New Orleans House Project

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Wrapping Up Grandmother's Choice

I have been trying to finish up all of the blocks from Barbara Brackman's Grandmother's Choice BOW.

Block #46, Barrister's Block, was straightforward machine piecing.  I like the look of this block; I can see it in a completely scrappy version - good way to use up scraps!

Block #47, Heroine's Crown.  Another favorite block!  I opted to use the fusible applique technique with this block, as I wanted to finish more quickly than hand applique would allow.  Instead of machine blanket-stitching around the fused shapes, I decided to do the blanket stitching by hand.  Maybe I didn't really save any time, but doing some Slow Sunday Stitching today may wrap things up!

Block #48, Fair Play.  Completely hand-pieced this one. 

Block #49.  An Arc:  Bending Toward Justice.  Also hand-pieced.  I don't care much for the design of this block, but I thought the sentiment was a perfect conclusion to the series of history lessons on women's suffrage.  The block symbolizes a quote from Martin Luther King:  "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Once I finished block 49, I had to circle back to a block from early in the series that I had not completed.  Block #4, Kansas Sunflower, was a nod to early suffragettes from Kansas.  I also hand-pieced this block, and although a little wonky, it came out better than I had any right to expect as I was rather cavalier about making my original templates.  If I were to make the block again, I'd definitely use freezer paper templates for greater accuracy.

At this point, I'm going to lay my Grandmother's Choice blocks aside and contemplate how I want to assemble the blocks.  I need to focus on some other projects and come back to these with a fresh perspective.

I'm linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching today as I put the finishing touches on Heroine's Crown.  Hope you'll stop by there and see what other hand-stitching fun is underway!