loise98 wrote:
Hi Lois - I think if you are careful then everything will be fine. You might have to do a little easing, but if you're like me then you have a LOT of practice at that. My blocks were 8" finished, so you have a check point every 8" to help with the easing which should make it not bad at all.

Nancy, "I did leave the paper in place until they were all sewn together. It's a pain, but it does control the bias edges."
I will have to be very, very careful when I stitch this. At least the fabric is well starched and that should help. Now I am getting nervous.

Nancy, that's a stunning quilt. Love red, black and white together! To me, is a very elegant combination. Most definitely waiting for the right black would make you happier in the long run. Besides, is not like you have nothing else to work on . So looking forward to see the finished piece.

You know, I suffer from that same addiction... And I don't want to be cured

loise98 wrote:
Hi Lois - I did leave the paper in place until they were all sewn together. It's a pain, but it does control the bias edges. And I waited until I got that first border, which is cut on the cross grain but I figured was pretty stable because it is a batik and doesn't stretch much, put in place. I normally try to cut borders on the lengthwise grain for more stability, but that would have meant having to order 1.3 yds of the fabric rather than using 3" of what I have. (Which I did think about doing because I'm completely addicted to fabric!! )

Nancy

Nancy, did you leave the paper in place until after the blocks were sewn together? I guess that would help manage the bias edges on the outside of the blocks. It's too late for me to do that. The paper is gone. Oh, well!!

Hi Lois - I don't have any really good hints for the seams on this. Since I paper-pieced the blocks, it was a pain wrestling the blocks through the sewing machine as I put everything together. Fabric isn't fluid anymore once you connect it to paper, but I guess that's the point. I probably would have pressed the seams open if I wasn't worried about light-colored batting showing in the seams next to the black pieces. So I just pressed everything so that all of the intersections nestled together. I'm planning on using a double batting (wool on top of cotton) since this is what I want to experiment with now, so I expect my thick seams will sink into the wool. And my center is busy enough that if I can't stay in the ditch in those areas, it shouldn't be noticable. And everything feels so thin now that I've removed all of the paper! Once I have the final borders on, I'll double-check my intersections and could decide to repress then, clipping seam allowances if necessary. But for now, that's the way it is.

Nancy

Nancy,
I am loving your quilt. I would also wait for the black batik. It will be stunning.

This is making me eager to get mine together. In my tradition, to let others go first so I can learn from them, do you have any hints about dealing with the multiple layers of fabric coming together where the points on the edge of these blocks meet one another? How did you deal with those seams? I am chomping at the bit to get mine together, but I am taking full advantage of that eagerness to use it to as a bribe to get a more tedious job done first.

I made a GMFG quilt using Gyleen Fitzgerald's butterfly seams. It's a bed size quilt and those butterfly seams become more tedious when you are sewing long rows of those blocks together. I have 4 of 7 rows done and am part way through 5. 1,800 butterfly seams, but whose counting... I guess that would be me. Anyway, I posted the progress on Gyleen's Polygon Affair group on Facebook. She responded twice with some hints about handling the rows. I am always amazed and grateful at the generousity of quilter's willingness to help one another. I am taking a course in Houston from Pam Holland and she's responded to my email questions quite promptly a number of times. Quilters are such fine people. Not only do I love quilting, I love quilters.

Nancy, your sampler quilt is amazing... and I think your border is going to be just as stunning. It's like a jewel!

Reetzbobeetz wrote:
Of course, I started designing a new one and started pulling fabrics for a second.

Nancy your quilt looks terrific! You may as well wait for that black fabric to come in. It will give you time to get on with one of the other PHDs you have ...... or start a new one.

PosyP wrote:
Rosemary,
Thank you very much for the link! I see now why it is called a "piano key" border. I envisaged something black and white I like the way you can then use leftovers from the piecing in the border.

Marianne

Nancy your top is amazing - I know that I would never chose that colourway, but I love it.

Marianne if you go here [url]learn/all-boms[/url] the outside border is a swagged piano key border - for an ordinary piano key border, just have all the coloured strips the same length. And don't worry about questions - the only dumb ones are the ones you don't ask.

rehak wrote:
Showing my complete ignorance here, could you please tell me what a "piano key" border is? TIA
Your quilt top is stunning! I 'm not surprised you are happy to wait a little while to see if you can get "the right" black fabric. sometimes a little patience makes you happier in the long run.

Marianne

Wow, nancy, it's absolutely fabulous!