Wednesday, May 8, 2013

{bloom}ing right along


I've been working through this quilt at a relatively quick clip.  And not just because Lee's offering a linky soon (though that is a nice incentive!)  The main reason is that I needed a finished top stat to test how my {new} new machine handles large quilts.  (Sidenote:  if you have any strong feelings one way or the other about Elna or Pfaff, please please share! I was having issues with my 6-month old Pfaff so my dealer has given me the choice between upgrading to a newly released model or switching to an Elna... and I need help!)  But you didn't come here to read about sewing machines, now did you?  ;)

I've been toying with my BBP layout and I think this is my favorite...


But here were the other contenders:


Trying to steer my helper clear of the family room floor while I think about it ;)  I generally wanted the pinks/reds starting in one corner, and the oranges/yellows in the other.  Otherwise I didn't really have an agenda aside from spreading the various values (and insufficiently bleached "blobs"!) across the quilt.  Did I pick the right one?!  Can you even tell a difference? :)

Update:  Top is finished!  Stuck with layout #1:


And oh how pretty are those open seams? ;)


I've also been doing a little sewing for my birthplace of Boston.  Being the BB Encyclopedia junkie that I am, I found a block titled, "Boston Pavement" (#2726) (perfection!) and fell in love.


Very steam punk-y (aka Air Ship Propeller, BB #3499), minus the curved piecing and appliqued center.  (And the blades here are the skinny sections vs. the chubbier steam punk ones).  This is the first of several I plan to incorporate into some "To Boston With Love" flags.  They'll finish around 5" square when set in the flags.

Now, off to rescue my quilt layout from a toddler tornado! Linking up with Lee at freshly pieced ;)

12 comments:

  1. That is a very pretty BBP quilt top! I don't know which lay-out would be best, I love them all!
    Gorgeous Boston block too!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks very much for visiting my blog and for your comment. It's nice to see your Bloom Bloom Pow, it's looking great. I was really interested to read what you did with the bleach I might have to try that some time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like the first layout the best. And I really love the colors you picked for this quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pretty layout! It's fun to watch this QAL and to see some quilts with different fabrics :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well I don't know which layout I like best (I like them all) but I do know that I love those colors! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great layout! Re elna vs pfaff, when buying my current machine, I was advised to go either pfaff or bernina - I adore my bernina but have heard great things about pfaffs too. Good luck, it is a tricky decision!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Really like your cartwheel layout! I've seen some of the Steam Punk blocks around, and yours are fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such a fab version! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can't believe how fast this came together! Pairing the bleached and unbleached fabrics is a really neat idea.

    I stared at the two layouts for probably a full minute without noticing a difference. But once I did, I liked the one you chose better.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful quilt! And wow, the Boston block is fabulous. Looks MUCH easier than Steam Punk--my pattern just came the other day.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your BBP top is gorgeous! I love the open seams shot! Ideas on quilting yet?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yours is the best! I can see that you are very clever..

    ReplyDelete

so... you're thinking about commenting, are you?

if you don't mind my saying so, please do! i love hearing from new quilting friends! good or bad, let's hear it ;)

p.s. I'm so sorry, but I've had to disable anonymous comments due to sneaky spammers. I hope you understand!