Posted on by agilejack

Old Decisions Un-made and New Decisions Made

The sunburst quilt that I thought was ready to put together was being built to a size that my brother said they wanted for their queen bed. It was an odd size that he requested: 84 x 104. The more I thought about that odd size, the more it bothered me.

So last night I called my brother and his wife to see if they really wanted it that size. Apparently my sister in law had measured the bed and doesn’t remember why she had recorded that rectangular size. I told them that queen size quilts are typically square and around 90 inches on each side. My brother ran upstairs and measured their bed and said that size would work really well.

So, during my lunch break today I took a look at the blocks on the design wall and then put pen to paper to sketch out how to make it square and the size I want. And all I had to do was remove the three rows on the left side. Here’s the resulting square layout.

It sounds so easy. But before I did all thisI messaged my friend Karen last night, an experienced and accomplished quilter, to ask her about calculating the finished size of a quilt with blocks set on point. I was having a tough time wrapping my head around it.

Being a scientist and very math-capable, she generously provided a formula that was like a foreign language to me.

So I asked her to explain it to me like I was a math challenged liberal arts major. Here’s what she said:

And that all made sense to me. So I was able to determine, with as much confidence as someone with poor math skills can have, how big this quilt top would be once all the blocks were sewn together. It will come out to around 81 or 82 inches.

I really wish that I had a better foundation in math when I was young. It would come in really handy . In the mean time, I have my friend Karin.

Did I say that I decided to use Kaffe’s wine lotus leaf fabric for the setting triangles and border? And I’m going to make the setting triangles larger than the blocks because I want them to overlap at the points of the blocks so that I won’t lose my points when I sew on the border. The points will float in the red fabric.

I will add a sizable border in the same fabric to get the quilt up to around 95 inches to allow for shrinkage from quilting and washing.

I also decided to purchase some wide backing fabric since this is a good size quilt and I wasn’t looking forward to piecing the backing. I knew that it could likely make me delay finishing this quilt yet again.

Here’s what I bought. It’s Kaffe’s Enchanted in red. I think it will be really fun with that scrappy quilt top.

I purchased it last night and had confirmation ths morning that it had shipped.

I used one of the Kaffe wide backings on my blue 16 patch quilt that I gave as a Christmas gift a year ago.

These wide backings are a cotton sateen and they are lovely. They feel soft and silky, and the prints are a larger scale than their regular quilting counterparts. I’m really happy to be using another one since I was so happy with the first one.

I could feel the weight of piecing a large backing lift from my shoulders as soon as I clicked the button to complete my purchase on this one! Ahhhhh.

And now that I’m making this quilt top smaller, I have 26 of the sunburst blocks left over. I tossed around a couple ideas of what to do with them. Here’s one I like.

You know me. I like me some graphic black and white fabrics with these bright prints!

I would makes the sashing pretty wide. maybe finish them at around 3 inches. I’d like to be able to make a throw size quilt out of these 26 blocks without having to make more blocks!!! And I have plenty of that black and white jumble in my stash.

I’m absolutely exhausted tonight after being on the job at 6 am both of the last two mornings. I’m looking forward to more sleep tonight! And I’m really happy tomorrow is Friday!

54 Replies to “Old Decisions Un-made and New Decisions Made”

  1. Could you please tell me where to find this block pattern? Also, which quilt shop in the PDX area is your favorite? I’m a frequent visitor and am always on the lookout for new shops to explore. Thanks.

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    1. I didn’t use a pattern. I just winged it. There are some tutorials for the block on Youtube. Just go to Youtube and search for “quarter log cabin block tutorial” and you’ll get some video to choose from.

      my favorite quilt store in the immediate Portland area is Pioneer quilts in Milwaukie (a suburb of Portland). It’s a lovely store. they have a good selection of kaffe fabrics, lots of Aboriginal fabrics, a good selection of lovely batiks, and a bunch of other fabrics. Really nice and friendly staff too.

      If you want to take a longer trip, drive up to Sisters Quilt Shop in Chehalis, WA. It’s about 90 minutes from my house in SW Portland. they have lots of Kaffe fabrics and a lot of beautiful batiks. Lots of other stuff too. It’s a nice way to spend a Saturday.

      There is an odd little store called Country Manor in Battle Ground, WA, (near Vancouver) that has a lot of Kaffe fabrics, and a ton of other stuff. It’s out in the country in a metal barn. It’s cram packed. it’s an interesting shopping experience. Very different from Pioneer or Sisters.

      Anne

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      1. Thanks for all the info. I can see some YouTube viewing in my future.
        I’ve been to Country Manor. It is an odd shop. I’ll check out Pioneer Quilts next time I’m in town. And now I’ll also add a stop in Chehalis on our next trip into WA.

