Number thirty-five! Can you believe it? That means only fifteen more blocks to go. I'm seeing light at the end of tunnel. Oh yes I am. This has been a long project, I know--in more ways than one--and it's not over yet. Nope. I haven't even begun to sew the blocks together which are trimmed and at the ready. Actually, I'm still trying to decide which layout I like best. Fifty is an odd number of blocks for a traditional square or rectanglular quilt. No matter how you stack 'em up, there's always odd numbers that don't fit, or one left over! And you can't just add one without adding an entire row. And then it gets too long, or too wide. So it gets tricky if you are concerned at all about proportion. Which I am. Next week, I'll present the options I've come up with and you can weigh in on your favorite or throw out some ideas. And then I'll get rolling....
This block was fun for me because I like making French Knots. I know. Crazy. Not everyone's favorite stitch. It's fiddly. It takes time and patience to learn how this mysterious stitch is done. There are quite a few good tutorials on YT--I found this one to be clear and concise. If you absolutely cannot make a knot, then tiny satin-stitching will do fine. Try taking a stitch in one direction then stitching over it in the opposite direction for a padded effect. For the knots, I used three strands of floss, with two twists on the needle. It matters not whether you insert the needle back in, from above or below the thread. Sometimes, the angle in which you are holding your piece will determine which is easier. If you want perfectly uniform knots, always "wrap and dive" in the same direction. I staggered mine, for a more natural look. And just a little heads-up: there will be another block exactly like this one down the road. (Was that a loud groan heard coming from the peanut gallery?)
This little flower--it gets a bad rap. But Goldenrod (solidago altissma) has been a favorite among the state flower contenders from the start. It was selected many times by many states--only to be replaced and/or out-voted for others in the field. And this was even true for the state of Kentucky. However, it remained the flower of choice as a "native" plant despite it's wild flower reputation and was made official March 16, 1926. The bright yellow flowers dubbed, 'precaution' and 'encouragement' by LOTF prevail! They continue to grace roadsides in the fall, adding glorious spots of color to the landscape. Be they ever so humble.
COLORS:buds--bright yellow #307; stems & leaves--dk green #3346; letters--smoke gray #645.
