I watched a Canadian documentary series a while ago called The Nature of Things which focuses on science and the environment. The program they had on a while ago was called Gone Sideways about serendipitous moments in science. Some of the most influential scientific discoveries were discovered by accident. The program talked about whether these were truly accidents or was it because the scientists were able to recognize and be open to new and different ideas while working on completely different research. At the time I thought that quilting was very similar. Many times we can be working on a quilt when an idea will take us into a new direction, or we find a fabric that we never thought would work in the quilt does and adds a completely new dimension to our quilt.
This past weekend I had that serendipitous moment. I was making a block for Terry's quilt. To learn more about it, visit A Yankee Quilter. It had to be 9 /12 unfinished. Well, I went to my favourite block site Quilter's Cache and there I found a block I liked called Wandering Star. There were colour suggestions given for Terry's block, and I chose blue. After I made it the moment came.
I realized it was the quilt pattern I had been looking for, for my brother. I had wanted to make him a blue quilt and something not too fancy, nor overly fussy. I love how this one block, makes such great secondary patterns. I really like the hourglass block in the middle as I have been wanting to move into using more triangles in my quilts since I have done squares and rectangles for quite some time. As well I have really been interested in individual blocks since I did Jane's rainbow quilt. The best part of all, is that I have 2 rolls of 3 inch Half Square Triangles on a roll which I have owned for years. My sister had bought them for me as they were on my Christmas wish list but they never got used for their original purpose. This block calls for these 3 inch half squares. Now I get to use it. It was definitely a goosebump moment.
Of course, back to reality! I only have a fat quarter of the background fabric and a 1/4 metre of the dark blue. I do have lots of the medium blue. I did get them from my LQS at some point this year so I am going to check if they still have them.
Wishing you serendipitous and goosebump moments,
8 comments:
Oh those are the best moments!! and I love that block and the site too!!
Very neat, good luck with the rest of the quilt for your brother.
This is an interesting block. I see that it is made with half square triangles and 1/4 square triangles. Makes the piecing easier.
Don't you just love those moments!! Love your blog, it will go great in Terry's quilt.
I love those moments. I have them all the time with quilting. I never know what I'm going to make with the fabric I buy. All of a sudden, I start looking through my fabric and realise.....wow I should make a certain project with a strange combination of fabric. And since I don't usually follow a pattern exactly. I usually change directions half way through a project. It can be stressful sometimes to be this way. But other times I get great results.
Are you saying we are scientists in our own right!?! lol!
Interesting block! I look forward to more when you nake your brother's quilt to see the secondary patterns...
Happy stitchings Michelle! 8-)
There is a lot of movement in that pattern. I made a sampler that I showed in the spring Amy festival that had several Jenny ( or was it Ginny?)Beyers stars. I don't know if her books are still published...but I think you would like the stars a lot.
Mariner's Compass was one ...I'd have to go look up the other names and I am afraid that the book is in storage due to my job right now. But a search might find them. Nice blog you have!
I found it...she has a free block a week page too:
http://www.jinnybeyer.com/block-a-week/live/main.cfm
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