"Impressionist Wreaths" using 2.5" strips

Oh my, oh my.

I’m so glad I decided to see what this would look like in 2.5” strips.

I know, it seems like such a cop-out to remake things I made using 2” strips into ones with 2.5” strips.

BUT, I have so many 2.5” strips now and some of these designs are just pretty.

Here it is.

And yes, I really do like it.

This one went together quickly for me. I was able to get the strip sets together in one long day and then the blocks together the next day. The third day found me with plans for the evening, but I decided to see if I could get it together before I had to go do something else.

Because the blocks are quite large - 16.5” in fact, it did go together quickly!

It was VERY fast, in spite of it being completely pieced with squares - compared to my last top - remember that one - Retro Chain Serenade. That one was ridiculous on how long it took to get together.

Do you want to see how the same block/quilt looks using 2” strips instead of 2.5”? Let me share these side by side. When I look at them, I see I used even more reds on the 2” one than the 2.5” version.

I did focus on trying to pick out plenty of reds and yellows to keep it bright and happy!

If you take a look at the block - you can see what makes this quilt top look impressionistic, is that the darkest fabrics are in the center of the stretch of colorful squares with a paler one on each side with a white on each side of the paler ones. But, as you can see, my interpretation of that is pretty broad, and I didn’t worry about it. Maybe that is what makes this top so incredibly easy to put together.

This quilt took only 36 blocks. No sashing. No border. Just huge blocks!

Anyway, naturally you can imagine that my next question is…”I wonder how it would look in 1.5” strips which finish at 1”. How cool would that be as a big top? I think it would be amazing and I may do it since my bags of 1.5” strips are just sitting there, mostly untouched. In fact, I was curious so I worked it up in the EQ program and this is how it would theoretically look. Naturally, I like it. I think I’ve found my next continuing quilt top using small 1.5” pieces. I found that if I leave out browns or muddy colors, I can keep the top bright and happy.

Maybe someday I’ll make a fall version of this with browns and earth tones. Just not right now.

Remember these? These are tops that I worked on slowly over time - and finally finished them. All of these used 1.5” strips. Because of the size of the strips used, these are slow to make. However, I really love the detail that results from this size.

I can add this design to that. It will take 144 blocks to make a queen size top, so that’s something. Compare 144 to 36 needed for the top shown today!

Please know that I do not piece these blocks square by square. Instead I make strips sets and subcut. But you probably already knew that.

Impressionist Wreaths pattern with 2” is found on our website (free), here. It works the same with 2.5” strips as 2” except you cut off at 2.5” intervals when strip piecing. Obviously, then the blocks are larger - 16.5” unfinished, 16” finished in the top.

Thanks once again so much for coming along with me on this journey.

Have a great day wherever you are reading this.

Becky Petersen3 Comments