The evolution of a pattern

WELL, Well, well. Happy Day! I wondered if I'd live long enough to see you move from repetitive 9-patches in solemn solid colors to just having fun creating. YEeeeHa. Let's have pictures, John. I hardly ever know where I'm going until I get there. The quilt will tell you when to stop. Sometimes. Maybe. Or we will. Polly

"John" a quilt top without a chosen design. I started to make some pieces

Good on John, you will find the experience enlightening! It may not work, it may, but you get to have fun along the way. I do this all the time, I *hate" following patterns. I have just finished a little baby alphabet quilt and apart from making sure 'A' thru 'Z' was in order (I hope!) the design morphed as I went along. Looks cute anyhow to a new born!

Cheers Bronnie

LOL! Most of my quilts start out this way: just make a few blocks. See how they fit. Ask them what they want next. Try to stop at a sane spot.

What I'm work>I decided to try something that I have never done before. I am making

Well Polly, Here you go. I think it will probably enchant you. I, on the other hand, will probably never take it any farther than what it is. I know you are less than enthralled, with a lot of my offerings, but there you go. It takes all kinds. I love order and precision and simplicity in my art. Shaker Style, Japanese gardens, other similar examples. That is what makes the Art World go round, I guess. I am more than happy to do the type of things that I usually do, and less than happy doing these sort of things. So for what It's worth, that is the way the cookie crumbles. This will probably end up as some sort of wall hanging, but it won't be enlarged. Enjoy, or not. John

I do that all the time :)

Have fun & am looking forward to seeing the finished quilt!

-Irene

John, I don't post here a lot, but I think you might want to give creativity another chance. I'm a structured kind of person too and attempted something like your diamonds a while ago. Mine was a NY beauty style and I think the same thing bothers us. You might want to try again, but use fabrics that don't have any obvious direction. I finally realized that what I found so discordant in my piece was the striped fabrics which drew the eye in the wrong direction for me.

PS Love your treadle Bernina. I'm a closet luddite and have just bought myself an 1882? 2 wheel tabletop coffee grinder. It sits right beside my sliding weight scale and stovetop toaster. All of which I use and more importantly can fix.

Diana - PA

John, that is lovely.

Pati, in Phx

You nailed it, John. I truly am enchanted. I wish you could be persuaded to continue and present it to Wounded Warriors. Polly

"John" < Well Polly, Here you go. I think it will probably enchant you. I, on the other hand, will probably never take it any farther than what it is. I know you are less than enthralled, with a lot of my offerings, but there you go. It takes all kinds. I love order and precision and simplicity in my art. Shaker Style, Japanese gardens, other similar examples. That is what makes the Art World go round, I guess. I am more than happy to do the type of things that I usually do, and less than happy doing these sort of things. So for what It's worth, that is the way the cookie crumbles. This will probably end up as some sort of wall hanging, but it won't be enlarged. Enjoy, or not. John

I already donate some lap quilts, to them. 9 patch red/white/ blue with stars as the center patch. More to my liking, and I have never had one refused. The are always the same pattern, as I bought a bunch of the fabric so as to be able to donate multiple quilts at the same time and not have any fighting over who gets the Pink one with those cute little flowers on it. After they get rid of don't ask/don't tell I may include one of the later style. John

I have become enchanted with the treadle conversions. I have two of them, in service, with a third machine converted but not mounted and ready to swap out if one of the regular ones needs any repair or service. They are the only machines I use for regular sewing. So far it has been overkill, as they seem to go on forever, with little need for attention. I keep one set up with a 16/18 needle and the other with a 11/14 needle so as to be able to quickly do the various needed heavy/light sewing needs that bag construction demands. I have sold all of my other machines except for the recently acquired Singer 404 slant needle which I have used for those really heavy duty sewing procedures on the bags. One unused Featherweight, rounds out the stable, and I am set for life. I think I would be more comfortable in the 19th century, but indoor plumbing does have it's advantages. The directional fabric is a problem that would be solved with a constant, overall pattern, as you say. Nonetheless, I feel I satisfy any creative needs that quilting provides, doing traditional patterns of various kinds. If I ever run out of them to do then there always those pesky freeform things, that Polly is so often pushing me to embrace. I keep telling her it is a lost cause, but then she may be a person who is drawn to lost causes. Glad you liked the treadles. Nothing like getting a workout and a quilt at the same time, even if it is a plain one. John

Woot! You go, John! I'm so proud of you, and I expect to see photos. Now. No need to wait until you think you're 'done' -- whatever that means. We need photos now.

Hehehe, first you get a little crazy with shapes and then with colors and next thing you know, you're working with prints and maybe even putting some fancy stitches or a dab of paint on a quilt and hanging it on the wall. :)

Sunny

Probably. I had the fabric already cut into 2" strips, so that is why that fabric was chosen. When viewed in a traditional log cabin sashed block, it is very pleasing to me. But the randomness of the placement on this thing is unsettling. I think I have found a way to use this thing. I am going to quilt and bind it and use it in one of my wife's baskets for a warming wrap for baked goodies, to be taken on outings. I tried it out for fit and it is as if I made it especially for that purpose. Who's to say I didn't? John

The project is finished. It now is being used as a warming cover in a basket, to keep baked goods warm when taking them outside the house to a party or picnic. It can also be used for the same purpose at the dinner table. I decided on this use solution, as a way not to turn it into a shop rag. That seemed like a rather harsh ending, and it is still useful but not seen every time I would pass it as a wall hanging. John

So glad you didn't discard your discord. Polly

"John" < The project is finished. It now is being used as a warming cover in a basket, to keep baked goods warm when taking them outside the house to a party or picnic. It can also be used for the same purpose at the dinner table. I decided on this use solution, as a way not to turn it into a shop rag. That seemed like a rather harsh ending, and it is still useful but not seen every time I would pass it as a wall hanging. John

WOW,John!!! I'm so proud of you, it's not easy stepping out of your comfort zone. I just love the patriotic feel! Don't let anyone deter you, you do fabulous work, no matter what the challenge.

Good for you!