Remember this? It is the Riley Blake Design Challenge 2025, the sew-along I was not going to participate in. That being declared, I did make most of the blocks. I went at my own pace, and substituted a block here and there when I didn't care for the monthly offering.
The Riley Blake Designer challenges are really wonderful sew-alongs. The blocks are always 10 1/2" unfinished, which is a great but rather neglected size block. The nice thing about these challenges is the block patterns are still available on the Riley Blake site going back to 2021. There is a ton of free content on the Riley Blake website, and I highly recommend that you check it out!
I would have finished this quilt top this past weekend, but wouldn't you know, I ran out of the cream background I was using for the lattices and containment border. I have ordered it, but the project is on hold until I get the fabric. There will also be an outer border in a print that ties things together.
I did take some liberties with the finishing design, notably the center block. I thought the quilt had such a down-home/country feel to it that a barn block would be perfect for the center.
This block and its center are from Lori Holt's Farm Girl Vintage book. The block is called Barn and Silo. The center block is a six-inch block from one of the patterns in the book.
The checkerboard center was part of the original finishing/setting design, but I was leery of it at first. I was afraid it would be too dominant, and I wanted it to recede more into the background. I chose a really light yellow and hope that was subtle enough.
Despite not wanting to do one more sampler-style sew-along, I thoroughly enjoyed making these blocks and doing my own thing with the setting. I have no idea where or how I will use this quilt, but I truly love it! If I had a free wall in my sewing room, I'd hang it up there. Once I get the borders on I will show you a final picture before sending it off to be quilted.
15 Responses
You did a wonderful job – it’s beautiful!
Lovely, I like the checkerboard.
You had me at “barn”! LOVE IT.
I like your variations on the theme. The original was a little bland, the barn adds charm and interest.
I like your variations on the theme. The original was a little bland, the barn adds charm and interest.
I love your quilt! Doris
The light yellow you chose for the checkerboard works beautifully! I agree that a darker color would have dominated this sweet quilt!
That’s one cute quilt! I especially like the center block on the left side! Putting the barn in the center of the checkerboard is a great idea! 💡
Oh my goodness – I couldn’t love this more! The checkerboard and the barn center are both perfection with your very cool sampler blocks. Nicely done!
Applause, applause!!!!!
Hugs!
Oh my goodness, that is a real beauty. The barn and the checkerboard are just the right mix to go with everything else. Dare I say that most of those blocks one can easily imagine on a barn in the Mid-West, and so the barn with a quilt block as your center is just absolutely perfect!
Love your changes! The barn block is a great change. Hope you enter it in the County Fair!
I like the Riley Blake SALs because they have a different assortment of blocks. Yours is looking great. (I had thought early on I wouldn’t do this one, and I didn’t. But I enjoyed yours,)
I really like this. The shade of yellow fits perfectly. Any darker would overwhelm everything else. I’m with Carol. That barn is just charming.
try to stay cool! it’s national night out so our street is going to be lively. they set up at our house and the next door neighbor’s house. it was really fun last year. lots of kids. I can’t remember if Ryan does anything?
That center block is perfect! Love it 🥰