Posted on by agilejack

A Puzzle to Solve and an Aha Moment

Last night I stepped into my sewing room to look at the sunburst blocks on my design wall as I was thinking about cutting setting triangles when I noticed something. I didn’t get a picture of it before I started working on this top tonight, so I drew some illustrations.

Here’s what I noticed. At the top of the quilt, there was one block in each corner, which is correct. At the bottom of the quilt top, there were two blocks in each corner. In this illustration, the red blocks at the bottom are the problem.

(Keep in mind that I’m talking about the top and bottom of this quilt top as it’s oriented on my design wall. It’s actually flipped on it’s side. So what I’m calling the top and bottom are actually the sides… in case you’re wondering why my quilt is so short and so wide!)

And why is it a problem? Well, when it comes to adding triangles to finish the corners, there will be a smaller triangle in each of the top corners. But the bottom corners will require a larger triangle to make the quilt square. So it will look really odd and unbalanced.

So I started noodling about the best way to solve this problem, and I decided that adding another row of blocks to the bottom would solve the issue.

In that illustration the green blocks are the additional row. you can see how it fixes the issue on those bottom corners.

BUT… this would require making additional blocks. Don’t ask me how many because I’m so confused by this time I can’t keep track.

So I was thinking this was the way I would proceed, but I wasn’t in love with making more blocks because I thought I was done. My brain said, “We’re done with these blocks and we’re moving on.”

When I took the boys for our afternoon walk this puzzle was on my mind. I kept trying to figure out if there was a way to solve this without adding another row of blocks.

And then it hit me… the solution! THIS is the moment when the solution. hit me.

Look how happy I am! It must be a really good solution! I thought that if I just moved the vertical row from the right side to the left side, the problem would be solved.

I was so happy for the remainder of our walk, satisfied that I wouldn’t have to make those additional blocks.

So after work I started drawing this out to demonstrate how brilliant I am. Here’s the result…

By moving the far right row of blocks to the left side of the quilt, I had managed to move the problem corners from the bottom of the quilt to the top.

Well, hells bells.

Back to the drawing board.

So it looked like my options were to add a row to the bottom of the quilt, or add two rows to the sides. That second option would mean I’d have to make even MORE additional blocks and would probably make this already long quilt much too long, and it would make me have to do some odd stuff with the borders I’m planning.

So I submitted to the plan to make additional blocks and add them to the bottom of the quilt.

So after our chilly walk this evening I hit the sewing room. I dug out the small pile of sunbursts I had cut previously and started sorting scraps.

So many scraps!

Once I had everything pressed I sat down and went at it.

I think I made nine blocks. I might have made seven. Maybe is was six.I lost track because I had some that needed a row added to get them up to size. But anyway… when I finished up to night I had nine blocks to square up. I think.

These blocks end up pretty wonky and need a good squaring up. Just my kind of sewing!!!

But they are beautiful once squared up.

There’s just enough wonk in there to make me happy!

And what is it about squaring up blocks that I love so much? I find it terribly satisfying.

Here’s all the blocks I either made or finished tonight. All squared up and lovely.

Ok. It WAS nine.

So then I set about getting these blocks up on the design wall.

The good news is that all four corners now look hunky dory. Phew!

The bad news is that I’M ONE BLOCK SHORT!!!!! Dammit!

If you look back in the corner at the lower right, behind my sewing table… you’ll can see it.

So now I have to make one more block!!! But first, I’m going to have to dig into my stash and see how long it will take me to find that sunburst fabric so I can cut one pathetic little square from it!!! Good grief!

I’ll make myself feel a little better by celebrating how pretty these blocks are and feeling good that I have 118 blocks done. That’s a lot of blocks! But not quite enough.

77 Replies to “A Puzzle to Solve and an Aha Moment”

  1. I always look forward to your posts….your wit, energy, love of life and color just make me smile and feel great….this quilt will be stunning, hang in there cuz I can’t wait to see the great reveal…take a few steps with the dogs for me too!!

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    1. Thanks! It’s fun to have so many people reading along with my adventures! And I agree that this will be a good one! It will be fun to see it all done and quilted.

      thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  2. It was hard reading your blog this time. Oh my gosh I feel your pain. Quilting is supposed to be fun. I think I might have given up and put it all back in a box. But you persevered! Good job. The quilt is full of happy energy. And now this means I have too get that around the world quilt out and finish making the last blocks!

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    1. Well, I am having fun through all of it. I rarely get seriously mad when I’m working in my sewing room. I do spend more time laughing at myself and the situations I get into.