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  2. You brother’s quilt will be gorgeous when it’s finished. What a colorful quilt both front and back! In addition to sewing skills, you really have a gift when it comes to choosing colors. Your finished products are always so beautiful. Making a throw quilt with your now extra blocks is a great idea. To me, paired with the black and white fabric, the blocks look like they’re floating – very three dimensional. It sounds like geometry and the Pythagorean Theorem is trying to be your new best friend when calculating the length and width of your on point quilts. Your comment about wishing you’d had a better math foundation is so common. Unfortunately, good math teachers are few and far between. My sister is one of them, and sadly for the students, she retired a year ago. You are lucky to have your friend Karin to help you. Happy sewing!!!

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    1. Selecting colors and fabrics is really my favorite part of making a quilt. then making the first few blocks to see how it all comes together. then it starts to feel a little mundane. That’s why I have too many UFOs!!!

      I did all my public school years in a small town in rural Utah. There were great things about living in that small town, but the education I got wasn’t the best you could hope for. So I guess I’ve done pretty well in life considering my public school didn’t do much to prepare me!

      I agree that the spare block quilt looks three dimensional. The blocks appear to be floating three inches above the jumble!

      Anne

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  4. Haha! Even with your explanation, the math escapes me but so glad you figured it all out. I love the fabric for the setting triangles and also that gorgeous backing fabric. Wide backs are a quilter’s gift from the cosmos!

    The B&W jumble is absolutely perfect! I can see it as a throw with perhaps a vivid solid as a narrow narrow inner border and a wild outer border to make it the size you want. Can’t wait to see both these wonderful quilts of yours finished.

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    1. Hmmm. Maybe a thin inner border of that red lotus leaf. I like that idea.

      And I love that black and white jumble. It’s so gorgeous.

      If I didn’t have a drawer of large cuts of fabric for backings, I only use wide backings in the future. They are really wonderful and so easy to deal with. My long armer told me to just bring the entire piece to her… no need to trim. She’ll trim once it’s quilted.

      Anne

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  5. Your projects are all gorgeous!! Do you have a suggestion for a quilt pattern with blocks set on point with a sashing like the black and white one? I have the same sunburst/flower panel and would love to make a lap quilt like you plan to do. Thanks so much.

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  6. I also struggle with math but have learned a lot in 40 years of quilting!
    Love the floating blocks and fabric choice, something Mary Ellen Hopkins taught. Backing is fantastic, where do you order from? We do not have many shops with Kaffee here. Quilt on! Suz

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    1. I ordered the backing from sewcolorful.com. it’s a nice online shop and she ships really quickly. She also packages the fabric nicely so it looks gorgeous when it arrives!

      Anne

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  7. You gave me a smile with the math decisions, that is a difficult calculation. We all need a friend who can do the math!! Your quilt is stunning and the quilt with the left over blocks is really nice with the black and white fabrics.
    On another note I made the tomato soup recipe you posted, it was delicious. I didn’t have the cream so put in yogurt instead.
    As always I enjoy your posts
    Doreen Sherk

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  8. Happy Friday 💕 all that math would make my head hurt 😄.
    The quilt is looking beautiful 💕
    My memory bears from my Das shirts are super cute! But, I opened my mouth and said “I sew a little”, now I am being stalked to make some memory gears as well! I will do a few and hope it doesn’t become addicting 🙄😄.
    Hello to Rico and Bender 💕💕
    My Amira has had bowel problems for the last 3 days. She is on science diet digestive care – I might have to rethink that one. She is 14 yrs young, hoping it’s not going to be a long term problem. Going to Veterinarian this morning.

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    1. Oh, Poor doggie. I hope the vet helps you find a solution to make her feel better!

      Your memory quilt sounds fun. I’ve been looking at quilts made from left over shirts for awhile. They are comfy looking.

      Anne

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  9. I really like the jumble with the bright colors. They stand out but also calm them. Good for you to stay the course and get the quilt top finished for your brother.

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  11. I am SO glad you hesitated before you sewed all those rows together, and I love the new plan. The larger setting triangles will allow the center to “float,” making them the focal point of the composition—I think that will be perfect. And all that Jumble black and white on the smaller “leftover block” throw quilt is *gorgeous.* like you, I can’t get enough of that graphic visual spread among all the bright colors. Great job! I look forward to seeing the finish.

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    1. Funny, but if I hesitate to get moving like I did on this one, It’s often because somewhere in my brain I feel like something’s wrong. That was definitely the case here. I’ feel much better about it now!

      Anne

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  12. Wow! Too much math this early in the morning. I will save that formula and the example for future reference. Love the Lotus Leaf in Wine for the border! Enchanted is a great choice for backing! Looking at your bonus quilt, I was thinking it was a little to busy. Then I went back and looked at the picture with the Wine Lotus Leaf and thought ” what if the blocks were like that, with setting triangles on each side?” And vertical? Like a column quilt? I know too many setting triangles….Have fun, what ever you do it will be fabulous!

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    1. what I’d like to accomplish with these left over blocks is something simple and fast. So that’s why I thought of the wide sashing in the black and white. It would help accomplish those two things.

      I actually laid the left over blocks on top of the red fabric in the same way I did with the black and white and it was really muddy. the blocks sort of blended in. they are much bolder and fun on the black and white.

