These blocks are my first UFO (unfinished object) for 2026, and the big question is WHAT to do with them?
They are actually a DOUBLE UFO because I made them from orphan blocks as a way to experiment with my new (at the time) oval ruler.
These are big blocks, about 18″ square. My default use for orphan blocks is to combine them into a donation quilt top BUT these all have different backgrounds (using up scraps) so I’m not sure about that. Plus I’m thinking of taking that middle one on the bottom apart because I don’t like the orientation of the upper left quadrant…huh.
Here are the options I’ve come up with so far, but I would appreciate any ideas:
- Finish one or more individually as art quilts.
- Mount one or more individually on canvas as art quilts–some of my blogging friends have started doing this, but then what?
- Cut them up some more! Always an option…
- Make them into a donation quilt anyway, possibly with black sashing.
- Put them back in the closet and choose another UFO–maybe another day will bring better ideas!
- Make a lot more of them and then decide.
One more option I considered but will NOT do: take them apart and re-cut so backgrounds are all the same. Too much work for orphan blocks!
Help! Any ideas???
Zippy Quilts 
An interesting design challenge. When I look at them grouped together I’m disoriented because some of the ovals are northwest/southeast and some are northeast/southwest. If you did use them all in one quilt, which would get them all out of the way, I’d space them widely apart. I’ve just bought Emily Bailey’s Scrap Quilts from Crumbs, Strips, and Strings in which she uses crumb-pieced backgrounds and that concept could be the spacers for your Oval Orphans.
P.S. Which oval ruler is it? I’m trying to get the hang of Everyday Curve.
Alas, Everyday Curve gives me a headache. It’s Creative Grids Ovals All Ways. It’s still a bit difficult to use/get used to, but I do like it. There are many size options and it is well marked. And as for the orientation of those blocks, I suppose I could rotate them, or maybe even better slant all of them! Thanks for your thoughts.
I like the different backgrounds!
I feel like it needs one more similar oval at least, with its heavy emphasis on the lower right quadrant. Then I would try out sashing between them with various colors — between light blue and light purple I would put a darker purple sash, between light purple and medium blue I would put a light blue sash, etc.
I am also wondering what it would look like to do more ovals where the curvy parts were black and the cross in the middle was multicolor fabric.
I also like nbhilyard’s idea of using pieced backgrounds for some blocks, maybe with smaller appliqued ovals (not pieced) of various sizes floating on them?
I would have to try out a lot of these options on my design wall and see what appealed to me. I hope you have more of these fabrics! 🙂
Thank goodness I DO have more of those fabrics! And I like the idea of varied color sashing–it helps with my frustration with the varied color backgrounds. Thanks!
I’ll be short and to the point: no to ‘art quilt’ anything. Unless you have a distinct love for this pattern experiment with ovals using scraps I’d say there’s no need to stitch up any more. Stay with the original idea of using these as is for a donation quilt. There are 5 (odd numbered, always good for the eye in design), stitch them using one color/patterned fabric into a throw size or smaller. Then call it a day – ahem – finish!
Yes, it makes sense to “just get it done”. I just got stuck on it for some reason. Probably trying to be too perfect. And, though I see the other Laura’s point of making one more, I also see your point of an odd number helping with good design. Thanks for sharing!
Make one more…turn them into snowball blocks…set with scrappy sashing?
Can’t wait to see what you do! Just don’t stuff them out of sight. You need to finish this to clear your mind!
Yes, make one more is a likely option regardless of what I do with them. Thanks for your encouragement.
I’d just use them as an donation quilt. I don’t think the different backgrounds matter as they kind of work together. I think a black sashing might pull attention away from the ovals, so I’d be tempted to just put them together with plain, lightish-coloured background squares with the ovals scattered randomly. Leave lots of empty space and the ovals pop a bit more
Aha! Good point that black sashing might just “take over”. Light sashing it is.