The process... or how to bore you in 10,000 words or more

Probably more.

Think of this as a warning.  "Grab a cuppa..." as my friend Edie would say... this is going to take a little while. 

This post is the result of a couple of terrific blog posts I read a few months ago.  I absolutely loved them, I agreed with most of what both had to write in all three of the posts.  Yes, I know... they're "modern quilters" but I'm not going to hold that against them.  (And, yes, that's a joke.  These are super-smart and super-talented ladies... for modern quilters... still a joke.)

By r0ssie -- Mutant Quilting and the Process Pledge.

By Naptime Quilter -- Throwback ~ A Digression. 

R0ssie's post about describing the process each of us takes for making the quilts we make is what really stuck with me because... gee shucks, that's what I'm always asked about.  It's probably the most frequent question ~ how does the idea for a quilt come about?  My answer is usually about the same... "Uh... I dunno."

The process isn't always the same.  Some quilts evolve while others are "birthed" fully formed without having a single change made from the original idea.  Sometimes the starting point is a single block while other times I start with one element and then figure my way around the rest of it.  The idea for the flying geese border came first when I made Toulouse, then I had to figure out what to put in the middle of the quilt.   

No, I don't "design" on the computer.  I don't have EQ6 or EQ7.  I think the last one I bought was v. 4.  It's a terrific program and I totally understand the appeal of it but that's not how my brain works.  Every now and then I will draw something on the computer to play with a block layout or perhaps a color placement, but it is definitely the exception and not the rule. 

I use pen/pencil and paper.  Any pen.  Any paper.  Okay, I do have a few preferences there but nothing very impressive.

I love the Moleskin Journals ~ plain paper or grid in either black or that brown paper bag sort of one.

 
I also love the Greenroom products from Target ~ the quality of the paper is terrific and I just like the look and feel of their notebooks. 

 
I also use old-fashioned Composition notebooks from the office supply store ~ I particularly love those with the grid paper from Staples. 

 
Just so you know, I used my Xyron thing to put an adhesive back onto a piece of pretty wrapping paper to recover my notebooks ~ I've even photocopied my favorite fabrics for this sort of thing.  It takes me about ten minutes to do a couple of notebooks but the time is well worth it.

And those are my pens of choice ~ a regular ballpoint ink pen (though these Pentels are my favorite because of the pretty colors) and the Extra Fine and Ultra Fine point Sharpies. 

I know.  I'm so cutting edge. 

The idea itself doesn't often become a sketch until I'm writing the pattern.  Once the idea starts coming about, I usually start making some notes to remember the setting and a couple of specifics, but that's about it.  A real picture of the quilt doesn't usually happen until I'm doing the diagrams for the pattern.

The only part of Heartland that I drew out ahead of time was the setting ~ mostly so I would remember how many setting triangles I had to make. 

This is where the process part of it gets a little hard to describe so bear with me ~ or abandon ship while you still can still wade safely to shore!

I have been wanting to make another log cabin quilt for a little while but I also didn't want to make a "log cabin quilt".  Many years ago, I saw a Delectable Mountain block made using a log cabin block for the large half-triangle square part of the block and it stuck with me.  

When I decided to make this quilt, I already had the color scheme and fabric in mind ~ red, white/cream and blue using my big pile of Minick & Simpson fat quarters.  That was the easy part.

I had to start thinking about the size of the block to make. 

This is where the computer might come in helpful, but seriously, this isn't how my brain works... all logical and orderly like.  I do all of this in my head ~ usually while I'm working on something else, driving to the printer or work, trying to fall asleep (which is not when I'm driving), blow drying my hair (which probably explains my hair somedays...) and so on. 

If I make the half-triangle squares to finish at 2" x 2", then my blocks will measure 8" x 8" or 10" x 10" finished, with a 6" x 6" or 8" x 8" finished log cabin.  Given the diagonal measurements of those blocks ~ about 11.3" and 14.1" ~ that would make my quilt about 68" x 68" or 84" x 84" for 60 blocks.  The 10" block has some appeal.

