I had so much fun working with the scrappy batik blocks last week that I just kept going. Before I knew it I had a flimsy of 42 blocks on the wall.
There was much tweaking of block placements but eventually I got them all sewn together. Then I learned that a young friend of mine might be leaving the country soon to fulfill a mission for our church. She has expressed appreciation for the quilts I'd made that she's seen, and even went so far as to exclaim, "I want a quilt!" I don't think she meant to say it loud enough for me to hear but I did hear her. 😉 That meant the quilt top needed to be made bigger.
It took me a couple of days to wrap my head around how to add length to this flimsy. Many of those batik prints had been used up or there wasn't much left. I was reluctant to introduce many new prints or make more blocks. Finally I pulled out Window blocks that had been made about the same time as all the Shoo-fly blocks and built a pair of borders. I had to be flexible with the sashing between those blocks as there wasn't enough of the print I'd used to frame the flimsy, nor did they fit precisely within the width I had created.
You can see that I used another batik for an outer border. It was also from my stash, not recently purchased. I was surprised that it worked so well to frame the quilt when it was such a stark contrast to what was going on in the middle.
The photo doesn't do it justice. It really sings in person. I love this quilt! Well, quilt-to-be. We went out today and purchased yardage to back this 60"x 80" top. James has a variegated thread he thinks will work for the interior, which will probably be done in an allover pattern. Not quite sure how the border will be handled. I also bought a bit of yardage for binding. I'll get that made while he's doing the quilting. Hopefully I'll be able to manage getting the binding applied and sewn down before my friend leaves the area. I'd like her to be able to take it with her when she leaves our summer weather for winter in the southern hemisphere. 😁
This will be a lovely quilt for your friend to take with her on her mission - or come back to on her return. The border works a treat.
ReplyDeleteIt is spectacular and I do believe you that it sings in real life. Best wishes to your friend on her journey.
ReplyDeleteA fabulous quilt. This will make a wonderful gift for your friend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful quilt to brighten a missionary's bed wherever she goes! That's a great thing for you to do for her at her time of home-leaving. It will be such a comfort when she's feeling a little lonely for home. No matter how busy they are, they feel that, at least at the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a vibrant quilt, Sue ~ gorgeous in the true sense of the word. I am sure your friend will love this, and it will be reminder of friends, no matter where she is.
ReplyDeletePerfect timing! I love the mixing of bright colors!
ReplyDeleteThis is truly a quilt made from love, both for fabric and for your young friend who is going out into the world to do demanding and tiring work. She'll sleep more sweetly under it, I know. I do love how bright and happy this is, and how cleverly you've adapted your original plan.
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