      I think this will definitely be a bright and cheerful quilt!

      Anne

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  3. Hi Anne. I’m so enjoying your journey with this quilt. I’ve been reading your blog for some time and often wondered why I couldn’t see any comments! Look back through your latest posts and you’ll find a reference to comments. I finally worked out that I needed to click on the title of each post to reveal all. DOH! Anyhow, I wanted to tell you that I made a bunch of your Christmas ornaments to gift to work colleagues and everyone loved them. Thank you so much for the tutorial.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. A lot of people read my emails, which are automatically generated when I post a new blog entry. I should remind people that they can go to my blog and read comments, search for posts, scroll, etc… Thanks for that reminder.

      And thanks for reading. I’m glad you made some of those ornaments. People really made some fun versions!

      Anne

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  4. I feel your pain!
    I love that setting, but i find it tricky as my design wall is not quite big enough to see all the blocks
    Now for the challenge of the set in triangles!
    I love the colours and fabric choices
    Makes me feel so happy like spring is just around the corner
    Thank you for sharing

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  7. Good morning, Indeed, your new blocks are beauties, and one more, well I guess one thinks of the finished project and the one block will be a piece of cake.Enjoy your day. I’m looking forward to your finish. Lynn

    >

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  8. Wow! Once I noodle it out and then set it up only to find I move the problem, I might have said “enough”, walked out of the room and ate a pint of ice cream, LOL. I would have gone back to figure it out but not without a break. I feel your pain of making more blocks, and then just one more. Arrgh! My angst is do I have the fabric? If not, then what? Just one more block….Your tenacity and creativity seem never ending! Bravo!

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      1. LOL, explains a lot, in the best of ways😊. But you get it done and not adding to the UFOs. I hate UFOs. It takes so much time to get my head back into it. You’re smart keeping a notebook! That’s something I need to start for my non-clothing projects. I have a book for my clothing project and I try to track my time as well. Keep the terrier in you going it serves you well.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I have a hard time getting back into UFOs. I’m sort of enjoying working on a few projects at a time like I am now. It’s keeps things fresh and helps me make progress on unfinished projects.

        anne

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  10. Gorgeous, I love the colors. I love the sunbursts. If you can’t find a sunburst because you’ve run out of fabric for that one block you could always make that center into a label.

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  12. Stunning, gorgeous – masterpiece are words that come to mind!!! It makes me smile with all it’s colors and vibrance.

    Question are your strips various sizes?

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    1. Thank you! It’s definitely vibrant.

      The strips are various sizes. They’re all scraps. If my scraps are too wide I’ll cut them down. I don’t use much that’s over 2 inches wide in my string quilts.

      Anne

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  13. thanks for resurfacing old ‘well, dang it’ memories! it’s maddening, for sure!! what about creating a signature block to fill that hole? your name, date, message, ditty, or your leather label,….etc. it could be your new brand.

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      1. Often I feel the strong pull to do likewise, I just cannot let it go! lol. But your quilt squares gave me an idea….. that what if I took the sunburst piece, cut it into quarters, then used those in the log cabin block, and then,….. when I put the four squares together, I would have a segmented but full sunburst?!!!! I’m thinking I like this idea. thanks for the inspiration! I enjoy following your thoughts!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. that’s an interesting idea. But some of the flowers (some little pansies) in the middle are pretty small. you’ll lose a lot of the flower. but it’s worth a try to see how it works.

        Anne

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  14. The quilt is gorgeous, I would dearly love to see it in person. My husband is the one who helps me with the diagonal settings, especially when I make weird size blocks. Good luck with finding that last starburst fabric.

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    1. It would be handy to have someone to bounce my math off of! I’m not strong at it and doubt the accuracy of my calculations.

      I think this quilt will be a stunner when it’s done.

      Anne

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  16. This post just makes me laugh out loud! I think this sort of thing happens to us just as a test of our sticktoitiveness. At the point of “one more block” I would just cut a starting square of a wonderful Kaffe fabric and make a block and be done with it. Why do all those blocks have to start with a sunburst anyway? Especially if it’s going to be at a corner. P. S. I’m still chuckling. Been there!

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  19. I love this quilt! Very frustrating but worth all of the angst, in my opinion! I really wish I had a stash of bright colors like you do but I have to get better at piecing before spending more money on fabric. Do you starch your fabric? It looks so crisp. I can’t wait to see this one done. Jan in MA

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    1. Thanks! I think it will be worth all this in the end. I think it will be a really nice quilt.

