Sometimes It Just Flows....

So who cares about square? I decided to sew the log cabin blocks together into rows, just centering the seams block to block as I went.

Sewing the log cabin blocks together

As I sewed each row of blocks, I would add an extra fabric strip either at the front or the back of the row to help match the rows up in length. Then when it was time to sew the rows together, I smoothed out the extra bits of fabric overlap {in areas where blocks were longer than others} by cutting a very slight curve in the row where the longer blocks nestled up to the shorter blocks. The important thing is just to make sure that everything lies completely flat before you start cutting. {Yes, it truly was flat when I started cutting....}

Cutting the rows so they nestle together well...

This resulted in the log cabin blocks having a more free appearance, especially as the vertical lines {that naturally appear as you set rows of blocks together} sort of disappear. Love that! At that point I just folded the quilt top in half and cut fairly straight sides. Then I did it again vertically. My quilt is not 100% square, but it's relatively square and I'm 100% good with that.*wink

I played with the idea of adding some applique. How could I not?

Thinking about some applique work...

Then I played with the idea of adding some borders. In my opinion, it needs both! But then, you probably know by now that I'm a die hard applique fan and also, that very few of my quilts have ever made it to the finished stage without a border. Or two?

Pondering a border...

Yeah, lets go with two this time. I made up my mind that the inner border needs to be scalloped. The whimsy of it really appeals to me, especially with these subdued colors. It's like the little brown hen who in a close up has the glossiest feathers in the flock!

I like to cut my scallop borders out of freezer paper, making them the exact length of the border. Then I figure out the width of each scallop, find a template or shape to use as a guide and get going. It really doesn't matter if the scallops on two borders are slighter wider than the scallops on the other two borders. Well, in my world it doesn't matter. Maybe in yours?  I think the eye is easily pleased with the symmetry after it's all appliqued together and doesn't even notice slight discrepancies. Anyway, using a pencil is very much preferred as I often have to erase and restart in an effort to get the scallops {relatively} evenly positioned.

Getting the scallops all figured out...

Before I actually cut the scallops, I sew the two borders together with a slightly less than 1/4" seam. If you notice, I draw a line at the bottom of the paper to indicate the lowest possible point of the deep curve. This is to ensure that there is plenty of room for seam allowance both for sewing the border on, and also for turning under the seam on the scallops. It's the line that saves my sanity!

Measure, measure, sew.

Having the scallops cut out of freezer paper also means that when I'm ready, the pre-marked scallops can be ironed right onto the proper border. I haven't done that yet  here {just checking to make sure the length was correct}, but after it's ironed on, I either mark the scallops or just start cutting with the paper still on. Whichever, both--it all works! The important thing is to remember to only cut through the top border fabric and not both. lol

Check, check, checking....

And before I forget, look what came in the mail for me! A lovely package from Rachael at Blue Mountain Daisy. Towards the end of December I won her giveaway of a copy of Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine!

Very sweet package!!

Looky, looky what I get to see in wonderful pictures! Rachael's beautiful 'Happy As A Clam' quilt. Such a happy quilt. I love all the little details. Thank you Rachael for a very interesting read this week!

Very fun read!

And now it's time to get back to the bookwork that I'm drowning in these days. I really, really dread the end of January for exactly this reason....