Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Still Leaping . . .


So back to Leap Year, the June Schnibbles of the month.

This is where I left you on my last Leap Year post, wanting to make this bigger.


I got several great suggestions that I'm going to pass along just in case sometime you're wanting to make a project bigger; add sashing to the blocks, set the blocks on point, and add some outer borders.  Someone was even nice enough to track down a few more little Black Dress charm packs for me.  All great ideas and very helpful, thanks!  

But I didn't go with any of those ideas.  Instead I thought maybe I would like the looks of some blocks that had background fabric in half of the squares, so it would look like some of the fabric was free, and not part of a square.


It's hard to tell what a horrible idea that was from this picture.


The "free" blocks are the first block in row one, the third block in row two, the second block in row 4 and the last block in row five.  

Here's a better picture.

 It was at this point that I realized that my favorite thing about this pattern was the 16 patch blocks, and how I liked the blocks to look like blocks, not some squares floating off into space while the majority of the other blocks didn't.  I found those floater blocks distracting.

Then I came up with another idea.  What if I used the light fabric from the family that I hadn't used yet, because it blended in with the sashing fabric, and set it apart by adding a thin black border to each block?

And that's what I did!


And I like it. Not only does it help the blocks with the lighter colored fabric stand out, I think it adds a nice little something something to all the blocks, kind of like they're more dressed up!

So this is where I am now, not done, but definitely back on track.  Good thing too, the parade is just days away!

13 comments:

  1. Ooooh! I like! You are dead on in your description too. They do look dressed up. What a clever idea! I will be filing that away for future use. Looking forward to the parade.

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  2. Definitely made the right choice. The frames make all the difference...you have a stunner here!

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  3. Amazing what that little strip of black did...great idea.

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  4. Great idea - that is the perfect touch! I would have had to make it red. Something with black and white or gray/black/white, just begs me to toss in a bit of red!

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  5. And a good track too!! This is going to be one cool quilt :-)

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  6. I love how you freely float through "what if" ideas and see where that leads you!

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  7. It's a process! I love too how you share that with us how this quilt block has unfolded to what it is meant to be for you. Also, I've always wanted to do a "Shades of Grey...and Black" quilt and now I am inspired. XOXO

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  8. That was a really great idea. It does look more finished. I'm sure you'll be whipping that together in just a day or two!

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  9. PERFECT ! That thin black border really makes a difference and gives it a nice finished look ! LOVE IT !

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  10. kinda like how the little black straps on Mary Janes make them dressy, huh?!?

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  11. perfect solution! The thin black borders look fabulous!

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  12. I love how the black border frames the blocks. Dresses them up beautifully! Can't wait to see your completed project.

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