I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Monday, October 28, 2019

Almost but not Quite Almost Amish Top


Hi! A quick post to show off my Almost Amish quilt top. This was a mystery sewalong with Lori of Humble Quilts. I   will add the link for her finale and linky party here at the end of this post, so you can see the many many versions of the deceptively simple little project.


I struggled with the black fabric, could not see it to sew. And though I tried so hard to make perfect, easy, effortless 1" squares----again, a struggle and a fail. They don't match, they are crooked, they buckle or strain?


Why my piecing is getting so much worse is a mystery. [Yes I got new glasses recently, did not help.]  The squares look good here at the start....



And even here, though you can see the fabric is fraying.


But then. Ugh. Horrors.


And I just could not use the sixth color, sight unseen---I stuck with the simple Amish black.

In the end I simplified the border. I almost discarded the project entirely, but kept reminding myself about another sewalong, I call it Peace and Plenty [Cascadia]. It also featured many 1" squares and is very badly pieced. And yet....once finished and quilted, it is a beloved favorite of mine.



And so...a simpler border and it is done.


I do like it from a distance. Maybe once quilted I'll even love it!


The colors work and the shapes do form. Magic! [Lori is a talented designer.]


I have no clue what the backing should be. Amish would be feedsack or muslin, hmmm. Maybe I have a feedsack? This morning I auditioned binding too.

The eliminated 6th color Green. Yikes!



A soft blue tinged violet?



The turquoise from the pieced blocks?


It will be quilted in black, simple cross hatching or may be allover cables. Not soon.


.............................

I neglected Year to work on A Amish. Here is the October block, just begun. The witch is printedf on the fabric of the moon. Kitty is black velvet.


I love it! And I'm glad this month's block is simple. This is closer to the real color, below.


.........................................

Today, my friends' back steps. Wouldn't this make a beautiful color inspiration for a quilt!


Have a good week.



love

lizzy

gone to the beach....










Click HERE to see all the participants' little quilts, each so unique and charming. 
[scroll to the end of Lori's post]




7 comments:

  1. I like your color choices--black is notoriously difficult to sew and stitch...
    Take heart, after it's quilted
    you probably won't notice those difficulties...

    I hate when that happens and it has and does to me a lot..lately everything I touched went off the rails..
    I like your October block a lot--that kitty is really cute...so Prim..hugs, Julierose

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  2. I really like how your "Almost Amish" turned out. I made it too, but didn't have as much trouble working with the black fabric. Not sure how my eyes will fare when it comes to hand quilting it. I think I will quilt through the colored squares, and leave the black ones alone. Makes you really admire those Amish ladies, doesn't it, how they were able to quilt through all those dark fabrics and so beautifully!

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  3. Black is very hard to sew unless you have sunlight, I think. Nothing else quite works as well! I kind of like the way it looks now, almost done. I don't like the 'original' green. And I vote for the turquoise from the blocks for the binding, if my vote counts, lol.

    Like the other quilt with 1" blocks, I think once this one is quilted and done that you'll really like it.

    I haven't gotten ANY of my sewing done, so I need to get busy and at least get started!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Once your little quilt is layered and hand quilted thpse squares will take on a softness and loft that will make you wonder why you doubted them. Your final colors look great!

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  5. I'm so glad you didn't "chuck" it! Sometimes these little quilts just work out in the end and are so lovable- like your Cascadia. I do love the turquoise for the binding. :)

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  6. Very dark, but not too bad. I like your Oct. patch. I would wouldn't I?...lol Kit

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  7. Awww, I didnt think I would have much to comment on here, not having any knowledge of quilt making...but...

    I'm sorry this one had you in a funk. I can see why. It did come together though, and I cast my vote for the violet backing!

    Gah! I LOVE YOUR OCTOBER BLOCK WITH WITCH AND KITTY! YES, I'M SHOUTING! Soooooo cute!

    Jealous of your friend's fall decorations. I like that it's a little non-traditional, Well done.

    Ohhhh, will we be seeing Mo's Halloween costume tomorrow? Hope so :)

    Kel

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