On the design wall today is Scrap Dance Tango blocks. This was a mystery from Carole at From My Carolina Home, which started in January and the reveal was in June. My blocks haven't made an appearance on the blog since June. At that time they were my leader-ender project, but since then that role has been totally taken over by the Clarissa hourglass blocks, and the tango blocks were just sitting quietly in their tin waiting for some attention. In June I was ready to start joining the blocks but was stuck at a decision point. I liked all the layout options that I played with on the design wall and really couldn't settle on which one to sew.
Finally I convinced myself that they were all great and I couldn't go wrong with any of the choices, so I went with the layout that was easiest to piece. These are complex blocks and it would be easy to get them turned around and mixed up, so why give myself an extra headache? I decided to start by sewing 4 blocks together at a time. Seeing these 9 larger blocks on the design wall makes me wonder about adding some sashing and maybe cornerstones? Now there are two things that are bugging me: 1) that blue square that calls attention to itself for some unknown reason, and 2) that scrap of fabric in the top row middle block that looks like creepy eye balls. I might have to do a scrapectomy and remove them! To see more design wall postings, hop over to Patchwork Times.
We all love the old scrappy antique quilts. Very often they used an random piece of fabric because it was available. I'd leave it like it is, it makes your quilt unique! Blessings, Gretchen
Sashing would give it a different look, but you will lose the tessalation between the blocks. The alternate block only appears between the blocks as you have them now. Either way, your scrappy looks great. I see your point on the eyeballs, LOL!! Since it is close to the edge, I might change it too.
Your blocks are beautiful. I do sashing on most of my quilts but the quilts I like best have those secondary patterns created without sashing. Most of those I have hanging on the wall. I could look at them for hours.
Love it. But I'd do the scrapectomy too. Once something jumps out at you, you can't "unsee" it and it will always bug you. And I'd suggest a pieced sashing to create a partial secondary effect without having to match every single seam.
The 'eye-ball' is the only thing that jumps at me - the rest is lovely. I would do a sashing (to hold all those seams and not have to matchy all those points) and cornerstone, but your quilt.
I see what you are talking about. Hmm...maybe some colouring in on the eyeball would work as for the blue...I didn't notice it till you pointed it our...maybe some colouring on it would work as well. I do agree too sashing and or cornerstones would set the blocks off nicely! Can't wait to see the finished product....soon?!?!
I love this layout - it is very visual :*). Sashing and cornerstones will set them off nicely! As for the eyeball and rogue blue scrap - I think you are right, they need to go!
Eyeball? My first impression was a pig snout, but what do I know--I live on a farm and it skews my perspective. *LOL* So yes, I would remove that one if it was my quilt. As for the little pop of blue--that to me is what makes scrap quilts interesting--those little splashes of unexpected color (but NOT pig snouts). Now for the sashing, you would lose the secondary pattern, but the blocks have enough visual interest on their own that you don't NEED the secondary pattern. It would make assembly SO much easier, not having to match all of those seams and points, and I am all for easy. I will be interested to see what you end up choosing to do. : )
If it's any comfort, I didn't notice either of those things until you pointed them out. I'd leave it as is, myself. And the sashing and cornerstones would really make it easier to assemble those blocks (fewer matchy bits! yay!) and would look wonderful, too. But, like Sharon says, your quilt. 8)
My Scrap Dance Tango is about half sewn together. I also sewed blocks together in bigger squares rather than rows (or columns). I didn't use sashing and found that pinning the seams worked well. I did have to snip and flip a bunch of seams to get them to nest. Other deadlines got in the way, but I hope to finish this by the end of the year.
These blocks look great in four's, and I love the idea of a sashing and cornerstone. I did not notice the "eyeballs" until you pointed them out, LOL! I love the term "scrapectomy" - AWESOME!
Instead of using 'Jack the ripper' aka, the seam ripper, why not use a micron pen in whatever colour you want to cover over the offending parts? Easier and quicker.
To tame that blue block, just add a few more! It won't jump out any more. Then add a few bright orange while you are at it. Eyeballs, I think will have to be your judgement call.
