Have you ever received a quilt magazine and found a pattern that you just can't get off your mind? You just gotta make it! That is how I have felt for quite a while about this pattern Poinsettia's Allure by Designer Judy Blok featured in the December 2013 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting. I have been seriously eyeing this pattern for about a year. I had some of the colors in my stash and I have been collecting the remaining appropriate fabrics. A good solid red tone on tone and I needed a good cream. I had some greens in my stash that I thought I could use. I have a floral that is appropriate for the border in my stash as well. So I set out to make this one yesterday.
It is a striking red. white and green Poinsettia. A big 20 inch square block. It is for advanced level quilters.
I like the strong red and green. It is not a pattern design for everyone's taste. No sugar sparkle candy cane colors here. It makes a bold statement in rich holiday colors.
So here is my first sample block made. Humm. It is big! I don't know about making nine blocks, maybe four is big enough for a sofa size. Hummm. I am not quite sure about the dark green floral. But I have three yards of that in my stash so it is in the quilt. Hummmmm...I cannot seem to get those pointy petals to match for a smooth poinsettia petal. I don't think I have ever cut that wedge angle and for sure never matched it with a corner triangle like that.
Lots of components for one block....a challenge but fun nevertheless. Lots of measurements and angles. I am not fastidious with measurements and angles. But I am at the advanced level, right? I have 30 years of quilting and sewing on my resume....
Today, I have done block #2 and I am now well into block #3. I have ripped out and ripped out those petal seams. I just cannot get them to match smoothly. I am stumped. I am leaving them alone. I am now calling my version of this pattern Christmas Cactus's Allure. It works!
I'll keep working on Christmas Cactus this week and update you when I finish....Thanks for stopping by!
I will be joining up with WIP Wednesday link ups with Freshly Pieced Modern and Esther's Blog.
Those are gorgeous blocks -- I can see why you fell in love with the pattern! It must be maddening that you can't get those petal seams to line up. Have you considered paper piecing those sections?
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