Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Red Onion Class

I've signed up to take a class at retreat based on a quilt from the book 'Stack a New Deck' by Karla Alexander that I showed you all earlier. The class is using the Red Onion pattern, and I'm also looking at a very similar pattern called Saturn. I might mix the two almost identical quarter curve blocks in one quilt, because, as usual, I want something different. Instead of 12 inch blocks like her book called for, I'm being fat quarter friendly and using 10½ square blocks.

I've also seen lots of pink and brown quilts being blogged about lately, so that's what I picked as the color scheme for this one ... I'm hoping all the curved lines will make it look like a box of chocolate creams, the pinks like raspberry nougat, the deeper pink like a chocolate covered cherry, and the tan blobs like nuts or caramel. :) Here's the fabric palette I'm using. I've cut 48 blocks to use:



I've really got a thing about wasting fabric and trimming large amounts, so I made 4 test blocks to see how the smaller 10½ square blocks would trim up. I was able to trim these, with 3 cuts and 3 seams, to 9 inches square... her instructions say start with a 12 inch block and trim to 9 inches. Of course, some of my trims were skimpy, but I'd much rather cut off just a sliver than a chunk an inch or more wide. If I can't get them all 9 inches, I'll retrim these first sample ones another ½ inch or so. Some of my blocks will have only 2 cuts and two seams... and I might even make some with only one cut, so with less seams, I shouldn't have any trouble squaring those to 9 inches.



Hopefully, the next post you see from me will be the finished top for this quilt!

18 comments:

quiltpixie said...

this picture of the four blocks is intriguing. Can't wait to see the quilt top...

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh I can't wait to see the finished product! I love pink and brown! And the 4 you did look so cool!

Jeanne said...

Oooh, this should be interesting!
I like pink and brown -- I have a p + b project in a bag waiting for me.
Jeanne :)

His Office, My Studio said...

I love the pink and brown fabrics. I have not heard of the onion block before and it is something I want to try.

Fiona said...

Super colour scheme - I have that book but I agree with you that you seem to need an awful lot of fabric for one finished block. Look forward to seeing how it turns out. Enjoy your retreat.

Mary Johnson said...

From 4 blocks to a finished top in how long? I like the pink and browns. I've got a set of fat quarters I'm dying to use but it will be a while - I haven't picked a pattern yet either.

Patti said...

What an interesting start! I love your fabrics and the pink and brown combination. I'm not familiar with the book, the designer, or either quilt pattern, so I'm eager to see where you are going with this.

May Britt said...

I have never been fond of pink fabric, but this looks so yammy yammy delicious. I love your brown and pink.

YankeeQuilter said...

Love the fabrics you are using! makes me think of the chocolates with the whipped strawberry cream centers....yum.
Siobhan

Melanie said...

Great Fabrics--You're a brave one with the curved pieces.

Anonymous said...

NEAT! Love the pallette, love the idea of fat quarter friendly (can you explain that more - I am not getting how a 10.5 inch square is friendly while the 12 inch square is not...)

"Life is like a box of chocolates"

KC Quilter said...

Such yummy fabric choices. Can't wait to see this quilt come together!!

Joyce said...

Great fabric choices. I have that book and made a pillow case using the curved pieces just to try it. I also made one of the quilts but using straight cuts. They go together very fast with the way she pieces them.

Darcie said...

Sounds delicious, ForestJane! And looks the part as well! Way to go on choosing your own guidelines...not a thing wrong with that!

I tried something like this...pretty much exactly like this...awhile back to see if I wanted to teach freeform curves at my sister's store. Darn...I should *went with it* and I could have been famous by now! LOL

Have a wonderful time with your fabric and friends!

Cher said...

looks like a great kick off to your retreat plans-hope meeting your online friends lives up to whatever...bound to be fun to actually meet them at any rate. Hope you take lots of photos and share.

Samantha said...

Those blocks look wonderful!! Can't wait to see the entire top!

Hanne said...

I am looking forward to see more of this quilt :-)
I have never made anything in brown and pink - maybe one of these days.........

Anonymous said...

Hey, it wouldn't be your quilt if you didn't tweak it a bit! Hope you and Ann had a great time at the retreat!

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