Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Wonky Triangles

Today I would like to show you one of the things I've been working on (while awaiting my turn at backgammon), from the Orphan Blocks from Kidron.
In the "mystery" bag marked $1, there was a whole stack of what were supposed to be 6" square blocks made up of equally sized triangles, but as I go along here with the story, you can easily see where some of them are not. Most of these were sewn together with a machine. None by hand. But there were quite a few blocks that somebody had started ripping apart with a seam ripper. I forgot to count how many there were to start with.. probably around 50.

You might think these are very cute. All the fabric is what I know a lot of folks would call "vintage". Nothing is beyond the early 1970's. And when they are layed out like this.. I am sure they look adorable.. and they do..

But their wonkiness was just a little bit more than I could work with. There is not one block that matches up with another one in size. And most of the the points in the centers don't meet.

I can't figure out any sort of color pattern, except that they did alternate a solid with a print. But was a solid block supposed to go between them? or sashing? I don't know. And when they are all touching each other.. it kind of gives me a headache looking at them. So I continued with what someone else started using a seam ripper....

..they are now forming little stacks of Isosceles triangles.. prints..

and solids.

Now "Isoseles" means two sides are equal and two angles are equal. Which these dear little triangles almost meet the standards of. However. One triangle is not equal to another. Some are an eighth of an inch smaller all the way around... or an eighth of an inch bigger however you want to look at it.. which definitely adds to their wonkiness.
Do I take out and abandon the smaller ones? And replace them with equal sized bigger triangles? I have plenty of vintage fabric that would match in here perfectly. Or do I trim down all the big ones which would end up making all the triangles smaller? What would you do??

I'm coming across several of the same print.. which is good! So now I am trying to decide what I am going to do with them. One way I thought of rearranging things was by matching up the colors and making strips of triangles like this.. then sewing white sashing in between the rows. ..or I could do some flying geese...

OR just some regular old pinwheels using white as the alternate triangles.

There really are some delightful prints. some feedsacks even, and quite a few from the 1930's and 40's...

look at this sweet green...


this bubblegum pink and buttercup yellow..
this pink and peach..
and that robin's egg blue..
I am having so much fun discovering each print as I carefully take it apart from the block. So I'd love to hear anyone's idea of what to do with all these little triangles when I get them taken apart. There are enough here to make a small quilt if sashing is added, and a border. I really don't want to leave them set in a box.. they are going to be SOMEthing.
Hope you are all having a great week. It is unseasonable wonderful for August here in Ohio.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

These wonky triangles are so great! At first I was thinking you could just sew them into pinwheels and then square them up and add muslin sashing around each one. But then I saw your idea of doing them in long rows, that would be gorgeous too! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Nanette Merrill said...

Now what I might do with them you might not so this is just an opinion. First of all you are so patient to unpick them. What a job. I'm impressed! The plain fabric - you could replace easily. The prints - not. So I'd save the prints and cut maching plain or neutral vintage fabric to go with them. But thats just me. I wouldn't cut down the larger triangles. The fabric is too cute. Sashing will set the fabrics off and make it easier to see each print. What a project! I will really like whatever you come up with I'm sure.

Messy Karen said...

did you really take out all the stitches. oh my. if you hadn't i would have recommended that you just add borders of different widths so that all wonkiness was the same size. but since they are free i was thinking that in QT's post today the featured mag had a triangle quilt like your long pic in which you could put all solids (new or old) on top & all prints (old) on bottom & just sew together in strips. that's what i would do. it would best show off the vintage-y-ness of what you have.

Purple and Paisley said...

wow...i second the thoughts on your patience! i love either the pinwheels or the rows of triangles...whatever you come up with will be wonderful in its vintageness! =)

Needle, Thimble and Thread said...

The weather here in Ohio toady is FANTASTIC. I'm done in central Ohio If only we had another 200 days like today each year!

I love the flying geese idea. That way each fabric could shine on it's own without being distracted by a touching neighbor. Will check back again to see what you decide.

Found you through Cathi at quilt obsession.

Abby and Stephanie said...

Wow...unpicking is definitely something I do not have patience for. I really like the pinwheel idea although you have some other great ideas too. Great sewing weather in Ohio. Don't you just love it.

erica e said...

what a chore to unpick all those! but i'm sure whatever you do with them will be gorgeous and make all that hard work worth it.

