Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Pot Luck Production

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who took the time to comment or e-mail me regarding yesterday’s post. I sometimes think I am the only one who lives in a rural area. Many of you lamented that you have no “local” quilt shop. I can easily forget how lucky I am that Cyndi is only 45 minutes from my house. Actually, if she were any closer I’d have to re-mortgage!

On to the “Pot Luck” saga… Many people have commented on the fact that the math for a layout like this would be overwhelming. So, here’s the skinny. I do like basic mathematics and geometry, but I am lazy and I’m always looking for the easy way out. So… when I did the figuring for the overall layout I used a ¼” graph paper and just used the factor of 2 ½” for each grid. Thus, every block is divisible by 2 ½”.

I mentioned previously that I had a lot of orphan blocks (or at least I thought I did), and I also wanted the quilt to be scrappy and interesting so I needed at least 40 blocks. Here is the final draft of 44 blocks. 


Along with the dozens of potholder quilts I have made utilizing square blocks (ranging from 3” to 16”), I have also learned to do scalloped shaped blocks and have even made one in the medallion style. So, I wanted to see if I could make a mish-mash of block sizes with some half square triangle blocks thrown in too. I'm also mixing hand and machine quilting which is another learning experience. 

I learned that the triangle blocks are fine as long as I am extremely accurate with my outside measurement. I was pleasantly amazed when the finished block measured exactly what I had intended. I rarely use solids, but I do think this red binding fabric really ties it all together. 


I have learned a lot about putting these potholder blocks together. One very important item is when stitching your blocks together, if one is slightly longer than the other, always have the longer one facing you.

It might be the way I stitch, but for some reason the block on the outer side shrinks as the one closest to me stretches. Therefore, if the longer one is in front, it will work its way even in the end. Have I confused you yet?

It is also important to have very "crisp" and pointed corners. If they are even slightly rounded, you will have a gap where your corners come together.


Some of you have asked what stitch I use to put them together. I call it a modified ladder stitch. I simply start at the corners by hiding my knot, then going straight across. I then turn my needle parallel with the binding and come straight back again. It is a combination of a ladder stitch and a regular whip stitch and it hides my stitches better and is quite sturdy. 


If I am going to use the quilt on a bed rather than just a display quilt, I will take a few extra overcast stitches every 1 ½” or so. This way if a seam ever starts to ravel, I only need to fix a small portion. I learned this the hard way when I gave one to my grandson!  

I am using cheater prints on the back of each block and they hide a multitude of quilting sins. In fact, except for the hand quilted blocks, you really want to admire this one from afar. It looks pretty good through the camera lens or from the house next door!


I am having loads of fun though and may even get it done before the daffodils arrive!

15 comments:

  1. I am fascinated by your potholder quilts and this was a great post to help me understand how you make it all come together. What really has me curious is whether, after quilting, a block size ever changes too much for it to fit where it was intended to go?
    I use my own variation of a ladder stitch to bind quilts and close openings on filled pillows and pincushions. Not the stitch I was taught to use by my mother, but a few years ago I switched and find it is faster and doesn't show.

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    1. Well, the real secret to potholder quilting is to make sure that the finished block is exactly the size it should be from edge to edge. Even with extremely accurate measurements I have a few that are off by 1/4" sometimes. If they are off by any more than that it is difficult to fit them together. This is why I cannot fathom that this was a popular method for "community" quilting during the Civil War. I can't imagine these being made by different quilters from afar and having them come out perfectly. But, I have seen it done so often. With your minis you could give this method a try quite easily!

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  2. I always like your pot holder posts. Full of information which I file away in my head or save your post. I like what I see in that pile of quilts in the one photo.

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    1. Hmm, let's hope you like them as well when they are all stitched together! It has been fun.

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  3. I echo Janet's comment above - a fascinating technique! Always great to read your tips on the process and the pictures are great.

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  4. I always enjoy hearing about your pot holder techniques and seeing all of your wonderful examples. I can see if it were a group project it could be super challenging getting everything to fit properly.

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  5. I always enjoy hearing about your pot holder techniques and seeing all of your wonderful examples. I can see if it were a group project it could be super challenging getting everything to fit properly.

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  6. Thanks for the wonderful photos of your potholder magic! I'm still fascinated by this technique and think you should offer an online class :)

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  7. Very educational! And great pictures. I particularly love looking at your graph paper plan for the blocks (not sure which blocks you're putting together...maybe I missed something) but it looks to me like you have some partial seams?? In any case, I do love looking at (=drooling over) your work!! Very impressive. I [very] briefly entertained the idea of doing that with my log cabin blocks for the French quilt along and q!uickly moved on to another mini block! These blocks are super fun

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  8. Thank you for sharing these interesting tips, definitely something I have to try !

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  9. What an exciting project Wendy. I don't have enough orphan blocks yet, but I am thinking to maybe just make some hee hee. I shall follow along with great interest. Thankyou for showing the stitch you use to join your sections.

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  10. This quilt is going to be amazing! Thank you for walking thru your process and sharing some great tips!

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  11. You are way more organized than I am when it comes to a pot luck quilt!

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  12. thanks for sharing your technique! It is such a neat quilt - love the layout and the color pallet. What a winner!

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  13. Thank you for the tips. I hope to put them to use one day soon.
    I made one of the blocks for Pam's study when she wrote her AQSG paper. She assembled her participant blocks into a quilt.
    Your project will be stunning!

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