Wednesday, November 12, 2014

An Unplanned UFO Project

On Sunday, while I was searching for some pieces I had made for another UFO, I came across these 6 Oak & Reel blocks.  I started these in 2012.  I know that because I had made copies of the article/pattern from the American Patchwork & Quilting April 2012 issue.
As I looked at this neatly packaged project with background squares, templates, and pattern, I still loved the Jo Morton pattern and the Jo Morton fabrics I had chosen, but I also I realized I was never going to make the additional 24 blocks needed to complete this quilt. 
So while I may have outgrown this project, I didn't want to just ignore these beautiful needle-turned orphan blocks and put them back on the UFO pile.
I decided on a simple setting with plain blocks in between the Reel blocks (much like the original quilt) and a Jo Morton stripe (which I had actually bought for the border of the full quilt) on each end.  I was excited by my use of these now orphan blocks in a new runner that will eventually grace my kitchen island.  I enthusiastically basted my new runner together.
I started hand quilting the Reel blocks.  It has been a long time since I quilted something that was not big stitch quilted with perle cotton.  I dug out my hand quilting thread and my good quilting thimble and got to work.
Soon I had another decision to make.  What should I quilt in the plain blocks?  I searched my quilting stencils (buried at the bottom of a drawer) and came up with two options.
I decided on the star pattern and I am enjoying the hand quilting on these... even if my arthritic hands are not so happy!
My assistant of course had to add her two cents worth of fur!
 
Hopefully I can show you another finish very soon.

(By the way, I never did find those pieces I was originally looking for! LOL)
 
Happy Stitching,
 
Deb


17 comments:

  1. What a great way to lose the guilt over a UFO - your table runner looks so good and goes with the season!

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  2. Yes, I felt quite impressed with myself for taking the blocks by the selvage and turning them into something completed - at least in the process of. Reality check is sometimes the best thing!

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  3. It looks great and will be a beautiful quilt soon. Your assistant is the icing on the cake! Kind regards from Germany, Annett
    You're invited to visit my blog, there's the Chicken Run (a pincushion giveaway / swap) going on.

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    1. Annett, thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I hope you come back often - I have visited your blog and it looks like a lot of fun!

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  4. That is a great runner and waaaay better than letting the blocks languish in UFO-land. I recently discovered that the kitchen island makes a great showplace for my smaller pieces. I sure don't know why it took me so long to figure that out!.

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    1. Yes, it certainly feels good to move from... what will ever happen to these poor blocks... to showcasing them and enjoying them everyday. Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. I love this block. I did one for a sampler years ago...yours is gorgeous and we cat-owners always appreciate our assistants! :) FREE HAIR FOR YOUR QUILT, ha ha :)

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    1. What would a quilt be without cat hair attached!!! Oak & Reel is one of my favorites too!

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  6. Oh wow! Love your oak & reel blocks! These have been on my quilty list forever. Wonderful way to use them up and hopefully start to enjoy them.:)

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    1. Yes, I have loved this block for a long time. Also made a Christmas table topper with a similar Oak & Reel pattern a few years ago. I think they are very elegant.

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  7. Seriously the unplanned is sometimes the most fun!!!

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    1. Oh, it's so exhilerating to do something unexpected! Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. These little orphans are going to make a handsome runner for your island, Debra. Worth every minute of that hand quilting. Lovely post. Your last line made me smile!

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    1. Yes, I think the hand quilting was definitely the way to go with such a traditional and old quilt block. Thanks for stopping by and checking them out!

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  9. Çok güzel ve ilginç tasarım, kıvrımları dikmek zor olmalı. Sevgiler.

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    1. Blogumu ziyaret ettiğiniz için teşekkür ederiz.

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  10. I just found your blog and I love this pattern! Can I find it somewhere???

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