The end is in sight for the Strawberry Garden quilt. And I am not going to lie, I will be so glad to get this one done. This has to be one of the most labor-intensive quilts I have ever made. Have any of you made this? Did you think so too? My gosh, what a lot of work. Those checkerboard borders, good grief. I wish I had just cut fabric strips to frame the blocks. Those were a chore and I am not sure they add anything to the look of the quilt. They barely stand out at all.
I am assembling the quilt top in sections.
Section one. See what I mean about the checkerboard frame around that large strawberry block? I mean, seriously? It was a lot of work and they don't even show up. Word of advice if you plan to do this quilt: leave out the checkerboard frames (and use solid strips of the background fabric) or use fabrics that contrast more and are visible!
Section two.
I hope to wrap this project up this week and get something else up on the design wall. I have figured out what I am going to do with last year's Designer Mystery 2024 blocks that I didn't care for. Wait until you see the adorable setting I am going to use! More on that in a day or so.
This seam pressing bar I bought from Primitive Gatherings has really come in handy for pressing the longer seams open. I am really glad I got it!
I took Eva back to school clothes shopping for her birthday and these are some of the cute things she picked out. She has such an adorable slim figure, everything looked so good on her. She is a size 3 in jeans if you can believe it. I didn't even know such a size existed. lol That pink Superman shirt with the jeans with the pink bows on the back pockets is fabulous. I also bought her a bunch of new underwear which cost as much as the clothes, but she wasn't about to let me take a picture of that!
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This week I’m taking my granddaughter to shop for scrubs as she’s starting her rad tech training as part of her education. Time flies; seems it wasn’t that long ago I bought her clothes for preschool.
Our kids were in school uniforms 1st-12th grade. It made life very easy.
What a good grandma you are! Looks like a good haul.
My husband still thinks he can go buy underwear for $5 a package. He could not actually do that in college, when he first starting buying his own underwear, and he certainly can’t now.
I think more background fabric (and therefore more breathing room for the blocks) and less piecing is a good suggestion in general for anyone else making this quilt. It is beautiful, but I think maybe too busy. That might just be me, I like simple quilts these days.
The top third of your quilt would make a fun table runner. I have that pressing bar but never use it. I have a hard time changing my quilting habits.
It is a beautiful quilt, but agree with you that the checkerboards weren’t worth the time that they took to make. And I am like Betty in I have that pressing bar and have only used it a few times. I will try it again to see if its worth the time it takes to get in place!? I’ve been sewing on new quilt and I might not come up from my sewing room until it’s done! I haven’t felt like this about a quilt for a long time and it sure is a welcome feeling!
Beautiful quilt !
Your quilt is going to be darling! Based on your experience, I wouldn’t do the checkerboard if I were making it. Eva’s school clothes shopping trip looks like a complete success…how did she get to be a high schooler so quickly???? Have a good week!
Lp and behold, it turns out I have the book for that quilt. Beautiful blocks in it but I don’t recall the checkerboard blocks. So glad you are on your way to completion. I’m waiting on the mail for a Carrie Nelson book. I met her at a presentation in OK City. She’s a genius but where did she go. Love your clothes shopping for Eva,love that they are bright and cheery. I went through an all-black skater phase with one junior high schooler. So glad he came out the other side. It’s an eerie time for kids.
it’s so disappointing to work hard on something and then think, ‘gee, that doesn’t show up well’. been there. it really is a beautiful quilt.
I’m old and I would still wear those jeans with the little bows on the butt. so cute!
I sure miss back to school shopping with Lily – I’m glad you and Eva had so much fun. Thanks for the advice about the checkerboard borders. You’re right – far too much effort that won’t even show up in the finished quit. I think I will use a solid strip for borders when I get to that point.
Doing this BOM at one time is very labor intensive. I sewed it once per month. Fig Tree’s BOM are full of little fillers, which I love. It really adds character and charm. Your quilt top is looking fabulous!
Love how your quilt is coming along! Going shopping with granddaughters or just young people is so fun, everything looks great on them!
Good shopping! I see jeans are still “in” for the kids! I appreciate when you give us alternate tips/settings as you quilt along.