teaching sewing confidence, tip by tip

Sunday, 9 June 2013

Can You Tell The Difference Between A Dutch Rose And A Swoon? - My June 2013 NYC Metro Mod Bee Block


My NYC Metro Mod Guild June Queen Bee is Kimberly, she shared details of her Dutch Rose block here on our Guild blog  and pointed us to some great instructions for the block by Candace @TheDoubleNickelQuiltChallenge

And this is the fabric package that arrived in the mail.


 I hadn't heard of the Dutch Rose block before though I thought it looked vaguely familiar, in fact remarkably similar to the Swoon blocks that are so popular across the quilternet right now - one of my favourite Swoon quilts is this one by my quilty friend Sam @ACupOfTeaAndASliceOfCake aka UKMUMINUSA.

I did a bit of research and the best explanation I found for the difference between the two blocks was here by Jess @TheElvenGarden.  Jess says that the traditional Dutch Rose block is created using Y seams and 'true' diamonds and the Swoon block is a modern 'easier' HST version of this.

So here's my finished block and a pile of all those extra HST 'bonus' blocks.
 


    It wasn't a difficult block but there's a lot of cutting and then the sewing is very bitty, nothing to really get your teeth in to, you're up and down between the machine, ironing board and cutting mat like a mad person, even if you chain piece.

There's no denying though that it's very pretty once it's done and all the Swoon quilts out there are proof of just how gorgeous this is going to look when it's made up into a quilt.


You can take a look at all the blocks that our Bee have made for Kimberly on my Quilty - Swoon/Dutch Rose Pinterest Board - I'll add more pins as each person in the Bee posts photos of their finished blocks and you can see my NYC Mod Guild Post here too.




And you can click this link to see all of my NYC Mod Quilt Guild Bee Blocks and Challenge Blocks/Quilts.





 
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17 comments:

  1. This is a gorgeous block, whatever the name! I think Carpenter's Wheels are about the same :)

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    1. I've just had a look at the Carpenter's Wheel block too and you're so right - Elita, in her comment further down the page, says that the Carpenter's Wheel is made purely from diamonds and so is more time consuming to put together well, the pattern I linked to for this block was so easy it seems in comparison! :)

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  2. Absolutely gorgeous! Jess knows everything :)

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  3. It's a beautiful block!
    I think I would prefer to hand stitch this block; too much exercise running between the sewing machine and the ironing board. Alas, no bonus HSTs and plenty of time needed!

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  4. I love way the vintage sheets look in the block!
    I chose this block because of it's similarity to the Swoon block. I think they will look so good all together.

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    1. I'm so glad you like it Kimberly, the vintage sheets were darling to work with, soooo soft :)

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  5. beautiful block! I would have a tough time telling the difference between the two unless they were side by side, I think!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  6. Thanks for the shout out!!!! Its a beautiful block , and yes your right it does require a lot of cutting and a lot of getting up and down! And easy to make mistakes cutting!!!!I had heard of the carpenters star block being similar, I think the swoon is a modern twist!

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    1. You're very welcome, seems these 3 blocks all give the same end result but made in different ways - you can get more of a 3D effect though when the block is made from diamonds, if you're alternating the colours on each point - I guess that might be a deciding factor in choosing which method to use :)

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  7. I am loving that fabric and the block is just gorgeous.

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  8. Oh, how lovely! That has worked up very nicely. I'd have to rearrange my sewing area as not to get up so much with the pressing. And for all those interested, a carpenter's wheel is made up primarily of diamond shapes with a Lemoyne Star centre. Similar but more complex than Swoon for sure. I once made a Carpenter's Wheel wallhanging for a friend to match a little cross-stitched Carpenter's Wheel ornament she made for me. Good effect but time consuming to make it right.

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    1. Thanks Elita for the info - I'd not heard of the Carpenter's Wheel block before but I've had a look at it now. I've come to the conclusion that it's the 3D effect that you can get from working with the diamonds that should be your deciding factor on which of the 3 blocks you go for - if you're not looking for that then the method I used is so much easier! :)

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  9. Lovely block, sounds like a lot of work though so maybe I'll put it on the bottom of my must-try list!

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  10. Whatever you call it, it is gorgeous.

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  11. That is such a pretty quilt block. Love the colours, very fresh and summery

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Chris Dodsley


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