Several people mentioned that the block I used in the quilt design yesterday was called Perkiomen Valley Block and an internet search showed that both the block as found in the antique quilt and what I call a split 9 patch – one with there’s a half square triangle also in the center block where this one just has a square – are both being called by that name. Maybe I’ll pull out my block encyclopedias when I finish with this isolation and see if both variations are called by the same name
My scans and appointments went fine today without any issues and we got home about 1pm. I didn’t feel great but I went to my isolation room (Keith’s office where we have a daybed), ate a little something after the prescribed time on clear liquids and then took a nap. I’m feeling better this evening so I pulled out the iPad and drafted another quilt using the same block. It’s similar to a log cabin in that you can lay it out in a number of ways, getting different results just by rotating the blocks.
When I eventually get around to piecing one of these, I’ll have to think about how to press them and if the pressing plan gets too complicated I’ll press the seams open. I prefer my seams to be pressed in opposite directions but when I’m working on a quilt where the blocks are being rotated in all directions, sometimes it’s easier to press open rather than risk seams coming together where they’ve both been pressed to the same side – I find those very hard to line up accurately even with pinning.
Thank you all for your emails and comments. I appreciate all the encouragement and prayers. This has been a long drawn out process but as I said in the beginning, I’m lucky that thyroid cancer is very treatable and by this time next week I’m hoping that I’ll be done with everything except the ongoing follow up to monitor for any future problems. I’m also having less symptoms from my thyroid replacement hormone so it feels like life is going to get back to normal soon.
This looks like a very versatile block. Love how it looks in this layout and I find the block name interesting. Wonder where that name originated.
So glad you are in a good place, continue taking care of yourself.
Thank you for the information on TouchDraw, I think I will give it a try. Hope you’re feeling back to normal soon! Take care!
I made a quilt using that block, I loved it but I made it for someone so I had to give it to them!
It’s good to know the hormone therapy is working and that you are feeling better. It will be time to travel again soon.
Thinking of you and wishing you well!
Happy to hear you are doing so well; you’ve been through a lot; try to rest and be nice to yourself…
tThis is a very pretty block–it does look like a lot of seams–pressing open seems (!!) the best solution here hugs and prayers for a speedy recovery Julierose
I really like this arrangement of the blocks too. I have made a split nine patch just from scraps and I really love it. I think this will be a great block to have in the pattern library too.
I learned this one as a split nine patch as well. Always planned to make the quilt, but as with the best intentions, never have.
I’m glad that you are almost through your treatment and it’s going well. We have a history of Graves disease in our family and are familiar with thyroid issues. My brother had his thyroid burned out with radioactive iodine when he was 15 and a freshman in high school because his was so bad. Not nearly the same as what you’re going through, but he has lived without his thyroid since and he turned 50 last year. I continue to pray for your recovery. Glad to see you are taking such good care of yourself.
I have an old old quilt book from Perkiomen..put out by the guild there? Cannot even remember the name of it. It does indeed have this pattern but the book is mainlynrecipes and tips….maybe I have it with the cookbooks? I had a terrible time pressing a quilt from a pattern..scrappy. Somewhere somehow..another pattern in another book?..I learned to press the blocks away from the center if I was going to rotate them different ways. Think about a 9 patch as a simple example? Press first row up and last row down instead of pressing them both the same. Might work for this pattern?
I am also a thyroid cancer survivor — was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer in 1988. After two surgeries (first a partial thyroidectomy and then a complete removal of all thyroid and parathyroid tissue) and two I-131 treatments, I was declared cancer free, and have been ever since! I also take a replacement hormone, and have been blessed with no complications!
I hope my story encourages you. Thyroid cancer IS very treatable, and life returns to a new normal very quickly! Just remember to take your meds, and all will be well!
Continuing to send good thoughts your way.
Mary, I think of you often and wish you the best. Thanks for sharing. Ann from Watertown, Mn
On Thu, Sep 6, 2018 at 8:28 PM Making Scrap Quilts from Stash wrote:
> Mary posted: “Several people mentioned that the block I used in the quilt > design yesterday was called Perkiomen Valley Block and an internet search > showed that both the block as found in the antique quilt and what I call a > split 9 patch – one with there’s a half square” >
Wonderful news that your treatment is going well. And you’re making great use of your time in isolation. hugs to you.
Thank you for the update. Sounds like all is going well. Keep up with the posts. I look forward to them.