but it’s a lot farther along than it was!
Remember where I started with six star points and no real plan? Then I figured out how to set the points in their background fabric and made more borders.
I played with EQ7 to try some ideas for finishing. (Oh yes, in case you wonder, there were many more versions drawn!)
I started on the third of these, making 40 chain (double 4-patch) blocks and cutting the alternate blocks. The chain blocks didn’t have enough visual weight to balance with the center, so I switched gears.
This is the result so far, after a fair amount of unstitching and restitching.
As often, it is too big to take one decent picture of it on the floor. I simply don’t have enough head room above it to get the camera high enough.
Those are dark brown triangles in the corners. They look just right in real life, though in the photos they don’t thrill me. The triangles, along with the diagonal lines of 4-patches, provide the weight in the corners I was missing before. The diagonal lines there and throughout the chains give movement. And the value changes from light background through dark triangles provide the contrast I like.
The small 6-pointed stars centering the borders repeat the star shape in the quilt center. I wondered if they would look too small and fussy, but overall I’m happy with the effect. They were kind of a pain to make. I might post again about making them.
Right now it is about 70″ square. I’ll add another 1″ border, as well as a wider outer border to finish. I don’t have those fabrics in my stash, so will need to shop for the right thing. There are too many other things to do right now, so that will wait, and the UFO will stay a UFO for a while longer.
Catbird Quilt Studio 
It may be a UFO but it’s looking good!
It’s definitely coming along. (Or, it was. Now it is back in waiting.) Thanks!
I think we ought to come up with sub-categories of UFO–UFAMD (unfinished and maybe dead), UFBP (unfinished but progressing), UNAAD (unfinished and almost done). Yours could be UFBLAMG (unfinished but look at me go)!
HA! Yes, I’ve always thought there were different categories of UFOs. I often think of them in 3 sets — abandoned (and why do you still have it?), on hold (and some day it’ll be active again,) and in process (like, it has a plan, and I’ll get back to it “pretty soon.”) This one is now in the last set. Now I’m working on a different one of the same type. It’s the muslin mock-up. All it needs is the binding, which is ready to attach. I’ll finish it by machine and soon send it on to a niece.
I think that shortening the chains, adding the brown corners, and eliminating some of the border stars helped ground this one more. I certainly wouldn’t kick it to the curb, but I’m more partial to other quilts you’ve made. Then, I’m not drawn to browns and their friends, so that irrational personal preference needs to be factored in.
Agree on all counts. I think it will be “pretty,” and I’ll be glad to have it done. But I’m not emotionally attached to it. I keep learning stuff, and I think that’s the big win. 🙂
Pingback: What’s on the Design Wall: Scrappy Improvisational Medallion – tierneycreates
This is beautiful. I especially like the sashing fabric around the center star.
It’s really pretty, isn’t it? I guess I should check whether it would suit as the last border. I might be able to eke out enough… Thanks!
Oh I do like that third option too. It’s looking great!
Thank you!
I’m so glad there’s still a chain in this quilt’s life 🙂 It’s light and delicate in a way that solid borders aren’t and I think you’ve achieved a perfect balance with the size of it. Those small stars may have been a pain to make, but they do a perfect job.
Thanks, Kate. There will be a final, “solid” or unpieced border. But this gives some light between the layers.
Evolution is an interesting thing to witness. In nature, it is slow. This was quick.
It was fairly quick. I gave up, and within a few hours I’d resolved it. Maybe I should give up more often.
I like all versions and remember if you are ever unhappy with the final piece you can send it to my house (after you quilt it and bind it of course, ha!) where I can give it a loving home (Tierney’s Home for Wayward Quilts) 🙂
Possible destination noted! Thanks as always.
I like where this is going, but I can understand why you are happy there were only four of those stars, even with paper piecing. It won’t be a UFO for long, I bet!
It will be on the shelf for at least a week or so. But I do like to clear the slate, so likely it will be done “soon.” 🙂
I thought the first iteration of the chain setting was fine, but now I understand about needing to weigh down the corners. The redesigned chain is more pleasing, and the small six-pointed stars are much more interesting than the sawtooth stars.
I enjoy making sawtooth stars, one of the reasons I use them a lot. 🙂 I didn’t really have fun with these. Paper piecing is fine, and I’m glad to have the tool available, but for me it takes a very long time. So I was glad there were only 4 of them!! Thanks for taking a look.
What drew you to #3 instead of #2? I really liked #2. (Doesn’t mean I dislike #3.) I like to understand thoughts behind choices.
I liked that #3 was open and airy and had a lattice effect. Of course that turned out to be what worked against it. After that I rearranged the blocks in the mode of #2, (without the stars, since I hadn’t made them) and I didn’t like that, either.
The border stars are a good idea. I like the echo effect.
Thank you. I do think they’re a little bit fussy, but I like them well enough! 🙂