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I do know but am not bothered by the fact that my points do not match. "Perfect" is a stressful word. I toss it around when leaving comments but to me it means joy and happiness or a celebration of lovely work.
If you notice, this block is not "perfect" either. Handmade never is. I'm a visual person in just about all ways. I'm drawn first by color and print. Then I notice the pattern. I appreciate care of workmanship but crafting really is about the joy derived from handmade.
I received a comment on my kaleidoscope post noting the "imperfect" points of my block. I already knew that and I am not embarrassed. I don't point out the obvious unless I have a learning experience to share because of it. I have a rule -- I will un-sew twice and if I still can't get points to match then I know it wasn't meant to be. I move on. No worries. If I worried I'd still be sewing my first quilt!
So I decided to have a giveaway to celebrate Blocks of Character. There are 28 vintage "blocks of character" of varying sizes and colors. Many are hand pieced. They have been hand washed and pressed by me.
If you would love to have these beauties and embrace their character flaws please tell me your favorite quilt block. I'll go first -- as if you didn't know I love Dresdens but I'm also very partial to baskets.
~Piecefully, Stephanie
If you would love to have these beauties and embrace their character flaws please tell me your favorite quilt block. I'll go first -- as if you didn't know I love Dresdens but I'm also very partial to baskets.
~Piecefully, Stephanie
33 comments:
Stephanie, i agree entirely with your sentiments about "perfect". I am thrilled when everything matches, but won't spoil the joy i get from piecing by un-picking or re-doing. That being said i do have a few orphan blocks that have not made the grade , generally for being under size,
over the years. I would love to give yours a home and see if yours and mine can play together. My guild has put a call out for orphan blocks for a "special" project so they would also find a good home there.
Just love this post and the pics. We all have different expectations, standards and reasons as to what we quilt and why. Some things that I am happy with, another quilter may not be....our quilts end up being as individual as we are...that is why they are interesting! Love the wee orphans...there is a certain joy in giving one a good home!
Love your post...I treasure the imperfections in my family quilts(and my own)!
Stars are my favorite, although baskets and dresdens rank very high!
(bad typo in previous :-) I love your quilt and saw all the pics of it a bit ago that you posted. (in a rush so no time to comment) I also love your attitude - that's the way I like to roll, too!
I agree with your sentiments on this subject as well. I learned a long time ago that as I am not perfect I cannot expect my quilts to always be perfect. Sometimes I miss the mark, but love those imperfections when looking at the journey of the quilt itself. I think imperfections give quilts more character. I love dresden blocks with klosjes coming in at a close second.
I recently found some stray blocks that my gran had put together for a quilt that was never finished. I would love to have these blocks to go with those she left behind. Thank you for being so generous with these wonderful blocks.
It is so nice to hear you not caring about perfection... I know I'm not perfect and with all the talk about being perfect I paralyze my self.. So I do t get a lot done :( my goal is to just quilt and stop worrying.. A who in the world would say something like that!
I wish I had a favorite block.. But I don't yet.. I love them all.
I love your kaleidoscope quilt and am quite amazed that some-one thought it okay to point out your "imperfect" points ( I wouldn't have noticed ). It is beautiful and colourful and happy and perfect :-) By the way please don't put my names in for the blocks - have enough orphans knocking round here - lol xx
great post , I agree while I always do my best or try to I don't fret anymore if the seam doesn't match up perfectly, I Love antique quilts and when you look at them you don't see the flaws at all!
nine patches, churn dashes, ah baskets, love baskets and then there are stars....love stars....
you get the idea :)
thanks!!!! I would treasure these and you can bet use them for inspiration for many quilts , thank you so much. a treasure trove for me for sure.
Kathie
I love this post! I so agree about not being perfect! If I worried about perfection, I'd never have any quilts done. It's all about the process for me. Love the blocks you're so generously giving away. They would be perfect for our new home! I think my favorite block is the churn dash.
Seriously??? Someone pointed out that your points aren't perfect??? That basket block is fabulous! Just makes me smile.
where don't the points match? I can't see it from over here! thanks for the chance to win.