      I love my stash! It’s fun to be able to dig into my drawers and find the fabrics I need to make a quilt.

      I occasionally use Best Press on my fabric before I cut it. It all depends on what I’m making. If I’m cutting 2.5 inch strips, I like to use Best Press because it helps them keep their shape. Or if I’m doing something with bias edges I’ll spray it before pressing. But I certainly don’t use it all the time. I do press A LOT. I love the look of a nicely pressed block.

      Anne

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  21. this sounds like something i would do. oh, i have done just that on a diagonal set quilt. i hate diagonal settings. anyway, i wish i had those lovely kaffee fabrics. i love all your quilts and admire all your kaffee collections. your quilts are amazing.

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    1. I love the look of the diagonal set but they are a bit of a pain. I think it will all be worth it.

      The Kaffe fabrics are gorgeous. I’m very lucky to have my stash and all my scraps!

      Anne

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  22. When I looked at your first drawing, I also thought you needed nine more blocks. You made nine, so why were you short by one? I looked again at your drawing and still think nine should have been enough. 🤷‍♀️??? Unless the original stack was short by one. Would that be the answer? Either way, the blocks are wonderful!

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    1. the nine I made were enough for that bottom row, but I didn’t have all the other rows complete. I didn’t know how many I needed because the jagged edges were hard for me to track… to determine what empty spaces needed blocks and which ones should remain empty.

      According to the drawing I needed nine more blocks. But I didn’t have all the blocks needed to complete the rest of the top.

      Anne

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      1. Thanks, Anne. Now I have to ask one of my grandsons to explain the math you posted today. 🤣. I have to figure out my setting triangle sizes with a ruler, and I also make them always a little larger to float the block corners.

        Liked by 1 person

  23. This an off the wall idea but couldn’t you have just taken away one row instead of adding a row. Especially if you were concerned about the quilt becoming too big. And You would have had blocks to make another quilt.

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    1. I could have taken away one row but then the quilt would be too small. That’s the challenge! If I was just making a quilt it would be easy. But I’m trying to make it to a specific size, which complicates it.

      Anne

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    1. I’m pretty stingy with it! it has to be a special project to use those precious pieces! But four yards is A LOT of little sunbursts! I can probably loosen up a little.

      Anne

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  27. Haven’t commented before but just had to tell you how much I enjoy reading your emails. It’s like peaking into your world. I have walking envy and your time management is amazing. I’m starting on a first Frankenbag. It’s what sent me to your world to begin with. Have a wonderful day! I’m going into mine with a smile!

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    1. Thanks for reading and for taking the time to comment!

      I wish my time management was amazing. I tend to waste a good deal of time. But when I’m productive I can be REALLY productive!

      Good luck with your bag!

      Anne

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  28. I love it! I was going to suggest omitting a row and putting the extra blocks on the back, but what you’ve done is better. Well worth the extra mile.

    ~antoinette

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    1. I didn’t have enough blocks made to complete the quilt without that final row. I don’t know how many I was short. the blocks were missing from the corners and it made my head hurt to visualize how many were missing!!!

      Anne

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  32. Why don’t you just add something totally different like a ‘signature’ I love to do that. Every time Christopher Wren designed a building like St PAULS Cathedral in London he made a mistake and when found out would say it was his signature. Smart man! On one side of the steps coming out of Syon house there are 12 steps on the other side 13 oops!! he was still a genius. cleo

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    1. Oh, there are plenty of irregularities and imperfections in there! I don’t think I need to make a purposeful one.

      Plus, having one block that wasn’t like the others might make me crazy!

      Anne

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  33. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your blog! It always makes me smile. The sunburst quilt looks fabulous!! Will follow along to see how you finish it up!

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  34. I don’t make them very often but one thing I’ve noted about “on point” quilts is they always have an odd number of blocks per row – 1,3,5,7,5,3,1. Your original sketch has an odd number one way but an even number counting from the other side. Don’t know why that is but I’m not a mathematician either.

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    1. The layout I have now has 7 blocks in the outside rows. Then six blocks in the alternating rows. That seems to work. But you can’t have the even number blocks in the edge rows. that’s where you get those odd corners.

      I still can’t get my head around it!!! it seems to change every time I move blocks!

      Anne

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      1. I loved geometry in school and was good at it so I should be able to figure this out.
        But when I count the rows, I’m thinking diagonally – like row 1 is at the upper left corner and the last is at the lower right corner.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh yeah. I’m thinking vertical rows with the blocks meeting on the top and bottom points. I can’t think in diagonal rows. It’ just confuses me too much!
        Anne

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