      Anne

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  14. Ok I LOVE math! But I have to say my older brain was challenged on this one. Or maybe it was just too early in the morning or maybe it was all the pretty fabric or…. the puppies. That’s it. It was the puppies distracted me!

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    1. In my entire life, I’m positive that I have never said “I love math!!!!” But I’m glad there are people out there who do!!! they are handy to have around.

      Thse puppies can take your attention!

      Anne

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  15. Please share your fabric source that ships so quickly. Your brother and his wife are very lucky to be the recipients of one of your quilts. You have a gift for putting together fabrics with patterns. The blue 16-patch is stunning.

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    1. I bought the wide back from sewcolorful.com. It’s a lovely online shop and Sylvi, the owner, is fantastic! she always ships really fast and the fabric is so nicely packaged when it arrives. I love buying from her.

      Anne

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  18. (Not sure my comment posted, wasn’t signed in, so excuse if repeat!) forget the math headaches and get this book on Amazon! All-in-One Quilter’s Reference Tool: Updated Spiral-bound – February 7, 2014
    by Harriet Hargrave (Author), Alex Anderson (Author), & 2 more

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  19. Lovely blocks, love your posts. You only need this book from Amazon! Has every measurement worked out! All-in-One Quilter’s Reference Tool: Updated Spiral-bound – February 7, 2014
    by Harriet Hargrave (Author), Alex Anderson (Author)

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    1. I have that boo and used it to plan my setting triangles for this quilt. I actually talked about this reference book a few blog posts ago.

      The challenge I’ve been dealing with is calculating the finished size of the quilt top with the on point blocks. That’s what my friend was helping me with.

      Anne

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  20. Now I understand why you have 26 blocks left over — and using them with the black/white Jumble is stunning! Now you make me want to buy more of that Jumble! It just never ends, does it?

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    1. I have so many pieces of that jumble! Probably at least 6 yards, all in one or 1.5 yard pieces! A friend of mine grabbed them for me in a sale at her local quilt store. I don’t know why they were all cut into pieces. I just love it and love it with those colorful blocks.

      Anne

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    1. Hahaha! She’s a pretty handy friend to have! She is also an accomplished paper piecing quilter. She invited me up to her place several years ago and we spent the afternoon together in her sewing room as she taught me to paper piece. She gave me a really great foundation.

      She also has border collies! So we have that in common too.

      Anne

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  22. I love the red background fabric. Can’t wait to see the finished product. Also I love your blue 16 patch quilt. I think I might have to make one. What size squares did you use?

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    1. I agree that the red setting triangles are much better than my previous choice.

      I love that blue 16 patch too. Blue isn’t my favorite color but I love all those combos of blue in that quilt. I gave it to a friend who LOVES blue and she is in love with this quilt.

      The 16 patch quilts are made with 2.5 inch strips. Wanda at Exuberant color has an excellent tutorial for making 16 patches. you can find it here:https://designrr.s3.amazonaws.com/vickib_at_carolina.rr.com_31594/2bd0c54b40da73ea8a37b6e9a1a0969e4a5b6485bf96f9b1705156fb7bbdcdd3

      Anne

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  23. Trials and tribulations of a math nerd……. While being able to solve occasional math problems may seem nice, the other side of that coin is that my world is black and white with straight lines. Everything should have one correct answer. My ability to mix and match colors and patterns is close to non-existent….. lots of trial and error. That’s one reason I love KFC; it does the color and pattern work for me (most of the time. I’m just about finished with a KFC quilt that is not turning out well). So while I knew immediately that equation was the Pythagorean theorem and the “c” is called the hypotenuse, I’d much rather have been able to make those beautiful blocks. LOVE the “spare” quilt idea.

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    1. Very interesting! I think I’m happier with my abilities, although math would be handy some times.

      Interestingly, my friend who helped me with that formula made a Frankenbag for her mom and hated every minute of it! She just didn’t enjoy the more free form approach.

      I much prefer the free form approach and rarely follow a pattern to a T. A pattern for me is more of an idea or a jumping off point.

      Anne

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    1. I’m glad to hear you hate making backs too. I thought I might be an oddity in the quilting world. the backing fabric is supposed to arrive today. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on it.

      And I agree that this red fabric is much better for setting triangles than the other fabric I had chosen.

      Anne

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  25. You need the All-in-One Quilter’s Reference Tool by Harriet Hargrove. No math required, she worked them all out for us. Spiral bound little book! Lovely blocks!

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    1. I have it and used it to calculate my setting triangles. But I couldn’t see that it told me how to calculate the finished size of a quilt top with on point blocks. That’s where I was stumped.

      Anne

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  26. I really like your fabric choices for the backing and setting triangles. I never thought of making the triangles slightly larger to have them overlap, I am going to try that! I am not math challenged, but even with match skills I find it hard to calculate the triangles. I found this nifty calculator so I don’t have to think too hard about it: https://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/Calculators/Set%20in%20and%20Corner%20Triangle%20Calculator.php

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