This finish was long in the making. I started making large (9″ square) scrappy HSTs in the beginning of 2016 as my RSC16 project. They were a lot of fun to make and I easily finished the quilt top by the end of the year. Then I promptly pressed it, hung it neatly in the closet, and closed the door. It languished for all of 2017, poor ignored quilt top. I think I left it there because I felt it was too small and I wasn’t sure what to do with it.
At the beginning of this year, I decided to make a stack of 5″ squared scrappy blocks. Without any plan, I figured I would somehow use them for a border. After making the blocks, I figured out the size rectangles I needed to space between the squares to create the border. For the most part, this worked ok. But you know me and quilt math….. When I laid out the border and it looked like I would be coming up short, I just expanded one or two of the scrappy blocks to compensate. I hope this doesn’t offend anyone. It doesn’t bother me. 🙂
In fact, I love it. I am wild about this quilt. It is my kind of project. Imperfection works in this sort of quilt. I am pleased with the colors, the polka dot background which provides a nice spot for the eye to rest, the border of gray dots between the HST’s and the scrappy border – all of it! This one took a long while to come together, but it was worth the wait!
I took it to the long arm shop and quilted it with a meandering loopy motif. Some little spirals, some large loops and some small ones. It left the quilt with a nice, cozy drape. This was a lot of fun to quilt and took no time at all.
For the backing, I chose Newsprint in a wide back. This was designed by Carrie Bloomston and is probably my favorite backing. When I ordered my first bolt of it, I was pleasantly surprised to sell the bolt within weeks. I just received a second bolt so I have it in stock again. Because it is such a fun print, I also take the wide back and cut fat quarters and 1/2 yard pieces. Each of these (wide back, fat quarter, and 1/2 yard cuts) are available in my shop.
The binding is a print by Lotta Jansdotter called Aliisa from her Lemmikki line. I really like this fabric but looking back, I don’t know if it is the best match for the quilt. The color is “slate” but when it is next to Newsprint and the gray dotted background, it has a very blue tone. Because the quilt is so scrappy, I decided to go with it anyway. I like the angular pattern of the print. So, I think it is ‘good enough’. I did go back to the listing though and update my description to explain about the blue hues this fabric has. If you are intrigued by this one, click here to see the shop listing.
I can happily check this one off the list and report I am down to three unfinished quilts in the closet. Well, that is not including either of the RSC18 projects I am working on. Not too terrible!
Tomorrow I am off to see my kids in Vermont. Probably no blog posts until I get back – unless I change my mind. 😉 I am so excited to see my grand daughter. She started walking last week and it will be so fun to watch her toddling around. Like I mentioned in my last post, any Etsy orders placed by 3:00 Friday (today) will ship. If placed after that, they will ship on Monday, April 2nd. The last time I was gone like this, I promised to refund half of the shipping charge for orders placed in my absence – sort of a thank you for being patient and waiting until the 2nd for shipment. Same goes with this trip! Place the order and just know I will pay half of your shipping cost. Thanks so much for understanding!. It is a bit difficult to be a grammy to a little girl in Vermont when you live in California!
Linking to Finish It Up Friday and a few others. All are listed at the top of the page, under Link Ups.
I love the quilt, Bernie! And you only have three unfinished quilts left?! Good for you! Enjoy the time with your family in Vermont, create loads of fun memories, and come home with a happy, happy heart full of that little granddaughter!
Thank you! I am so excited to see her. Also to do some touristy things with the kids. We are going to spend one day in Montreal and another day wandering around some of the sugar shacks and watch the maple syrup process. Good timing for that. It will be a fun week. Take care Wendy. 🙂
It really WAS worth the wait – beautiful job! I love the colors and scrappiness.
I’m so happy you get to go see the Cherished One – there is nothing like it. Have fun!
The Cherished One. That is so sweet and spot on accurate! I can’t wait to get my mitts on her. I suspect I will have to practice restraint as she hasn’t seen us since October (other than FaceTime). I hope she isn’t bashful for too long.
I absolutely love this top. it is just my style…..crazy scrappy….and just add something if it is too short. haha i think i might make one just like it.
Thank you. It just makes me happy to see it – the bright colors are so much fun. I will surely make something along these lines again. Just not sure what the plan is quite yet. Happy Friday Shirley!
Oh, I remember the blocks and am excited to see the quilt finished, Bernie. It looks great! Enjoy your family time and don’t worry about us, we’ll be here when you get back. 😉
Thank you! It will be such a fun week and will surely be over far too quickly. Have a great weekend Yvonne and I’ll see you in a week (virtually anyway!)
I love this quilt, Bernie! Great job on all of your choices— especially the border design!
I was thinking of you just yesterday Gloria. I haven’t heard from you in a bit. Life gets busy…. Thanks for the kind words and have a wonderful weekend.
Love this scrappy rainbow of fun, Bernie! I’m glad it marinated in your closet the perfect amount of time 🙂 Have a great family visit!
Thanks Louise. I am ready to go!! We are all so excited. It has been since October so I haven’t seen the kids for a long while. Take care. 🙂
Bernie, What a fun quilt! I do love a scrappy design that is playful and spontaneous. Well done and enjoy your family time.
No offense taken…I would have done the exact same thing. GRAMMY time…..ENJOY!!! Can’t wait for you to share you visit with us.
Bernie I just lOVE your quilt, and desperately, and dangerously make one right now! Or start another RSC project which I told myself sternly nope, only ONE this year… The 5″ squares were the perfect addition, and i love the blueish binding (I found that out about greys too, kind of bizarre!). Have so much fun, goes without saying!! Hugs and more hugs. Okay did they move? I thought they lived in Toronto? Now they’re further, sniff!
It looks amazing! Glad that the finish was worth the wait. I love it when that happens! The scrappy borders are excellent and add a lot to the quilt.
I hope you have a fantastic time in Vermont with your granddaughter. Enjoy every minute!
Thanks for linking up to finish it up Friday!
So pretty! And I love the newsprint backing.
Enjoy your visit with the grand and congrats on your newly completed RSC quilt!!
This turned out so lovely, Bernie. I love the use of scraps and how you quilted it. Hug that baby really tight!
It’s a beauty! Vermont in The spring, doesn’t get any better than that. Enjoy!
I love that you used a gray pin dot which I am partial to using instead of a solid. Your scrappy quilt turned out great, I think the “fermenting” time and your desire to finish it just made it happen. I thought I had it bad with my one and only grandchild living four hours away from me but across the country–absolutely torture for me since I don’t fly. Have a great visit, I’m also visiting too with my granddaughter who will be celebrating her first birthday on Monday.
Such a great use of your scraps! I have a few quilts that are finished and languishing in my closet, just waiting to be quilted. Slowly but surely, I’ll get to them. Have fun in Vermont!
FIrst thought was ‘they look like floating jewels! ” 🙂