Block 25 from the Nearly Insane book (mentioned in last week's message) is all done.
I can't say that it's my favorite block from the 25 that I've made so far, but I'm good with it.
However, the 'split' flying geese unit in the center of each side (squiggly red outline toward the top of the block).
I got a tiny bit obsessed and had to explore it more.
Fortunately, I have a healthy collection of scraps cut into ScrapTherapy® sizes at hand to experiment.
I selected some 3-1/2" squares and some contrasting 2" squares and trimmed a the 3-1/2" square to 2x3-1/2" . . .
. . . Then started sewing the scraps into flying geese units using the stitch-and-flip method. (Draw a corner to corner diagonal on the back of each square, align the square on one side of the rectangle right sides together. Sew on the line. Trim, and press. Repeat with a second square on the other side of the rectangle)
Then I split the geese unit in half and sewed a 1x2" rectangle between the two parts. The same process I used to make the Insane block element last week.
I made a bunch of them, then started playing.
This is a spin on a traditional block normally made with 8 regular flying geese units.
Interesting experiment, but I'm not crazy about the result. I don't like the way the pointy geese meet with the center bar (circled in red).
Continuing on, I kept playing with more scrappy split geese. For this three-some, I pressed the center bar seams alternately, so they would nest and oppose as the split geese were sewn together.
Here is a look at the seams on the back, so you can see what I mean.
Interesting effect, but not crazy about the fussy-ness of all the short pieces, pressing, and aligning.
Keep exploring. . .
Next I made some more geese, lined 'em up, and sewed them in a stacked row. . .
Then, I split the whole row down the middle. . .
. . . And added a long one-inch strip down the middle, without lots of short seams and pressing mumbo-jumbo.
Interesting!
Now, I'm thinking a bunch of these rows, side by side, separated by sashing would make an interesting place mat.
There's border potential here, too.
Next, I'm tempted to try inserting fabrics from yardage to create a split chevron effect for a quilt or block border. To create the chevron, I would match the large triangle (the piece that starts as a rectangle) with the small triangles in the unit below it (the piece that starts out as a square).
I think I might need to explore a bit more! Or not, we'll see.
Happy Stitching!
Head Hummingbird
Hummingbird-Highway.com
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