Thursday, August 30, 2007

Orphan Blocks

A few weeks back, after reading Finn's posts about Orphan Blocks and Orphan Trains, I pulled out all my orphan blocks. I discovered I don't really have that many orphan blocks - maybe enough for one quilt. I put them all up on my design wall -- looked them over - took a couple of pictures and took them down.




Then a couple weeks go by and in my cutting and rearranging of scraps I discovered a bag with a few more blocks. So I put them with the rest of the blocks in a small ziplock bags. So today - after reading Paula's post about her 4 boxes of orphan blocks I again pulled out my orphan blocks - put them on the wall and looked at them.



It would be kind of fun to make a quilt from all my orphan blocks - but I'm not really sure on how it would all go together. Do I just put everything in - regardless of colour and pattern? Do I just put them so they fit together? Will I need to make filler blocks? This is such a hodge podge of things.

There are blocks from two different workshops -- One is Sandi Cummings -- "Thinking outside the block" Can you find those? LOL. The other is Anita Shackelford - "Cutwork Applique" Which I don't really thinks belongs here at all. Maybe I should applique another block and make a bag from it instead. Anyway -- any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. For now - I have taken them down and put them back in their bag. But you can let Finn know that I am trying -- LOL
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14 comments:

  1. Hey, I like the second layout with the extras added in. You have a lot of blue there and I think it is balanced and warmed up with the pink and that beautiful orange applique block.

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  2. I have the same problem with my orphan blocks. I know that some people have made some quilts with all their orphan blocks - artfully arranged, like you have in the second picture. Others are more selective about making sure that all the fabrics fit a particular theme or mood. It's your quilt, so it is completely up to you.

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  3. I like the 2nd lay out. Maybe not filler blocks, but just strips of fabric needed to join them together. I think it all flows well enough to use them all together.

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  4. You got some beautiful blocks there!

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  5. I also like the way the blocks look together in the second, photo. I think just some filler strips of fabric, and you are good to go.

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  6. Ciao, I prefer the second one.
    It seems a painting of modern art.
    I think u can complete with some other pink borders...and it will look perfect.
    ciao ciao

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  7. I am useless with orphan blocks. I have a fair few of my own that I haven't a clue what to do with so I am no use to you whatsoever - lol ! Good luck Pam. Some of your blocks are beauties.

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  8. I think sashing and borders would help with the combination of various colors and blocks.

    I need to pull my blocks out!

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  9. Since there are no rules and no precendent I'd sew them together and call it a day. They're all wonderful, and even better together.

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  10. It's looking a lot more like a quilt in the second picture. Can you find any more blocks. My orphan blocks are all so different. I may have to put them on like you and see what I get.

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  11. I am amazed by what people can make work in a quilt! You have so many styles going -- maybe two quilts?!?! My orphans wouldn't get along with each other at all.

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  12. The larger blocks look like the beginning of a medallion quilts. The others might look good if they are put together with the same color sashing. But then again, I am not overly creative.

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  13. I like the idea of the filler strips that other ladies have mentioned and the 2nd. layout. This will be a beauty when finished!

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  14. Pam, the lower picture looks perfect! A marvelous arrangement of orphan blocks. I'd leave things just as they are here and just fill in the empty spaces with either plain fabric or something simple like four patches or nine patches. This is exactly what an orphan quilt looks like - nothing goes with anything else but somehow it all works together beautifully.

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