So well said Stephanie!!!! I use perfect the same way. Not to indicate that it's absolutely mathematically correct but that it is beautiful, pleasing...happiness. :-)
I can't believe someone pointed out the imperfection. Someone needs to tell that person, nothing in life is perfect. Basket blocks touch my heart too!
Bears paw, even though I've never made one. It makes me think of my Aunt. That was her favorite pattern and she made pillows and some small quilts using it. I have two blocks here that she made years and years ago. I remember her using cardboard templates, drawing the 1/4 inch lines, cutting out pieces with scissors. She had such a love of sewing, whenever I see that pattern it reminds me of her. I should make one, one day in her honor, but I'll use a rotary cutter, sewing machine and my 1/4 inch foot (and you can bet my points will still be off).
Worry never accomplished anything. It's totally useless. Nine patch is my all time favourite, followed by the Grandmother's Fan.
To each her own. Some people really need to have all their points meet and others don't care at all. There's a happy medium in there.
So nice to know someone that's on the same side of the fence with me about perfection in quilting! But I'm amazed you 'unsew twice' to get something right...I unsew once or not at all! Oh, how I love those wonderful old blocks you're giving away, each tells a story. Tough to chose my favorite block, but being a simple gal, I love monkey wrench, simple and sweet.
I love churn dash blocks. Nonnie
I kind of think it would be very hard to get those points "perfect" in your quilt. I really think they are great. Like you I would rip out and try again and if it didn't come together "perfectly" I would be okay with it.
Good job in my book.
I noticed the quilting on the pink star block. Pretty interesting design.
Definitely enter my name in for the drawing for the blocks. I love them.
I forgot to tell you my favorite block. I love all kinds of baskets blocks.
I know it's boring, but I love 9 patches. I make them at the end of any project and then make scrappy quilts with the results. I'd love to share your blocks with my quilt study group.
I grew up in an Amish area. I learned way back when I was a little girl, even admiring sewing and quilting back then, that even the Amish would be an "imperfection" in their quilt - intentionally! And it was a game for the little ones to find that inperfection.
My favorite block - I have to admit it would be anything "traditional".
I'd be honored to have them. My favorite block has always been the Log Cabin.
We are on the same page on this topic. I tell people if they are perfect, they weren't made with love, but in a factory by robots. These missed points, wonky rows, big stitches are all character builders for each quilt. Its our personal stamp.
Thank you for saying that about handmade products. Why do we expect perfection? I would be happy to see that your points don't match because then I would feel good about mine that don't match either! I love your vintage quilts. I just bought a 1935 vintage quilt top. I hope to finish it into a quilt soon.
Your kaleidoscope is beautiful and I would love to wrap up in a pretty quilt like that and read a book. Perfect is over rated it is too stressful and once the lovely matched points are washed they are no longer so perfect :)
I love the Drunkards Path block...so many wonderful layouts are possible!
Happy quilting
Forgot to choose a block...Sawtooth Stars. BUT I love them all!! :-)
I love the colors in your kaliedoscope quilt. My favorite blocks are pinwheels.
I surely didn't notice your points, Stephanie! I agree, perfection is in the eye of the beholder and I think handmade is perfect :) Churn Dash is my favorite block! I would adore having these vintage blocks come to play at my house!
Imperfection is the difference between hand made and machine made...and even machine made is not always perfect. As you know only too well, Stephanie...hand made is the best!
My absolute favorite block is the churn dash. I love how traditionally simple it is.
I have learned to live life in such a way that I control the things that I can and those things that I have no control over I let go. Life is too short to be that exacting. One of my favorite blocks is the Jacobs ladder block. It is just triangle squares and four patches but give them a twist or turn and they become a whole different block. Love your orphans.
I've gotta hand it to you... I don't un-sew at all. First time's the charm for me. I wouldn't enjoy piecing as much if I undid every mistake (and there are a lot of them). Thanks for the giveaway! My favorite block is a wonky star. wonderlandbyalyce at gmail dot com
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