When we went to NC for apples and upholstery fabric for the window bench for Sir Old man, I saw so many beautiful panels there. I will admit to being a panel or pre-printed snob over the years. LOL.....it came back to bite me as I came home with several different panels.
These pre-printed place mats were just waiting for me. And they were on the clearance discount table. As far as I am concerned you can't beat blue and yellow, and the design is done. I just have to finish and quilt. There is a strip of smaller designs too that could be turned into mug rugs to match.
Then I saw a small section of six of these panes.....also on the clearance table. I thought they would be good for a table runner maybe. Or just maybe a small throw. I have been looking for inspiration on Pinterest as to how to set the blocks together. A plan is a good thing to have in advance. Read on and you will understand.
This is the seasonal project I have been working on. The center print is a winter scene that is very retro in design, almost a 1950s style print.
First thought.... I could surround it with log cabin blocks. I won't even show you how bad an idea that was.
Second thought.....border it with a braid strips of mixed blues, grays, gold, and red. I even got so far as to sew two sides on when I realized I was hating it!
So after unsewing and sweating it out a bit, I decided that simple is best. I went with the stained glass look. Or I should say the random stained glass look. The inner border is mixed colors and sizes, and the outer is all in grays with a stray smaller block mixed in to make things fit.
I learned that my math skills are very rusty. Every time I tried to figure out the sizes for the sections, I came up with something different. So I just cut, and fitted and fudged where needed. A whole lot less stress that way. If you are looking for perfection, it left for better places. :) I have 2 last sides to add and then I can look for a backing. I might just manage to get this done before the cold settles in here.
Happy stitching.
13 comments:
Your panels were a good buy, all so pretty and will be useful. My hubby wouldn't mind a placemat of that pickup truck, I may have to hunt for that panel. I think your stained glass look for the vintage winter scene will be just perfect, like looking through an old Victorian era window with stained glass borders. Perfection is highly over-rated in my book. Where do our math skills go anyway? I used to be able to figure out sizes in my head (and remember them til I got to the cutting table) but no more.
The random stained glass window borders are a good choice for this piece. Looking forward to seeing the finished flimsy.
I used to avoid panels but now the ones I often see are really pretty and I've bought several. I love the red truck in yours. The stained glass look around your winter scene is perfect. That will be a neat quilt. I'd hate to count the number of times my plan didn't work out (that might be the reason I have so many scraps!). It's hard to believe it's November already. We are getting very early snows. About 8" so far from 2 storms and more is coming. Maybe I'll really get some quilting done. ~Jeanne
Maybe I don't know where to look, but I don't see nice panels like you found in shops around here. The little birds by the spice jars look so sweet.
I do like your stained glass look for the border on that last one.
On my Cats lattice quilt, I used a panel on the back. I cut out the cats and framed them with a dark gray. The one problem I have with panels is that they are printed crooked. I had to juggle my side strips and trim to get them all even. I think there is a place for panels, just hard to be precise with them. Hey, they got you going, so that is a win.
Panels can be a challenge because they are not always 'evenly' printed. Best to keep it simple and I do love the stain glass look.
I have never bought or used a panel. It isn't that I am a snob about it, I just never see them in the stores where I shop.
I should find one and challenge myself to use it.
I love that blue and yellow with the birds! So pretty, will be wonderful for spring. Those little bitty panels might make good hot pads.
I'm not a panel person either but I do like those wintry ones. The border looks great--math, schmath!
We had our dusting of snow but it's warming back up some, tho nights are freezing. I want fall to last but I'm also getting excited for the winter and Christmas.
Finished is better than perfect, I've heard. I agree with Linda and Sharon, that panels are often not straight, but then I don't like precuts either, so I guess I could be called a fabric snob. We had a wind event on Thursday night into Friday that brought down most of the leaves, but no snow here yet
Pat
I'm so glad you gave up your panel snob ways! There are so many lovely designs out there, but they can be a challenge to work with. Nothing is square, even designs that look like squares are 7 3/4 x 7 7/8, etc! The stained glass idea looks really great, and I love the birdie placemat panels :)
I like your winter panel and what you did with it. I am hoping to one day make an attic window with a panel. Wish there were more hours in a day!
Sometimes the brain just doesn't do the math. I like the brick border. Looking forward to seeing the finished placemats.
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