Sunday, November 14, 2010

This one is for my friends....

....who say that I will be putting the binding on my daughters wedding quilt at the reception.  The wedding is in June and until tonight, I hadn't started the quilt.  So, here is the first block.



I had taken my time deciding on what pattern to use (wanted that perfect one) and finally chose Jack's chain from Quilter's Cache.  http://www.quilterscache.com/J/JacksChainBlock.html

My daughter hasn't been a great deal of help.  I thought she was contemporary, but she has chosen pink and brown civil war type fabrics ( I am also throwing in a few greens for interest).  Now that's NOT contemporary.  She likes the double wedding ring, but all those curves scared me ....or at least enough not to attempt a queen-sized quilt at this time.  Everything I showed her, I didn't get the most positive response, but when I saw Jack's Chain, I thought it was similar to a double wedding ring, but hopefully easier.  Well.....I had a heck of a time getting this block done.  There are a lot of y-seams AND the block was super wavy when I had it completed, so I ended up taking in a smidgeon on several of the triangles' seams.  It lies pretty flat now, but I sure hope that I am not going to have to do that for ALL the blocks.

Anyways, to make things a little easier, I am using Fons and Porters hexagon ruler and am using the largest measurement (outside edge) for the center of the block. 


Then once I have my fabric pieces cut out in the hexagon shape, I made a plastic template of this ruler with little holes (made by using my 1/8" hole punch) at the 1/4" intersections so that I can lay this onto the hexagon and just use a pencil to mark the points were I have to start and stop my stitching (the lovely y-seam). 


So, this block consists of a hexagon, six 9-patches and six triangles.  Now...would you think that I have a perfect triangle ruler?  No!!!  So, I have cut out a template for that, too. 

I wish I could figure out how to draw up this block on my EQ, so that I would know how many blocks I am going to need.  For now, I am just going to have to wing it. 

Wish me luck to have this quilt done WAY BEFORE the wedding.  I do want to have it done before the reception.  ;D


10 comments:

  1. I have always thought this was a most appealing pattern. I expect the bias edges of the triangles and the hexagon are also going to make it a challenge. Good luck. What you have done so far looks great. I don't doubt it will be ready well before due date.

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  2. Faye - what a great pattern!
    I too like the additional green you've added to balance out the pink & brown.
    Wishing you GREAT SUCCESS on the completion of this quilt before the wedding!

    Doreen

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  3. That is going to be an amazing quilt! I know you will have it done well before the wedding!

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  4. I love the green you added. Makes it more interesting. It's going to be gorgeous, but I'm not sure that it's going to be less difficult than the DWR after all. Keep up the good work. You'll get it done in plenty of time!

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  5. Several months ago, I played with making a Jack's Chain block. Had forgotten all about it until I saw yours.

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  6. Decided against the DWR? Looks like you might have jumped from the frying pan into the fire?
    Fabulous block - colors, piecing - everything! Such a challenge - and your piece lays beautifully.
    Looking forward to watching this progress

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  7. That will be beautiful!! Looks like a challenge.

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  8. wow this is a new block for me - I thought I saw them all at quilterscache - went to page 2 to see the layout ----
    I love this block! This is going to be one gorgeous quilt!

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