Friday, January 6, 2017

Finally piecing Chic Country

It seems like I have been cutting pieces forever.  Of course I took long breaks, so it seems longer than actual hours spent cutting, but there was still a lot of cutting for my daughter's Chic Country quilt.  First cutting squares and rectangles, then cutting 2 to 3 curves in each with the Quick Curve ruler, adds up to a a lot of cuts!

But finally, seams are being sewn!  Here are the first two blocks sewn together to make sure I'm trimming things correctly for points to match.

Two Chic Country quilt blocks sewn together

That's a relief!  I'm sure there will be some chopped off and/or offset points in the quilt, but at least I know it's possible!  I did have serious doubts earlier this week. To trim the block, you're supposed to to mark certain points on the ruler and place those on the three points of the unit to position the ruler for trimming the unit correctly.  Actually, the pattern says "align pieced points on or near reference dots".  On or near?  How near?  I was 1/8 off both outside points if I positioned the corner point on the dot, and the 1/8" didn't seem to be in equivalent directions for both points that were off.  1/8"???  Isn't that too much?

I almost cried and quit right then.  I was sure none of the points were going to meet to create the lovely circles in the quilt's design. Why didn't this bother last summer when I made a test block?  Now I had cut up all the "good" fabric and couldn't change patterns and the quilt was going to be a mess! I didn't cry, but I did stomp and scowl. In hindsight, perhaps I shouldn't have been working on this so late at night instead of sleeping.

Untrimmed Chic Country unit
You can see the unit starts out pretty rough!

Thank goodness for the kindness of bloggers!  I searched for images of the quilt and contacted a couple of bloggers who have made successful versions of it.  Cindy of Hyacinth Quilt Designs and Marion of My Quilt Diet both replied with encouraging words and tips and assured me their points were off too but that it all came together OK and to just keep going.  Helen from Sew Kind of Wonderful (makers of the ruler and pattern) also replied to my panicked plea for advice and wrote that my points were off pretty much the same way as hers are when she makes this quilt.  She assured me it would all work out.

Trimmed Chic Country unit

Tonight I took a deep breath and wrapped my mind around those points to figure out where to mark the ruler instead of at the stated spots, so I would at least be consistent from unit to unit for the best chance of matching things up.  I made and trimmed enough units to make two blocks, so I could join them and see if my alternate marking and trimming was going to work.

I think I am confident enough to go back to assembly line mode now.  Well, not right  now.  I have, at least temporarily, learned something about staying up too late sewing.

16 comments:

  1. Don't you wish patterns showed things as they really are? I would panic, too, if my sides were that uneven, and the pattern didn't tell me to expect it. Glad it will all work out.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your finished blocks look great. Good for you for asking for help. That way it won't be so scary to get it done.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The untrimmed blocks do look pretty scary but they trim up nicely and your finished blocks are wonderful. This will be a beautiful quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm glad to see others struggle with these blocks.I just pulled mine out and am going to finish the blocks I have cut out into a wall hanging and be done. I love the look, but realized I do not enjoy making the blocks. King size down to wall, but I will get it done this year and move on. I'm using Marti Mitchell templates, so it is all sewn on the curve.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Whew! You sound very relieved! It looks like it is going to be a beautiful quilt...is your daughter nagging yet?!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ohhhh. So Pretty! I am going to enjoy watching this one grow. Who knows...maybe someday I'll challenge curves.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've seen those blocks before and had thought I might try them someday. Maybe it's best now for me to just enjoy looking at your beautiful blocks and then your finished quilt! ---"Love"

    ReplyDelete
  8. I know someone else who has agonized over an eighth of an inch. On or near is EXTREMELY misleading. Pattern writing is not for everyone. You, on the other hand made the best of a less than ideal situation. And those blocks are really impressive.
    Hugs,
    Preeti.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's terrifying isn't it? When you aren't sure like that? Thank goodness for the kindness of other quilters. The blocks look great and it's going to be a fabulous quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  10. On or near an 1/8 of an inch is pretty scary. Late night sewing is not the best to attempt something like this. By just looking at your first blocks I think this is going to be a fabulous quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I just love the look of the first two blocks, although I might have thrown in the towel long ago. I will follow Love's lead and admire your blocks and eventual quilt from afar.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who stomps and scowls and gets frustrated!! I'm so glad it's going to work out for you. It's such pretty fabric and gosh it would be terrible to waste it. Your test blocks looks scrumptious :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I bought this ruler and love the quilt you're making with it, but am glad to know I should test first...whenever I get to that one!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have never made this quilt using Google the quick curves ruler. I have templates from Nancy Elliott Mac Donald and love them. Your quilt will be beautiful. This is one of my most favorite patterns because it can look so different with different fabrics.

    ReplyDelete
  15. So fun to find your posts here about this quilt. I have that in my list of quilts to make this year. I bought the rulers a full year ago but have yet to use them. I'm going to start out with Metro Rings and then try the Country Chic. However, in the meantime, a friend gave me a pre-cut kit of the Wheel of Mystery quilt (same block) so I have been practicing my curved piecing. These pieces are cut precisely with marks for matching. I've been sewing slow and careful and doing "pretty good". I think many points will be cut off when the blocks are sewn together. It looks like the Quick Curve style allows for freer cutting and gets shaped up after being sewn together. Hopes so! :-) Your quilt is looking beautiful

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting. I truly appreciate your comments and will try to reply to comments by email if your commenting staus is not set to "no-reply".

If you have a question, emailing me directly at joanne@canuckquilter.com will ensure I have your address to respond. I promise I will not share your email address and I will not use it for any purpose other than replying to your message.