Saturday, March 12, 2016

The Slippery Scrappy Slope

Floating Squares with PinwheelsEarlier this week, I posted about my compulsion attraction to those tiny bonus triangles that many throw away and the improv quilt with pinwheels I made from some of the ones I generated last weekend when I was making violet blocks.

But there were still more bonus triangles calling my name ...

88 bonus triangle squares

In the way that one thing leads to another, I was playing with a setting idea for the Block Lotto this month and thought about the traditional block, Clover Blossom (also sometime known as English Ivy) and decided to make some of these.

One Clover Blossom BlockFor each 4 1/2-inch block, I used 9 tiny triangle squares (3/4 inch finished size) made from 9 different purple batiks and added a 10th purple batik to make the rest of the block.

Since the light half of the bonus triangles was also scrappy, I mixed up the fabrics in the background of the block.

I had enough of those bonus triangles to make these nine blocks.


9  Clover Blossom Blocks

I had thought to add plain fabric alternate blocks and setting triangles ... but I just couldn't do it. 

4AlternateBlocksI thought these low-contrast 9-patch blocks would continue the mottled feeling of the background of the blocks.

Still, after I made these alternate blocks, I thought I could add plain fabric setting triangles ... but I was on the slippery slope of scrappiness and so I made a simply pieced triangle to audition the idea ...

Setting Triangle Audition

But, it didn't feel scrappy enough, so I found myself making more of the 1 1/2-inch 4-patches.

I also made scrappy pieced corner triangles and here's the result.

Clover Blossom Mini-Quilt in Progress

This little quilt now measures 19 inches square.  I'm letting it rest on my design wall while I think about borders and quilting design. 

Curvy Rails Block DesignAlso on my design wall is the block I designed for the current Modern Quilts Unlimited Magazine challenge, Everything Old is New Again.  Follow the link to see all the designs and note for your favorite.

The traditional inspiration is rail fence.

It's an unassuming block,  but I like it's simplicity–there are only two shapes in the pieced background.  Ad like those itty bitty bonus triangle squares, it has charmed me and I have some scrappy plans for it beyond the challenge ... come back tomorrow for more.

I'm joining Angela's party for ScrapHappy Saturday. Check out what everyone else is making from purple scraps this month. 


18 comments:

Julierose said...

So beautiful with those pale green background blocks--love it! I don't know how you can work so "small"...Amazing Hugs, Julierose

LA Paylor said...

gorgeous. And love your writing style

Mari said...

I love your flower blocks! Great choice on the pieced alternate blocks, too. Gorgeous!

Cathy said...

Oh my! Your English Ivy little quilt is to.die.for. How can you even SEE things that small, LOL?!? And the curved rails are perfection! Can’t wait to see more of those.

Kaja said...

Wow - so much great stuff in one post. I like both your scrappy improv quilts a lot, and the way that you write about your process. I'm also very taken with your block, which is simple but very appealing to my eye - just the right amount of curve.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Your clover blossom blocks are just amazing! I am one of those who has been throwing those bonus HSTs away, but not anymore!

Alison V. said...

Very pretty RSC blocks! :)

The Joyful Quilter said...

That clover Blossom batik mini quilt is AMAZING!!! So many wonderful choices in one small package. Nicely done.

Quiltdivajulie said...

The scrappy blocks are delicious -- love them!! Like that rail fence too.

Mystic Quilter said...

I loved your Improv with Pinwheels when I first saw it - beautiful. Now you have posted this wonderful little Clover Blossom min quilt and it is magnificent!!

Jacqueline said...

The pinwheel quilt was great and now the ivy batiks take center stage. Great fabric choices in both.

Seams French said...

Stunning quilts. I love what you did with the low-contrast 9 patch background blocks. Subtly scrappy! Works perfectly.

Nell's Quilts said...

Absolutely gorgeous. Love both quilts! Thanks for sharing your thoughts as you designed the quilt. Love to hear them.

Anonymous said...

Much as I hate to MAKE tiny, I really love your tiny new pattern. Those pieced triangles were definitely the way to go. I loved your block when I saw it on the magazine site. I don't do FB, so I can't vote for anyone, but I really do like your block.

PaulaB quilts said...

Starting from almost nothing you made great choices and have an amazing piece, all the more because of its size. Congrats!

Angie said...

Wow! The Clover Blossom project turned out amazing! I am inspired by your use of scraps!

joe tulips said...

Gorgeous !!!

Cathy said...

Now, I like small blocks but I'm not sure I could even see all the pieces for your gorgeous little English Ivies. What a nice compulsion you have.

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