Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Project Ostrich

This is the UFO I've chosen to use for my Project Ostrich center. It's from around 2000 MAYBE 2001 but no later than that. My original plan was a bed quilt of the butterflies floating in that background fabric. But since these are template pieced butterflies after doing three of them that was enough for me! But I think it will make a lovely round robin center. I have about 2-1/2 yds of that background fabric so if I'm stingy with it and only use it in every other border to tie things together I should have enough. This quilt will probably turn out fairly large since the center measures 21" across and there will be 6 rounds to add borders. But I have a king bed so if it gets really big I'll just send it out to be quilted and use it on my bed.

I'm not sure whether I'll leave the hexagon shape of if I'll square it up with the background fabric before I start adding borders. I'm leaning towards adding enough background to float the butterflies. Then maybe toward the end of the project if it calls for it I could applique a few assorted sized butterflies in those spaces or save them for some fancy quilting. It would be pretty cool to hand quilt butterflies in the big spots but since all the rest of the fabrics are batiks and that's what I'll be using for the rest of the quilt except for that background fabric I don't think I'm going to be attempting to handquilt this. Just too hard to get the needle thru the batiks.

12 comments:

The Calico Cat said...

OOOH I like it, but I too would have tired of the templates... I can see your RR add in more butterflies of different construction methods...

I am gonna join that one too - I have an appliqued cat that needs some direction in order for me to finish it up.... (I also still need to post a photo of the starting block.)

Linda C said...

The butterflies are gorgeous but look really labor intensive so I can see how you might not want to proceed with a larger quilt of the same variety. Robin center is another story.

I am going to have to look a little closer to see just exactly what Kim is setting up with Project Ostrich. Anne B is where I heard the term first. I might consider it if not for this thing I am involved with till December.

Nancy, you send whatever you no longer love when YOU are ready. Pictures for your files, most definitely and I will send pics when the project is completed. My blog might just get the ones that need the binding done, LOL since that is part of my journaling. I will thank you on behalf of the group in advance. It is sweet of you to want to help out.

Silverthimble said...

I love your butterflies! I have never seen a pattern like this before. Is this original?

quiltpixie said...

what a wonderful centre. The batiks will be beautiful carried thorughout the RR. I thought I had a centre done for the RR, but its been "confiscated" by a cat as a toy (and took a lot of abuse before I found it) so back to the drawing board..

Unknown said...

What a unique pattern. Glad you found a use for the ones you did get done. They do look like they have lots of pieces.

Shelina said...

The butterflies are pretty. And you are so smart to use up those loose blocks so you can finish off your UFOs. It will look lovely as a round robin.

Saska said...

What beautiful butterflies! This is going to be spectacular no matter what you do with it.

Laurie Ann said...

Those butterflies are lovely and they will be great for the center of your round robin. Good job sticking with your sewing every day goal!

Finn said...

Wow..that is going to be one awesome quilt Nancy!!
I can't imagine holding it all in my lap while hand quilt it tho. I love the design. And don't ya just hate it when you start something with what you thought was enough background.
That's happening to me on this darn log cabin wedding quilt, and I bought 4(yes..FOUR) yards thinking that would be plenty for a queen size quilt. Nope.

Hanne said...

What lovely butterflies :-)

Kim West said...

beautiful blocks! wow... those are very pretty.

kcdi said...

Those butterflies are wonderful! You do such great work!