Or if I make the half-triangle squares to finish at 1 1/2" x 1 1/2", then my blocks will measure 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" or 9" x 9", with a 6" x 6" or 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" finished log cabin.  Given the diagonal measurements of those blocks ~ about 10.6" and 12.7" ~ that would make my quilt about 64" x 64" or 77" x 77" for 60 blocks.  The 9" block is the winner here... even though it means at least 120 more half-triangle squares. 

Before I decide, how am I going to finish the quilt?  Is it going to have a border?  What kind?  Or will I do something with the setting triangles?  If so, what?

In thinking about the quilt, I decided that I wanted a simple finish on the edge ~ which meant I wasn't going to add a separate border.  I don't think every quilt needs one.  So this is what I came up with ~ and this is the part I actually drew out in my notebook so I would remember how to piece it and, more importantly, how many setting triangles I would need to make.

To get it to work, you actually have to piece half the setting triangles one way and the other half the reverse direction. 

On a side note, by piecing setting triangles like this, you can add something that looks complicated but isn't.  How much trickier would this have been if I had used a plain setting triangle and then pieced the sawtooth border and fit it on the quilt?  This way is so much easier. 

After deciding on how to finish the quilt, I knew that this would add a couple inches to the finished size of my quilt top.  How much it added would depend on the size of block I used ~ anywhere between about 3" and 5".

The other factor in deciding which size block to use was proportion ~ how much of each "color" did I want to use in the quilt?

If I used the 6" log cabin blocks ~ the red was going to be a bit more dominant than the blue and the cream in the log cabins, regardless of which size half-triangle square I used.  And to make the quilt bed-sized, that would have required making a lot more blocks.  A lot more... especially half-triangle squares.

Deciding between the 10" x 10" block made with the 2" x 2" half-triangle squares and the 9" x 9" block made with the 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" half-triangle squares was pretty easy.  And no, it wasn't because there would be more half-triangle squares for you to make with the smaller block. 

That was just one of life's little gifts. 

First, the 10" block was going to be more difficult to divide evenly for the setting triangles.  Five seams.  Prime number.  Five rows in the setting triangle?  Do-able ~ there are only 24 setting triangles.  It makes the finished quilt about 88" x 88".  Another option is to divide the setting triangle into two rows ~ that makes the finished quilt about 92" x 92".  I didn't like that idea at all because it will make the sawtooth border too "heavy" for the rest of the quilt as the proportion would be off.

That is also why I kept coming back to the 9" x 9" block.  Proportion.  Balance.  I liked the balance of the smaller half-triangle square to the rest of the block.  In addition to keeping the blue and white/cream a little more prominent, the larger half-triangle squares were "heavier".  I wanted them to be a strong accent but not the focal part of the block.

Using the smaller half-triangle squares also helped me decide to use just one background.  And that made it easy to choose to use that same background for the setting triangles.   

After all that, making 600 half-triangle squares didn't seem like that much work. 

And neither part was as much work as reading all of this was. 

But there you have it ~ the process I went through for making Heartland.  It's been quilted and bound ~ in blue ~ and it's been getting it's picture taken this past week.  The finished pattern should be ready to go in about another two weeks. 

 

I'm off to work on Eventide ~ hope to have it done by early next week so it can be quilted, bound and photographed too.  That one came about in a very different sort of way ~ the idea for it came from the fabric, Luna Notte by 3 Sisters.  If you would like to read about my "process" for that one, just let me know. 

Have a terrific weekend.

Comments

[Dianne]

wow! love hearing about this one. it's amazing how with so much technology these days, most ideas still start with a pen and paper. can't beat it! oh...and that's a freakin' GORGEOUS quilt!

[Carol]

Fascinating! I've always wondered how you do this...your mind is absolutely amazing!

[sherri]

Gorgeous quilt...and yes, I love reading about the process...I've read both posts you mentioned and think that the process is actually one of the most fascinating aspects of quilting. And it's good to think about it. I know my quilting has improved considerably since you mentioned in your trunk show that we should think about the elements of quilts we like...would love to hear the process on the Luna Notte quilt too!

