Charm:
This seam embellishment is actually a charm. It’s a little surprise for the viewer and acts to draw the eye away from the button with the sun motif on it. I spoke about this button in detail 60.
In other words the reason the charm sits on the block the way it does and where it does is compositional as it draws the eye to the other side of the block. If you look you can see an invisible triangle that sits between the single button with the sun motif, the button cluster and this charm. The lace I spoke about in detail 67 and the feather stitching in detail 62 helps to guide the eye along the base of the triangle.
Of course my online students will know that in my classes I emphasise design and composition. Since this detail is so much about composition I thought I would show you block again so you can see what I mean. (see below)
This is the last detail for block 9. My next post in the series will introduce block 10.
What is the story?
This regularly published series aims to illustrate and document the hand embroidered seams, embellishments and decorations on my crazy quilt I dropped the button box. All articles are categorised in the projects under Crazy Quilt details which enables readers to browse back through the series.
Free Crazy quilt block patterns
In the process of documenting the seam decorations on this quilt, as I get to each block I am diagramming it out for readers as a free crazy quilt pattern. Links to these free pattern pages are listed on the CQ details FAQ page.
For a stitch guide to hand embroidery stitches, instructions can be found in my stitch dictionary
Thank you so much for the explanation of the composition / design. Design is my weakest skill so excellent info like this (and pictures!) really helps 🙂