Seven days gone by, fast as lightning, it seems - but that means it's time for us to get our whoop whoop on again!! Are you ready? Let's get started!!
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Have you ever written a bucket list? You know, one of those lists of things you want to do before you die? If I had a quilt-y bucket list, the number one thing on the list would be to go to Quilt Market - but you also might (just maybe) find "Finish a Dear Jane quilt" on that list too. Well, I can mark that one off the list right now!!
Now, let me clarify this first of all - the operative word in that bucket list entry is "finish"! My friend Leann started this quilt, making all those beautiful tiny blocks (they are 4.5" square!) and putting the center together before she died unexpectedly last year. She also made the pennants and three of the corners in the border although the borders weren't assembled yet. One of the corners was started (the bottom right one) but not finished. It was needle turn appliqué, which is not in my wheelhouse, so I asked my friend Pam if she would finish it for me. She did a great job and it fits right in with the rest of the blocks! Then I had the incredible pleasure of finishing this work of art, building the borders and attaching them.
This was my first experience with set-in seams (the corners), and doing the first one invoked a lot of grumbling (ok and maybe a few words, too!) but after two hours of sweat and hard work, I mastered it. Thankfully the next three went much faster!
Leann did an amazing job on this quilt, fussy cutting so many of the tiny blocks. My favorite was a block with tiny fussy cut crickets playing pool, of all things! But it was obvious she took a lot of care in planning the blocks.
Here you can see the border and binding - I made my first scalloped border on this quilt, and it was quite a learning experience! I'm pleased with the way it turned out, though.
I quilted this one simply by stitching in the ditch around each of the blocks and pennants, then doing a very small meander in the background pennants and muslin border. After quilting, I took it off the frame and traced the scallops on the muslin border and cut them out. I don't do it often, but this binding is sewn down by hand.
And one last picture of the quilt, just because it's beautiful!
So now I can mark "finish a Dear Jane quilt" off my bucket list, because I actually did "finish" one, even if I didn't start it!
Can I get a whoop whoop??
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And now it's your turn!
What are you whooping it up about this week?
What's got you dancing a little happy dance?
Share! We want to dance right along with you...
...And it's always more fun to dance with friends!
The party will stay open until Sunday midnight.
Hope to see you there!
Hugs!
Sarah