We all love the old scrappy antique quilts. Very often they used an random piece of fabric because it was available. I'd leave it like it is, it makes your quilt unique! Blessings, Gretchen
ReplyDeleteWhat blue square and eyeballs, lol ....it looks great!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the cornerstones and sashing...looking good, Kathy! We need another sewing day!
ReplyDeleteI love it! No need for surgery. It looks great! But some sashing and cornerstones would add even more pizazz.
ReplyDeleteSashing will make it easier for you,i think. No having to sew bulky bits together!
ReplyDeleteSashing would give it a different look, but you will lose the tessalation between the blocks. The alternate block only appears between the blocks as you have them now. Either way, your scrappy looks great. I see your point on the eyeballs, LOL!! Since it is close to the edge, I might change it too.
ReplyDeleteYour blocks are beautiful. I do sashing on most of my quilts but the quilts I like best have those secondary patterns created without sashing. Most of those I have hanging on the wall. I could look at them for hours.
ReplyDeleteLove it. But I'd do the scrapectomy too. Once something jumps out at you, you can't "unsee" it and it will always bug you. And I'd suggest a pieced sashing to create a partial secondary effect without having to match every single seam.
ReplyDeletenow those blocks sure have a heck of a lot of pieces in them! neat
ReplyDeleteThe 'eye-ball' is the only thing that jumps at me - the rest is lovely. I would do a sashing (to hold all those seams and not have to matchy all those points) and cornerstone, but your quilt.
ReplyDeleteI see what you are talking about. Hmm...maybe some colouring in on the eyeball would work as for the blue...I didn't notice it till you pointed it our...maybe some colouring on it would work as well. I do agree too sashing and or cornerstones would set the blocks off nicely! Can't wait to see the finished product....soon?!?!
ReplyDeleteI love this layout - it is very visual :*). Sashing and cornerstones will set them off nicely! As for the eyeball and rogue blue scrap - I think you are right, they need to go!
ReplyDeleteEyeball? My first impression was a pig snout, but what do I know--I live on a farm and it skews my perspective. *LOL* So yes, I would remove that one if it was my quilt.
ReplyDeleteAs for the little pop of blue--that to me is what makes scrap quilts interesting--those little splashes of unexpected color (but NOT pig snouts).
Now for the sashing, you would lose the secondary pattern, but the blocks have enough visual interest on their own that you don't NEED the secondary pattern. It would make assembly SO much easier, not having to match all of those seams and points, and I am all for easy. I will be interested to see what you end up choosing to do. : )
If it's any comfort, I didn't notice either of those things until you pointed them out. I'd leave it as is, myself.
ReplyDeleteAnd the sashing and cornerstones would really make it easier to assemble those blocks (fewer matchy bits! yay!) and would look wonderful, too. But, like Sharon says, your quilt. 8)
My Scrap Dance Tango is about half sewn together. I also sewed blocks together in bigger squares rather than rows (or columns). I didn't use sashing and found that pinning the seams worked well. I did have to snip and flip a bunch of seams to get them to nest. Other deadlines got in the way, but I hope to finish this by the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteThese blocks look great in four's, and I love the idea of a sashing and cornerstone. I did not notice the "eyeballs" until you pointed them out, LOL! I love the term "scrapectomy" - AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteYour blocks and layout look great, yes to the scrapectomy better now than later, also the cornerstones and sashing :)
ReplyDeleteSashing and cornerst0ones would look lovely. Thanks for the scrappy inspiration and the link to the pattern.
ReplyDeleteScrapectomy, huh? LOL!! Adding sashings will help alot.
ReplyDeleteScrapectomy ha ha I like it!
ReplyDeleteInstead of using 'Jack the ripper' aka, the seam ripper, why not use a micron pen in whatever colour you want to cover over the offending parts? Easier and quicker.
ReplyDeleteNice blocks.
ReplyDeleteThese blocks look great!
ReplyDeleteTo tame that blue block, just add a few more! It won't jump out any more. Then add a few bright orange while you are at it. Eyeballs, I think will have to be your judgement call.
ReplyDeleteAnd I vote Team NO SASHING (use pins).
It's funny how some fabrics just stand out. If they bother you, fix them. But in the long term they won't be that noticeable.
ReplyDelete