Chester Criswell - blocks 6 - 10

Here is my next installment for Chester Criswell.  

Recently when I was taking stock, I was surprised by how many blocks I had actually finished and how many I still need want to make.  After block 10, I lost my consistency for a while and have completed other blocks at random (more on that in a future post). 

I have several blocks prepared, ready to go, but while the weather is nice outside, I am not doing handwork as much.

Block 6 appeared 3 times - two blocks were only one colour.

Block 7 - appeared twice.  This is the only block where I finished both blocks in one week - those leafy curves sewed sew so smoothly

Block 8 - appeared twice.  I was more motivated by the single colour block than the two colour one.  The red that I chose for the second block was much harder to turn under for the wavy edges on the flowers, so it took a lot longer to stitch.  I just love the single colour block 8.

Block 9 is an interesting one.  On the original quilt, the top and bottom had a different shape than the sides.  after reading through Sharon's musings on why it is so, I decided to cut mine out with the central parts of the four sides the same.  I love the balanced look of this block.

Block 10 - appeared twice.

PS:  I did complete block 13, the huge central medallion, 1 year ago - click here to see it.

Chester Criswell - Blocks 1 to 5

In the spirit of the revisiting of the Chester Criswell quilt (see CCCQ blog button on right) and the fact that I am very slow at applique, I have decided to do a few blog posts over the next couple of months of the blocks I have completed so far.

I did not start Chester Criswell at the beginning.  Approximately 2.5 years ago, while nursing broken ribs and unable to sit at my sewing machine; desperate for something to do; I stumbled across the Chester Criswell blog, some 6 months after the first blocks were published. 

12in blocks, large pieces, simple colour choices and an enjoyable afternoon reading the quilt story, I was wanting to know more.

Block 1

I went to my stash, pulled out some red and green half metre pieces, a large piece of Quilter's Muslin, my silk threads, and thought I can do this!  It didn't take long to realise that perhaps I might need some help to find an applique method which would suit me.  Who knew there were so many ways to hand applique?

Block 2 - appeared twice in the original quilt.

My Chester Criswell Quilt journey started with Block 3.  It really is the hand applique project where I managed to grasp the finer points, and, with the help of a one-on-one lesson from an expert at our now defunct 6-12 group, I had an "aha" moment where all the skills I had been taught previously came together and made sense.  Once I had that revelation, I was on fire.  I started to love watching the leaves, flowers and other shapes come to life under my fingers.

Block 3 - appeared 3 times in the original quilt.

While making the blocks, I have been trying as much as possible to use the same number of reds/greens and orientate the blocks the same way as the original quilt, as best I can from the whole quilt photo.

Block 4

Block 5 (this was not my favourite to applique, but I was very pleased when it was finished.)

The original Chester Criswell Quilt does live here in Australia. Sharon, who owns the quilt, has been able to trace her family history back to the USA along with the family stories which have been woven through time.

Chester Criswell Quilt information and patterns are available from here.