my sister, You're so smart! LOL.

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  3. OOH, your help sheet is clever! Love it! That is a great way to keep everything straight.

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  4. Wow your basket looks awesome. The red and black are so striking.

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  5. Wow, Wow, Wow, Thelma!! You beat me. My record is 596 HSTs for a project. I was in LOVE with the paper grid before cutting method!

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  6. I really like your way best. I've said it before, "you're a genius."

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  7. Wow that looks like it is going to be a lot of work! Can't wait to see the finished project!

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  8. I'm not sure I could do without a cheat sheet - I'd spend so long checking and rechecking the orientation of the triangles that I'd never get anything done! Good luck with the rest of the baskets!

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  9. You totally amaze me! Love the sheet for reference.

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  10. One thing I've found out is that I have to do what works best for me. It may not be the fastest but I'll take frustration free over speed any day! Your methodology makes perfect sense to me.

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  11. It's going to be beautiful when you get it done. The red/white/black is very striking! I've noticed that Nicole has been mia for a while now, and I think you're friends do you know why she's quit blogging? Loved her blog, but I've noticed several folks have quilt blogging because of a few bad apples.

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  12. 832 triangles was a lot to make. I get tired of trimming them.

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