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Monday, July 11, 2011

Follow the "Leaders and Enders" Leader!!




For those of you who know Bonnie Hunter, you'll know that she's (in my opinion) the inventor of the concept Leaders and Enders. It's impossible to be around her for any length of time and not be drawn into the concept. So last year (or maybe the year before that), I decided that the red/white Ocean Waves quilt I wanted to make would be easier to make if I did all the zillions of half square triangles via the Leaders and Enders system. I'm the kind of quilter that wants INSTANT GRATIFICATION. I cannot sew hsts together for days before sewing them into a block. So this was a perfect way for me to get the quilt done painlessly!!

So I started cutting random triangles and stuffed them into a bag near my machine. I used anything that could be called "red" and "light" and made quite a pile. I'd grab a light/dark piece before and after sewing anything else and then throw the finished hst into another bag at the back of my machine, to be pressed and squared up later.
In preparation for our annual retreat during the Sisters Quilt show I typically agonized over WHAT projects should I sew (forget about worrying about packing my clothes...it's the FABRICS I worry about!! LOL). I decided that 2011 was going to be the year I made my Ocean Waves quilt. So I pulled the pack of finished hsts and actually counted (roughly) how many I had...I stopped counting at 750 (or lost track, more likely)!!! That's a LOT of hsts! And just from leaders/enders. Amazing, hunh?

This is the pile of unpressed, unsized-up hsts ready for sewing! All 750+ of them!!


Finally I was ready to put them together, although I also agonized over WHICH pattern to follow, because, in case you don't know it, there are a dozen different methods to constructing this block. Personally, being the lazy and not-so-accurate quilter, I wanted the easiest method. Once again, I turned to Bonnie for her system. I also found a similar idea in a magazine done with the absolutely gorgeous French General fabrics. Hence my idea to make the large solid pieces random (I'm the quintessential scrapper, ladies! I get bored really easily). So, voila! This is what I've got so far!
Hope everyone has a great Monday!

45 comments:

  1. That's going to be a beautiful quilt. Thanks for sharing. I'm really going to have to start the leader/ender method.
    cindy

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  2. I love reds!It is wonderful! How big is it going to be?

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  3. And what you have so far is gorgeous! It will be great to see the finished quilt.

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  4. Beautiful I have always wanted to make an ocean wave quilt too. I agree choose the easiest piecing method! Keep us updated on your progress please

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  5. Woot! Woot! Love it it!! Red is my fav. Sure glad you started blogging so I can see your goodies!

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  6. lovely, lovely, lovely and lovely in all its scrappiness. welcome to blogland.

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  7. Hi! Lori sent me to check out your fab quilts... LOVE your Ocean Waves... it's going to be spectacular!

    Welcome to Blog-land!

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  8. Welcome to blogging!! If you are anything like Bonnie and Lori then we are in for a treat!! Love your topper..and so scrappy!!Can't wait to see it finished!
    Paulette

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  9. Outstanding! An Ocean Waves quilt is one of the many quilts on my bucket list. I think I will have to live to be about 125 to make all the quilts on my list. I'm a leader-and-ender kind of a gal, too :D

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  10. Beautiful! I really like the larger square centers with the smaller hsts around them.

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  11. Now I see the quilt that is in Lori's picture and it is beautiful. I love HST's - brilliant idea to make them over time. Welcome to blogging.

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  12. Love the Ocean Waves ... have been on my to-do list for ages! The scrappy effect is just gorgeous!

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  13. Welcome to blogland Randy. Have already got you in my favorites so I can check whats happening daily. Love the ocean waves in red. I wish I could do the leaders and enders method, but I too have to make just one block to make sure it will work and needless to say that is how I continue with the rest of the quilt. Keep showing us your beautiful work and the Golden Retriever (please).

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  14. Love the motion in this quilt! Looks great! Scrappy and not so accurate - that's my kind of quilting.

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  15. WOW. That is GORGEOUS! You definitely have your own style, and it is pretty.~

    Lucy~

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  16. Looking forward to future posta of this beautiful quilts and that very cute puppy.

