SAHRR Border 2
Happy Monday, all! Are you ready to see the SAHRR Border 2 today? Our guest host for today’s border is Emily, and you can see her post over at The Darling Dogwood. The linky party is there too, so make sure you keep her post handy so you can link up when you have your border done. I hope you are finding inspiration from all the creative versions of this sew along. I’m sure enjoying seeing all the different quilts!
This week’s border is plus blocks. I have to admit, this was pretty easy for me as far as construction of the blocks. If you’ve followed me for the past year or longer, you know that last year I participated in the 100 Day Challenge and made this little mini. Since I made my blocks the same size as I made the 100 Day blocks (3.5″ unfinished), I could practically make them in my sleep.
You can see in the photo that I needed to add some borders to the sides of my piano keys. My center block is not square, but it’s not a full rectangle either (if that makes sense), so sometimes the figuring gives me a bit of a challenge. Anyway, I started by adding plus blocks to the top and bottom.
At this point, I decided I didn’t want the plus blocks all the way around, because I thought it might look too busy. So I added four more plus blocks at the corners with a neutral strip between to give my eye a resting place.
Here’s my little tip for today – I use my phone camera as I audition border ideas. It has been very helpful when I need to decide if something looks right, like adding those neutral side borders. I’ll show a bit more about this in next week’s post when it came in very handy for me.
Also, at this point, I wasn’t quite sure I really liked my quilt very much. Maybe you feel the same about yours. Hang in there, it will get better – promise!
Before You Go . . .
Technology is a helpful tool, but sometimes it needs an upgrade or a little fixin’. Many of you know Roseanne and Sue over at Home Sewn By Us, and this week their blog is getting a little work done and there are still a few wrinkles to get ironed out. So I offered to show you their Round Robin quilt with their plus block border.
Isn’t that lively burst of color fun? All those little plus blocks look so nice with the piano keys, and that little narrow border is just right! I’m sure Roseanne will post more details about their quilt soon, but for now, they just wanted to share it with you.
Also, don’t forget to check out the rest of the SAHRR host blogs to see their plus block borders. Here they are:
- Gail @ Quilting Gail
- Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
- Anja @ Anja Quilts
- Roseanne & Sue @ Home Sewn by Us
- Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life – you are here
- Susan @ Quilt Fabrication
I hope we’ve provided you with some inspiration for your plus block borders. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do for your SAHRR Border 2.
Wendy
Fussy Cut Cats
28 Comments
Stitchin at Home
I like your plus blocks and how you gave a place to rest your eyes.
Julie Holleran
Love your latest borders…good idea for the eye rest spot too…this is coming along so well hugs, Julierose
rl2b2017
Good morning, Wendy! Thank you so much for sharing our quilt top with Round 2 added. It was fun making the Plus Sign blocks, wasn’t it?! I love how your piece is coming together, especially with all those low-volume background. Now that the Plus Sign borders are on the Piano Keys really highlight the center medallion. It’s like they are just pointing to it – making out eyes follow the keys. It’s really a lovely start on the fabulous quilt I know it’s going to be. Thanks again! ~smile~ Roseanne
Linda
Thanks for the tips, as well as the reminder about where to find the linky party – that helps me – lol! I do like your block, especially the flag with the crosses (what I call them) together with that rust strip. I was wondering yesterday if I could figure out a way to make my quilt start growing more vertically but not so much wider, since it is a large square to begin with, so this give me a good idea. Love Roseanne and Sue’s colorful additions!
karenfae
nice to see your top as well as Rosanne & Sue’s they are both nice and such different colors!
Vicki in MN
It’s been fun seeing everyone’s quilt grow up!
Quilting is in my Blood
I am liking how both your and Roseanne’s round robin projects are coming together. I think you made a good decision to not put the plus sign blocks on all four sides. Roseanne’s looks vibrant and quite eye-catching. I may have to participate in one of these round robins down the road. Take care, Mary.
laura bruno lilly
Quilters are such buddies! I enjoyed seeing both yours and R&S’s SAHRR progress today.
Nancy Bekedam
Fun watching everyone’s RR evolve!!!
Brenda @ Songbird Designs
Your plus blocks and neutral side borders really give a nice place to rest your eyes! Looking good!
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
I like what you’re doing with yours, Wendy! Fun to see the next round – it starts me thinking! I was wondering about mine getting too busy as well. So adding some plus blocks and some plain strips seems like a good idea. Roseanne and Sue’s is full of pretty color – glad you could help them out! Since you are an expert at plus blocks 😊 can you give me a quick tutorial?
Barbara
Your quilt is turning out so cute. I like the idea of the flag center. It’ll be a memory quilt of a very weird year politically.
Chrisknits
Both projects are looking great! I love how none of us have really duplicated our approach this week.
StoriedQuilts
Both yours and Roseanne’s looking great. I love the brighter yellow and red this round in yours. They perk up the whole quilt. Believe it or not, I starter my project last weekend and I already have round one done. I need to take a good picture and share it sometime today.
ROCHELLE SUMMERS
I like where this is going. Those plus blocks on the top and bottom are just the right touch for this little quilt. And I enjoyed seeing Roseann and Sue’s bright and cheerful quilt. Such a wonderful show for all of us.
Susan
Love how both yours and Roseanne’s are coming along. Nice to see we are all different.
thedarlingdogwood
Love your plus signs! Great that you made them the same size as your 100 day project so you can make them in your sleep 🙂 I really like that you used them on two sides and then left the others with plain borders. I also didn’t like mine at this stage…and like it much more where I am now!
The Joyful Quilter
Plus Signs galore, Wendy!! Yours and Roseanne’s BOTH look great. I’m glad that everyone seems to being doing things a little differently. Whatever your project wants, right? :o))
quiltinggail
Love your plus signs just on the top & bottom! And the neutral sides- perfect play to rest the eyes!
Thanks for sharing Roseanne’s as well!
I LOVE how they are so different, yet, they’re following the same plan!
Happy Quilting! 🙂
Cheree Hull
I love the little plus blocks! Didn’t you do them also for a block a day thing? They just look like a lot of scrappy fun. And yes! I use my phone camera to audition all. the. time! I joke that it’s one of the most helpful tools in my sewing room! Been thinking of you–how was your weekend?
Anja @ An
I like that you only did plus signs in the top and bottom borders. It’s awesome that we’ve all done something totally different.
Sandra Walker
WOW R&S’s quilt is beautiful, so vibrant! I like yours; in fact I liked it fine when you just had the plus blocks at the top and bottom, though would that be allowed?! It wound’t have gone all the way round…
Pat @ Life in the Scrapatch
Your RR is looking good! I like the way you added the plus signs only to the top and bottom. I am seeing a court house step effect. Thank you for also hosting Roseanne’s bright and happy RR. It is interesting to see these borders together. It shows how different fabric and border choice can make in a quilt. Looking forward to next week … 🙂 Pat
Juliann
I like the way your added this round. And thanks for posting Roseanne and Sue’s quilt – such fun colors! I am enjoying all the variety in these quilts
marissthequilter
That was lucky (I assume you did not know that the next border would be plus blocks). I like the way you have incorporated them into your quilt. It is always fascinating to see how differently people approach the same design. Roseanne and Sue’s quilt is lovely too.
Kathy Swallows
It’s been fun to all the SAHRR quilts come together. It’s a balancing act isn’t it to know how much to add or not add when you don’t know what the next step is going to look like? Looking good!
anudge
I’m all admiration for the participants’ RRs. They sure come up with some wonderful ideas for adding a border that meets the suggested block to use.
piecefulwendy
Isn’t it fun to see all the different quilts? Glad you are enjoying it.