Size Matters?

Once the corners and boarders were applied to the half square medallion quilt top the next issue was what to put on the back!

At 92 inches square I had not many options. I don't have many wide fabrics and those I have are not right for this piece. I don't love piecing a back as a vertical seam builds up on the take up bars of the long arm.

What to do?

Another option for piecing occurred to me. What about taking a foundation piecing approach to the back and follow the edges of the center? This is what I did.

I began by putting the top backwards on the design wall (seams facing out). I did this almost as if I were blocking to make sure it was square.

Next I sprayed adhesive (505 by ODIF) on the top and applied a layer of batting.

Then the center got sprayed down. The first corner was pinned to the sandwich and flipped, stitching in the ditch to secure. I pressed it open and basted the edges. On to another corner.
Like an over scale square in a square - only on the back!

Now on to quilting... do I hear some bobbin work calling to add to the interest of the back? Perhaps...

Half Square Medallion

Yesterday's work began with only a dozen seams to sew to complete a project. Then I noticed an area where two little blocks were oriented incorrectly. fixing that required ripping open five seams and restitching them all with the blocks oriented properly.

At the end of the day there were still four seams to complete - each at this point being eighty plus inches long, so no small task. I did think ahead to block the top (make sure it was square) while it still fits on the design wall...

Today I look and there is an area that is rippled and needs attention. It is not horrid, but if I ignore it and put the final borders on it will not be better. Perhaps it can be quilted out, but why go through that when I can spend another day ripping things out and fiddling? YEAH!

So begins the task for today... fixing one tiny area in hopes it is all worth it in the end.

Just some background. This piece was started at UnCommon Threads Quilt Guild retreat in November on 2009. I wanted to add borders, but kept trying things -- nothing seemed to suit. Until recently I turned the whole thing on an angle (making the center diamond) and it works! I thought sewing the corners and subsequent borders would take a day. Three later I hope to finish today.

Then on to the task of quilting...