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  17. I follow Bonnie and Lori, so now I also follow you! That is a beautiful quilt, I can't wait to see more as you go along. I really like the fabrics you are putting together.

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  18. Sounds like you are a quilter after my own heart. I have been working (for a long time) on some Ocean Waves blocks and all of those HST were getting me down. That is when I discovered Bonnie and the leader/ender system. Those blocks have been coming together while I finish other projects--relatively painlessly. I am in Bonnie's debt for life!
    Your quilt is beautiful!
    Welcome to blogland. I have only been here a few months myself.

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  19. That is a great start to your blogworthy career. I must do the leaders/enders thing too, now that I have seen the benefits.

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  20. I came by to visit after reading Lori's blog. Love all the red and white blocks. Welcome to blogland.

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  21. Lori sent me too. Great that we get to read about your quilts now along with Lori and Bonnie! Just to be a fly on the wall this past week-end would have been FUN! Great Leader/Ender project.

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  22. Randy welcome to blogland. It is so much fun. Love your quilt. Can't wait to see it finished. Hugs.

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  23. Hello, Randy! I've never seen a red and white Ocean Waves quilt, but, wow! I love yours! You started blogging with a bang. Can't wait to see more of what you do.

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  24. Wow, that quilt is gorgeous! And so painless. I love the L&E concept. I don't always do it, but when I do, it's so easy.
    Welcome to Blogland! It's a friendly place, and lots of fun.

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  25. This is wonderful - and you made it sound so achievable! Hope you get the top finished in between drooling at all the other quilts in Sisters!

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  26. HI there,
    Lori sent me over, Your Ocean Waves is wonderful, love the color and design. Now I'm thinking I need to make one also!
    Wendy

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  27. It will be gorgeous! I met Lori through blogging and was at the Sisters quilt show on Saturday. Was hoping to meet up with Lori, but it didn't happen. I hope you'll visit my blog. Welcome to blogland!

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  28. Your Ocean Waves is wonderful! Glad you started blogging!

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  29. Welcome to blogland, Lori sent me over and I'm glad I did. Your red and white ocean waves is stunning. I did one in dark colours. Now I want to make a red and white anything quilt.

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  30. what a beautiful outcome from all those HST's~!!~
    i think i want to make one of these now.

    :-)
    libbyQ

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  31. Hello Randy! You live just up the road from me! I am down in Chico! Welcome to blog land. It's so fun here and you have made a fabulous beginning! I agree that the French General makes anything timeless and beautiful. That is a wonderful quilt! Stop by and visit anytime! Pam

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  32. Hey, Randy! Lori sent me over to "read you"! Glad I stopped in. I personally am not a blogger, but, a blogee (I read blogs) you will make 143 that I read. I love your red and white ocean waves. What a great way to work on a big project while working on other projects! Hope to read you again soon! HUGS... and stitches

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  33. Leader and Ender projects are so much fun - all of a sudden there is enough for a quilt!! Your red and whites are looking great how you have done them!!

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  34. Your story about your ocean wave is great. It's a fabulous red and white interpretation.

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  35. Welcome to the land of blog! Love your Ocean Waves, it will be fabulous.

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  36. Really nice blocks. Love red/white in any shape or form. You have a great quilting buddy in Bonnie -- I love her concepts, too!
    Congrats on your new blog.
    Hugs,
    Cyn; -)
    CynsQuiltedTravels.blogspot.com

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  37. Hi! Lori sent me over. Your Ocean Waves is just amazing!!! I have made three tops using leaders and enders ala Bonnie. I need to get going on another project that way.
    Can't wait to see this quilt grow.

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  38. Followed the link on Bonnie's blog to find you. Wow that scrappy is going to be fabulous! Will enjoy seeing it progress :)

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  39. I'm loving the colors you've chosen. All the reds look great together. Gonna have to make one of those.

    Amy

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  40. Okay...I've come back to look at this. Will you share who's pattern you followed for putting this together?

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