By Jove, I Think I've Got It!!

Yes I have! I do believe I've got it!! Hello lovely lovelies♡ I have figured out the pentagon border dancing around the quilt! I know; a-m-a-z-i-n-g!! Well, I think it is, as believe you me, I am that gal whose brain shuts down at the very thought of trying to resolve anything to do with maths. And, the very thought of trying to figure out an equally distanced, curved pattern of continuous pentagons in an eye pleasing arrangement around a quilt, is quite frankly beyond me.......or so I thought. All the stars aligned! No complex multiplication. No puzzling division (remember long divison....yukkity yuk). Indeed, no addition nor subtraction entered into the equation. Just guesstimating, some good old fashioned measuring, and a little playing with groups of  pentagons until I came up with a number that would fit perfectly; kinda like my kindergarten, block building days. =) 

My brother was always the maths genius of my family. Goodness he was clever (and still is). He could in his head, multiply a four digit number by another four digit number, calculating the correct answer in less than 5 seconds. He repeatedly tried to explain his methods to me, but unfortunately my brain screamed "no comprendo"! The maths gene bypassed me. I suppose I should've paid more attention throughout high school and not be chatting and giggling with my friends at the back of the room. We four girls always fought for who would take the dubious honour of being last in our maths tests. Sadly, if I remember correctly it seemed, more often than not, to be me. Maths and me.......just a no go. Maths just always seemed completely foreign to me.

First things first. These last two weeks I hand pieced little pentagons together into sets of seven. I was going to join six pentagons together as per the wedges in the rings but didn't like the look of this so I tried seven pentagons in each section. In this instance I think odd numbers creates visual interest; but then odd numbers in assemblages and groupings  always work; it always seems to be calming to my eyes. Seven.....the perfect number! Then I worked out how many sets of pentagons it would take to fit across the quilt by placing each set next to another in a continuous row. With an approximate number I then played around with measurements to get an inkling of the distance of the pentagons from the body of the quilt. As the quilt is a square I elucidated this should be easy-ish as all sides measure the same. Elementary dear Kim; this much I remember from my geometry days. Sometimes the obvious is oblivious to me. So, so happy this quilt is not a rectangle!

To be perfectly honest I have no idea how I happened upon the correct measurement. I just kept experimenting with my ruler in hand, fiddling with the pentagons until I stumbled upon 'the distance' of the pentagons from the seam joining the body of the quilt to the border fabric; both the top and bottom; and the sides. With my ruler, I then drew four straight lines around the quilt. I then lined up the top of the 1st and 7th pentagon to the line, forming a curve; continuing this process all the way round. Another measurement was made from the drawn line to the top of the 4th (the middle) pentagon ensuring all the pentagons were in line. I know, I know, clear as mud!! =) When it came to the corners there are 14 pentagons joined together forming a wider curve. This will look fabulous when it comes to finishing the quilt and I create a scalloped edging. Surprisingly the whole process didn't take very long at all. I am agog that the process wasn't more bothersome and that the little pentagons behaved. 

So, so delighted with my Skipping Around the Garden Path quilt top. Love the scrappylicious pentagons. I love how the scalloped pentagons dancing around the border turned out. Still can't quite believe it, though. =) Now for the quilting. Not quite sure how I will quilt it. I have a few thoughts but for now I will set it aside and consider what would look fabulous. For now, I will continue quilting my Hydrangea Cobblestones quilt which is what I will be working on later this evening. 

The Winter Solstice blasted by this week and now we are on the up and up moving ever so slowly towards days that are a little bit longer with each new day. The bulbs are beginning to pop up from the freezing earth causing me to dream of a far off spring. Just dreams, as thinking that spring will come once again when I am being engulfed by blustery, wintry days can sometimes be a bit of a stretch. Today, is one of those blustery and chilly days.  Spring; such a lovely word. I know it will come; for it is written in the bulbs. =) 

Thank you for stopping by lovely lovelies♡ As always you have sprinkled sunshine into my wintry day, indeed blessing me with your sweet visit♡ May this coming week bless you and be kind to you. I fear this world is becoming less kind with each new day. I'm off to make a cup of tea and drown my sorrows, for I am feeling sad....and a little weary today. I weary of the supercilious zealots who look through the lens which are always black and white. Alas, the lens I look through have always been somewhat smudged; tinted with many varying shades of grey. I suppose, "never the twain shall meet". So, so  many ponderous thoughts swirling around and around my flummoxed head.

Anyway, I must be off as the kettle is whistling a steaming song and I feel in the mood for a ginger biscuit, or two; enjoying the warmth of the family room with sunbeams warming both my body and soul♡ Sunbeams, dancing across a room....makes for a not so fabulous happy snap, but oh, how they cheer my  heart♡

 I do hope your day is a lovely one ♡

Until the next time..................

Linking this week to Kathy's, Slow Sunday Stitching,  

Frédérique's, Quilting, Patchwork, Applique

 Cynthia at Oh Scrap