Saturday, February 03, 2007

February Challenge Quilt

Judy posted a Use The Stash Challenge a few days ago. February's Challenge is to choose a fabric that has been languishing in the stash begging to be made into a quilt but for any number of reasons it's never been given the chance. And USE it! Cut it up, sew it back together and have at least a completed top before the month is over.

The fabric on the botom of the photo with the grapes is the one I chose. I bought this at a fabric shop that went out of business in 1995 or 96 so it has to be older than that. I just loved the colors but have never found a pattern I wanted to use it in.

A few years later, I was in a swap of leaf fabrics. The leaf print in the middle of the second row was one I bought to swap. But when I got it in I realized it looked really good with the grape fabric. Both are Hoffman fabrics and are at least 5+ years apart but look like they could have come from the same collection. So I decided I wouldn't send that leaf fabric for the swap but would save it to go with the grapes. So now I have 2 wonderful fabrics sitting on the shelf waiting for the perfect pattern. Shortly after that I was in JoAnns and saw the piece in the last row and thought it would be great as a background or at least a backing to go with the other 2 so I bought about 6 yds. of it. Then last fall when I was re-organizing my stash I pulled the blue solid to go with them but still had no idea what to do with them.

This is where I have a problem using my special fabrics. Not in that I hate to cut them up and use them but I keep thinking I have to find just the right special pattern to use. Well today I decided it was time to quit looking for the perfect pattern and just cut them up and use them. So I used a simple pattern called On Flamingo Pond (real name Squares and Stripes but this was a "Frenzy" quilt so had to have a Frenz name.) It's just squares and rail fences alternating but looks wonderfully elegant done in these fabrics. I altered the pattern a bit and pulled a green TOT as the 3rd rail fabric instead of using the grapes there. Just to tone down the busyness a bit. The purple in the 3rd row will be the border. This is leftover from the borders I put on another quilt and is a bit over 2 yds by 24" wide. So I can just cut my borders lengthwise and have plenty. The finished size will be around 61" X 79". A nice lap/nap sized. I was really shooting for a bit larger but was limited by the number of strips I could get from the green fabric since I only had 2/3 yd of it. And it couldn't have been but a few inches longer anyway because of the length of the border fabric I have.

I'm pretty pleased with my progress and should have pictures to share tomorrow. And when it's done, back and all, it will bust around 10 yds from my stash. And I'm STILL going to have a yd of the grapes and a half yd of the leaves left for another project. LOL!

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Yet another example of the simplest patterns looking the most effective - can't wait to see it made up in those lovely fabrics Nancy

The Calico Cat said...

I can't wait to see your pond! (I was a Frenz, but not for too long... I did the "Chain" sew a thon. It became a back. It was light, lighter & lightest instead of light, medium & dark.... TEE HEE!)

Sweet P said...

Those fabrics look yummy together and the design is great. I can't wait to see your finished top.

quiltpixie said...

the fabrics lookk great together... and makng the quilt the size of the fabric you've got is an age old tradition I think! Now the question is, what will you do with the left overs? Can you face cutting them for scraps to brighten lots of quilts to come?

Vicky said...

Your quilt is going to be dynamite! Kudos for cutting that fabric!!

Don't put the left overs back in your stash! Don't do it! Piece them on the back of the quilt, or cut them up into strips, or heck, make a pillowcase out of them! You know if you put them back on the shelf, that ten years from now you'll find it again and wonder why you saved it!!! :)

(Hugs)

Pam said...

OH MY...just reading the progression of where and how all these beautiful pieces came from and ended up together made me laugh...and then I visualized how MCM would look had this happened at my house and saw nothing but me sitting in a heap of fabric, rocking back and forth, humming a simple tune, sucking my thumb and petting FQ bundles, favorite prints, pattern books and wonderful notions. LOL thanks for the smile..and can't wait to see how you transform this wonderful set of prints.

Pam said...

The grape fabric is one I would have bought as well. Good that you are finally using it, nice simple pattern will show the fabrics off nicely. Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Granny said...

Can't wait to see the top. Does it feel good to be using that fabric?

Gail said...

Love that pattern, and your fabrics will be wonderful in it. I was a frenz for a while, years ago when MAB posted very frequently. Is she still around? I have a set of fabrics that I was considering for the Feb hr a day that might work up in this quite well...hmmmmmmmm

Meredith said...

I love purple, I too have a stack of fabric that I have not cut into. I am always looking for that perfect pattern. Your post is inspiring me. I will check back to see your progress.

Passionate Quilter said...

Hey Nancy--I totally missed your post about wanting Heartstring blocks for your birthday! Jan. was kind of a blur! Do you still want more? I'd be happy to make a couple for ya! Let me know, you know where to find me. And I've been making string blocks too--is it catching? I love the Heartstrings one though, I definitely will do one of those to send off.
I love the next pattern you are going to do for your challenge. So simple, yet very striking. I printed it off--I might just do one too! Thanks for saving me the trouble of looking for one.

Cynthia said...

good for you Nancy taking up Judy's challenge. Love the fabric you have chosen to cut into. Can't wait to see how it all looks.

Laurie Ann said...

Those fabrics are perfect together!

Samantha said...

Those fabrics will look great in that pattern- I love that rich purple!

Judy said...

Nancy, the grape fabric is similar to one I bought as well. Good for you - use that stash!

Pilar Ramos said...

As it accounts are going to you to be wonderful. I like to go to buy fabrics, threads, of everything. Greetings from Spain.

Susan said...

Oh, what a wonderful pattern and lucious fabrics for it.......

I am already making a mental inventory of what I have on hand.

bingo~bonnie said...

Your Flamingo Pond pattern looks a lot like the Warm Wishes Pattern - which is what came to my mind when I first looked at your photo of the fabrics ;) I will be back soon to see your top! I think it will be so pretty in these colors! ~Bonnie

Shelina said...

This is a beautiful quilt, I really like all the different fabric you used on it. It doesn't look like a simple quilt, but I am glad that it is. You made it so quickly. I was a Frenz too! but I had so many quilting groups at that time that I just couldn't keep up with all the emails.