Saturday, January 5, 2019

Red cut glass

Hi everyone, and happy weekend! The first week of the year is always so weird, isn't it?  I always feel disoriented.  I usually go to a conference in early January, but this year the conference fell this weekend, and I knew there was no way that I could get myself together enough to go, so I didn't.  I feel kind of bad about it, but not bad enough to get on an airplane.  There's always next year!

Since I stayed home, I went ahead and started one of this year's rainbow scrap challenge projects.  Yay me!  Here are my first RSC blocks for this year:


We're stuck with indoor pictures for now, but this block is an old one called Cut Glass Dish, a Ladies' Art Company block from before 1895.  These will finish at 12 inches.  My plan is to make 30 blocks, 3 for every color, and then have a nice-sized quilt at the end.  I've done this with a few quilts and they turn out great.

If you count, each of these blocks has 24 half square triangles.  I used some of my massive stock of Triangle Paper to make 72 perfect triangles really fast:


I really do have a bunch of this paper in various sizes, enough to make literally thousands of triangles.  I'll definitely have enough to make this quilt!  I don't know why I have so much, except that I probably bought it on sale, and I did use it often before I discovered the Magic 8 method.  The hsts really did turn out just great, and quick.  No lines to draw and pulling off the paper is therapeutic.

These were the only red blocks I managed to make so far. I've had a rocky relationship with the color red. It was always going to be a difficult color for me because I don't use it very often at all, so I don't have very many scraps, and last year I gave away all of my old scraps.  (Thanks again to everyone who took them!) Over the break I sorted out the big basket where I throw scraps while I'm cutting things, so I do have a very few reds:


I thought that I could build up the red supply this year by the time that color rolled around, but it's first, so I ended up cutting up some fat quarters.  I'm pretty happy with that, and I've asked some friends for some of their red scraps, so I probably will be able to scrounge up enough to get the rest of my projects started.  And I do have lots of ideas!

Another weird indoor picture.  Sorry.

Hope you got a good start to your RSC projects and are enjoying the first weekend of 2019.  We're de-Christmassing the house, and I'll bet that means I can talk the hubs into some takeout.  Better than a conference for sure!

Sharing at soscrappy for RSC19!

17 comments:

Libby in TN said...

Well, you've done it again, Mari! Another block to add to my RSC projects. I love that it looks so complicated until it's broken down into a 9-patch construction.

scraphappy said...

What a pretty block! Your HST blocks do look perfect.

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

I really like the block you are using! Very pretty blocks!!

MissPat said...

Ha Ha! You gave away all your red scraps and now you have to ask your friends for some. I consider fat quarters as scraps in the making, so I think they are fair game.
Pat

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Red is my favorite color. I use Triangulations for my HST's (like your triangle paper). It's relaxing to stitch the HST's and I take the papers off while watching TV with the family. I've never participated in the RSC before, but, I can manage some HST's and will borrow your idea for this block. Thanks.

Quiltdivajulie said...

We finally have blue skies and sun today but after 5 days of rain, the ground is super soggy. I have quilts to take outdoors for photos -- fingers crossed things dry off enough as the day progresses. Love those cut glass blocks - so pretty! (I'll be sending some red strings your way, hopefully on Monday)

PaulaB quilts said...

Glad you are doing the 12–inch blocks again this year. The trouble with red is that it is just red, and maroon and rust are not at all attractive. I will survive this month somehow. Have a fun week!

Kate said...

Love your Cut Glass Dish blocks. It's such a pretty block and looks so nice in red. Good luck with your RSC project this year, it's going to be another beauty.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

That is a really pretty block, and that looks like the perfect way to make all the HSTs. Does the paper help eliminate the trimming? That is what I always dread when needing to make lots of them!

Deb A said...

Pretty block! I found orange was the color I had absolutely zero of when I first started. I usually need to supplement orange and red and brown every few years... just colors I don't gravitate to so they are usually pretty lacking.

Janice Holton said...

I really like this block! I don't think I've seen it before. What other block designs do you plan on using for the RSC? I like your plan to make three each month to have enough for a quilt at the end. Will you be doing that with several different blocks?

Unknown said...

Having used a dark background for my RSC quilts for the past two years, I can't decide whether to go light or dark. The dark looks so good!

Cathy said...

I love that block and considered making a six inch version! Considered and then thought better!

gayle said...

Oh, that's a glorious block! (/Adding it to the endless list of HST quilts I want to make...)

SandyPA said...

Mari, I had never seen that particular quilt block! It will be nice to use up some of your triangle papers. My own RSC block this year is rather simple, but at least it is using up some scraps. Good luck! Sandy at sewhigh.blogspot.com

Louise said...

Great block! I really like that each one takes 24 HSTs. You could make them with the 2- 4- or 8-at a time method and have no waste. Score!

Caro said...

Love your blocks! I have to say, other versions I’ve seen show the hst’s all facing the same direction, not opposing like your blocks. I’d be interested to learn your source if you’re willing to share it. Either way, its a wonderful block and your quilt will be wonderful.