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Monday, July 15, 2013

A Modified Y-Seam???

I am still waiting for my computer...ugh! And working on an old, slow computer is such a chore.  But I wanted to share my progress on the Coat of Many Colors quilt...

If you recall...I have long admired this Gee's Bend quilt pictured on my kitchen calendar.  I needed to figure it out!

It is much like a chevron and sort of like a french braid...but a bit different than both.  The rectangles interlock and are very tight.

  
I wanted to share with you how I went about piecing this.  Of course there may be other techniques, but this is how I worked it out.  

I cut all of my rectangles 2" X 4.5"...and using two rectangles pieced an L shape...

  
I chose to piece 4 of these L pieces to make a 'block'.  That was completely a personal choice...I just thought 4 would be a good size to work with.  

Now...I approached putting the L's together in the same manner as piecing a Y-seam.  But I suspect it is not a true Y-seam, and at the same time I don't think it is a partial seam either.  So I guess it could be called a modified Y-seam!  LOL!  If any of you have an opinion on the type of seam it is...please let me know.  

Because I treated this as a Y-seam I began stitching the 2 L's together leaving a 1/4 inch open at the beginning and end of the seam.  

         
     Once I stitched a 1/4 inch away from the V point of the seam....I did a little backstitch to secure that point and matched the next leg of the L.  At this point I was really just continuing the seam.  So much like a partial seam.  Try it out....I think you will find it much easier to complete than my explanation!

   
I pieced 4 of these L's to make one 'block'.  Then I simply stitched the blocks together.  This was really very easy....

  
Stitch each small straight edge...as you come to the end of the straight edge {again stop 1/4 inch from the end of the seam} - you will just pick up the next seam.  So it is almost like making a straight seam...no pivoting.  

  
I love the wild nature of this pattern...and using lots of Denyse Schmidt fabric keeps it in the Gee's Bend tradition.

     
Not sure how large I will make this...as usual I have so many projects going at once.

         


happy monday!
mary 

25 comments:

  1. Hi! Looks beautiful! We have put 'street tiles' like that front of the house and often I looke them and think to try to make patchwork like that. Thanks for the tutorial. x Teje

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  2. I have had a long, hard day so that pretty much all went over my head but it sure looks beautiful!! I will return to it when my brain is functioning ;) x

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  3. At least Lucy has an excuse as to why it went over her head! Maybe it's because it's too early in the morning for me! I can't see where the putting of the two blocks together was a straight seam? Need to actually try it I suppose! It still looks beautiful though!

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  4. Mary, This is beautiful!!! Such a clever and effective technique , thank you for sharing the tips and tricks. The fabrics you has chosen are a feast for the eyes!

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  5. Really lovely....the blues and oranges are such a great combo :)

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  6. absolutely positively gorgeous!!!!

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  7. Stunning! Maybe I'm missing something but why a partial seam for joining the two l pieces? Couldn't you make one L to start and then sew the Orange piece along the side of the first L and then the cream piece with the dots? And contine building the herringbone chain. No avoiding the y seams to join them to each other beyond that, though! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  8. You absolutely could do that to build the herringbone pattern. Ha! Sometimes the easiest technique is the most difficult to see....but you are right. That absolutely should work. Thanks Courtney!

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  9. I just love this mary!
    xo 'jan

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  10. great tutorial, think it is a bit complicated for me but when I have progressed some more will refer back to it and give it a try, read Courtney`s way but that went over my head, need to see pictures to to understand.

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  11. Whatever way you do it, the end result is great. Love the scrappiness of the whole thing.

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  12. Wow this is beautiful, great fabrics and great colours!

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  13. Thanks for showing us! It looks great :) x

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  14. the block are brilliant, thanks for showing how.

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  15. Love Courtney's simplification but not sure how to join the braids together - without trying it!

    Pretty difficult to show in pics though. Guess I'll have to get my fabrics out and give it a go!

    What a distraction you are Mary - a lovely one!

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  16. Did what you and Courtney said - it worked! Of course!

    Are you squaring these up to make block or are you making strips

    Thanks for getting me to the sewing table - I have lots to do today!

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  17. You are so brilliant! It does have a Gees Bend feel to it. Wonderful!

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  18. This looks so challenging! I have never paper pieced before, though.

    Amanda Rose
    http://sewmuchtosay.blogspot.com

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  19. Wonderful look! And a fun brain-teaser. Love your fabric choices!

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  20. L O V E..you are my quilting hero! Fabulous!Every quilt that you make is even more wonderful than the next!

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  21. that is awesome! your works is always such a jolt of fun and inspiration. :)

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  22. I love it! I'm going to have to try it to get my head around it though...and not late at night and only after a couple of cups of coffee!!! LOL! I so want to sew with you someday, my friend!!

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  23. WOW, Mary, this looks great and challenging but I'm willing to try. I just have to figure out that joining process. I'll need to visit your blog repeatedly to get that particular step. Thank you for sharing this beautiful quilt.

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  24. that's AWESOME! such dedication!

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