Sunday, March 2, 2008

A Cure for Quilter's Block

I belong to a small group of on-line friends that have been discussing our next quilting project. We are all planning to make Ricky Tims' Convergence quilt.


I had been to a quilt show once where someone made a Convergence quilt using a Michael Miller chicken/rooster print. I thought this would be the opportunity to make that quilt myself, after all, I do own a meter of that wonderful print!

While I was at the quilt shop yesterday looking for coordinate prints, another quilter asked me what I had planned for the gorgeous chicken fabric. I told her I was making a Convergence quilt. She had never heard of the pattern so I explained how you use four prints and cut them into strips and sew them back together. (Obviously simplified instructions.) She was horrified and couldn't believe that I would consider cutting up these beautiful chickens. At that moment, I realized that I couldn't go through with cutting this gorgeous fabric up--I couldn't see these chickens "in jail" behind bars of contrasting fabric!

I went ahead and purchased two coordinates but I vowed to find a different way to display my beloved chickens. (The red fabric was already in my stash.)

When I got home, I remembered that I had previously purchased a copy of Judy Sisneros' book, 9-Patch Pizzazz. This is a more appropriate use of my chicken fabric as this book makes excellent use of large scale prints by leaving them intact, in large chunks--6 1/2", 12 1/2", 18 1/2", etc. As long as each side is divisible by 6 and add 1/2" you can make use of the square or rectangle in this pattern.
Now that I have a pattern to use the chickens appropriately, I turned my attention back to selecting fabrics from my stash for my Convergence quilt. This is the first combination I put together. I have decided that the fabrics may be too "matchy" and there isn't enough contrast between all pieces so I discarded this selection and went back to searching.


Then I came across a bright floral FQ in my stash. I started to pull fabrics from the floral and came up with this combination. Unless I come up with another combination before we start cutting into our fabrics, this is what I am going with for my Convergence quilt!


Thanks to the FABs and on-line discussions about this new project, I am officially curred of Quilter's Block.......at least for now!

7 comments:

  1. Good for decisions made in both regards! Can't wait to get started since I bought my stuff at the shop hop. Think it will work for this anyway.

    Chickens in Jail will not work, LOL.

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  2. Those chicks will look great in the new design. Chickens in jail - no free-range here *s*

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  3. I've made a Convergence wall hanging. It was a lot of fun. I can't wait to see yours.

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  4. You know, when I saw that fabric the first thing I said is, "There is NO way that Norma will use that in a convergence quilt!"

    But if you use those complimentary fabrics, you can applique a rooster onto a corner of the convergence quilt - give meaning to you fabric choices.

    Oh & by the way if you had used that in a convergence - chicken pieces would be next! Or at least a chicken charm quilt!

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  5. Hi Norma,
    I really like the convergence pattern and I have made 1/2 dozen large lap size quilts using this pattern- some times I have used the four fabrics in the body and extended them out to form the outer border after placing a small stop border. It is sometimes tricky to get it straight when you cut it again when you make the larger size.
    I usually start with a 36 -40 inch square of each of the four fabrics.
    The only one that I haven't finished is the one that the fabrics were too close to the same. It turned out too mushy. I found it worked best when I used two light ones and two dark ones that are set opposite to one another- it provided the best contrast. It is a fun project and sews up remarkably fast.
    Enjoy...
    Anna

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  6. I've seen a version of one of those 9 patch quilts and it was stunning. You are so right to save that fabric for a pattern that really showcases a big print!
    Cheers!
    Evelyn

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