Unknown said...

Hi Eileen, seems like a lot to me. What are you going to make, other than quilts as I am sure you have tonnes of quilts at home :D ..maybe an apron? or nobody does it for apron..I really am of no help my dear. Hugs :)

Tine said...

You must be so very patient! But it is certainly paying off, the fabrics look so great with the white background! I love the rows, the pinwheels and the flying geese! The rows could be hard, though, if there is not enough of every kind of fabric, to complete the row!?!
I'm sure you'll come up with something fantastic!

Amypie said...

hello there Eileen, just to let you know that you won by goodie box giveaway, if you'd like to email me then I can get your details, congrats!
Thanks :-)

Ginger Patches said...

What fun you're having with your triangles!! Deciding what to do is the hard but fun part. I think all your ideas are cute, I am partial to the pinwheels...I think :)

farmerjulie said...

you make me want to go out and buy a sewing machine and start quilting. beautiful!!

Days and colors said...

So much of that "frog stitching"!!! You are very patient! But I'm sure it will pay the effort. I like the white fabric to go along, it gives such a neat look! I love pinwheels, but flying geese is also a good idea! Can't wait to see what you'll come up with!

DollZandThingZ said...

The prints are really wonderful! If it were me, I would cut them down so they are all the uniform in size and grain and use them for a mini-quilt, small wall hanging, or doll quilt. I do favor the pinwheel design with these fabrics.

I would do sashes and borders in a vintage fabric...ditto for the backing. I know, I know....I make everything so tiny I can no longer see the big picture. Always thinking big about small stuff!

Helen

Anonymous said...

Just found your nice blog! Will be checking back often from now on!

Nedra said...

You are a true quilter to have the ambition to unpick all that for some vintage fabric! Keep us posted on what you decide. I'm sure it will be awsome.

Threeundertwo said...

Although I'm a huge pinwheel fan, I think flying geese would really set off these prints.

I'm sure whatever you decide will turn out beautifully!

annemariesquilt said...

Oj oj oj what have you let yourself into. You must be very patient , I very impressed with your work so far.
And you have a lot of fun example of what you can use this old fabrics..

Amanda Jean said...

oh, I would do the pinwheels! they look adorable!

Joanna said...

I like your idea of doing them in long rows. That would be fun. But, when you had the idea of doing pinwheels with white as the other color, I think that would be just so cute! And it would kind of show off all of the fun prints, doncha think? Good luck! I'm sure whatever you decide to do with them, it will be wonderful!

Cheryl said...

I am a big fan of pinwheels!! Also I'm a little braindead right now ...been up too late the past few nights watching the Olympics!!
Also, I just love the word wonky --Susan that I work with at the shop got me started on it. It makes me happy when I hear it or say it!! OK, now I'm punchy...off to bed for me :-)!!

Tracy said...

This is wonderful, Eileen! I make wonky triangles all the time...but not on purpose, they just happen...Maybe one day I'll graduate from novice quilter ;o) Happy Day!

Katie said...

That looks like a big job. But very worthwhile! I love those fabrics. :-)

Ulla said...

Hi Eileen, I'm sure the vintage prints are worth picking up! I vote for pinwheels or flying geese with white for the prints, and you could use the solids with your own prints for another project.

Terry said...

I think flying geese would be a lovely way to show off the vintage prints you have! And what a wonderful treasure you'll have when you're done! I've never been to the Kidron quilt auction, although I live nearby. Might just have to check out the next one! :0)

Anonymous said...

Oh my Eileen! Argh sorry can't make a decision for you but I like the idea of making the smaller ones into flying geese and the larger ones into pin wheels like they were originally intended to be and doing some sort of an arrangement of different techniques like in my Autumn Quilt.

I can't wait to see what you will make so I'm going to read on.

The children are still asleep so I have some computer time before the big onslaught of taking up the carpet in what will be my new sewing room commences.

CJ said...

You are a stronger woman than I. I would have bagged it all up and donated it to someone else. Yup, I would have. No patience and I don't like ripping out. There ARE so many lovely prints though....sigh.

Sarah and Jack said...

I love that you are taking them apart to remake them into something new (and better!).

I did that with an old patchwork potholder, and am in the middle of picking apart some placemats too. Re-using is awesome. :-)