[Kim Pebley]

I loved reading this piece. I have done the same thing to my notebooks.. makes it personal! Thank you for sharing with us your journey.

[Melissa C]

Love reading about your process. LOVE this quilt. Can't wait till it is available.

[Vickie E]

that was cool. I think I can relate when it comes to designing. I mostly use my EQ to translate my pattern for submission

[Sinta Renee]

I loved the story without the Cliff Notes version! I'm glad we had this little talk... and yes, I would love to read about the adventures of Eventide! I'm actually happy to know that pencil and paper still work for designing. Like candles still work for lighting:)but better!

[Cheryl Arkison]

We modern quilters don't mind! Process is fascinating regardless.

[Karen]

Gorgeous quilt, Carrie, and fascinating to read about your process. I'd love to read your process for Eventide. Thanks for letting us in on how you design.

[Pam P]

Love Heartland! Just beautiful! And I like to read posts that have "a little meat" on them :) I'm not a fabric or quilt designer so it's great to see how your ideas become the patterns that I buy - pretty cool!! Thanks Carrie!

[Sarah B.]

You know, Carrie, I HATE the triangles... even with the brainless Thangles I get intimidated by them. However, I LOVE the Heartland quilt pattern so very, very much that I might even brave the bazillion (it's giving me heart palpitations just looking at it!)called for just to own it! Seriously, if there was ever a quilt pattern that screams America the Beautiful, this is it. I will be waiting anxiously for the pattern to show up at my LQS. Meanwhile my "Picnic in Frolic" is languishing so I better get that one finished first... :o)
Oh, and I love hearing how you work thru your design process. It's facinating to me how so much talent begins and the ending results.

[L. M. R.]

That is one beautiful quilt.

[Leslie Schmidt]

To get a result like that would inspire me to make all those little half square triangles. It is breathtaking! I enjoyed the process description. It makes me appreciate all the work designers do even more. I'm glad your mind works like that, because mine sure doesn't!

[Deb Myers]

why, of course, we/i want to hear all about eventide! we/i want to hear about everthing you do, think, say!!! it's all sooooo fascinating~~

[Cheryl Miller]

Wow, Carrie, I am impressed. I wondered how you did it! Love the quilt. Now I know what to do with all my red, white and blues scraps.

[auntie pami]

Wowser. That is one beautiful quilt. I'd like to hear how you designed Eventide. And, how do you cover the notebooks? I was just looking at the moleskins myself, obviously not close enough --I didn't know they had gridded ones.

[Kathy J]

I.WANT.THIS.QUILT...but I'll settle for the pattern. Hurry 2 weeks until available, hurry!

[Jeanne]

Yes please...share the process on the next one too. I find it very interesting to read.

You are very talented!

[Nicole]

Ah, a glimpse into the mind of genius. Seriously, it was fascinating, and I cannot wait to make that quilt.

[BadlandsQuilts]

Great post... loved the insight!

[Mary C]

I'm not a fan of Log cabins, but your quilt is pretty nice. I like the added point on the Log Cabin blocks and on the outside edge. Thanks for sharing the "process". I'll be listening to your visit with Pat Sloan...she made me visit and read your post today.

[Thelma]

Wow, so that's how you do it!! Fascinating! I found it interesting that you had pretty much figured it out and put it on paper before you started cutting and sewing. I don't have that kind of vision, it's not until I have the fabric up on my design wall that I can decide things like block sizes and border options. My process is a real fabric waster!

I wonder how I can develop the skill of seeing it in my mind's eye before seeing it in person. Maybe that's just something you're born with....or not!

OK, I'm all ready to read about Eventide!

[Becky]

Yes, I would love to read about how you develop your patterns. What seems obvious to you on border balance, for instance, is not so obvious to me. However, I really want to know how someone looks at this. The more information you share, the more I am able to "push" myself into learning. This is the path to becoming more mutant on my own when creating my own designs.

[Sandi]

I laughed when I read that your last version of EQ was 4. I bought EQ4 and never installed it. I love paper and pencil and while it may be not be "up-to-speed" for today's technology, it is what works for me. :-)