Down a New Rabbit Hole

I got an email this weekend from someone who was looking for a pattern in this Farmhouse Favorites book by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. Since Carrie is my favorite designer I have her book. The book is out of print now, sadly, but you can still get copies on Amazon and used copies as well. Twelve of Carrie's patterns are in the book, and those individual patterns will not be found for love or money anymore. I sent my reader the link to purchase the book, but I don't know if she did or not. It's a great book, actually.

The email from my reader put me in mind of an ancient UFO that I had started back in 2010, maybe earlier.  I think I abandoned it because we were moving and I never picked it up again after we were settled in our new house. The project was called Opening Day and I was using the exact fabrics shown on the pattern cover, "Rites of Spring" by Brannock and Patek. I went out to the garage and had a rummage, and low and behold, I found the box with the project. Unfortunately, the pattern instructions were nowhere to be seen, so I was lucky to have the book, which has the pattern in it. 

It seems that I had cut everything out and had made 140 flying geese for the quilt blocks. This was back in the day when I felt that close was good enough and starching fabric wasn't anything I considered doing. Well. These days I go to a lot of trouble to have my flying geese be perfectly accurate in their measurement, and I can't sew on floppy unstarched fabric to save my life. What could be done to salvage this project? I started out by trimming the flying geese down to as close to the exact size as I could get. I wasn't getting much to trim which encouraged me.

I decided to lightly starch the block units as I went along, which was a big mess. It did work pretty well though once it dried. I didn't notice any shrinking and the fabric crisped up enough to make it at least "sewable". Gosh, am I ever spoiled working with nicely starched fabric now that I have adopted that practice. 

I made eight red stars on Friday. They are a skosh shy of 8 1/2", but I think I can make it work.

Then on Saturday, I made eight green stars. 

I still like this fabric, and green and red are a favorite combination for me. The other stars are kind of a bronze color, and a chocolate brown. I think I'll work on this a bit each week and see where I get. Wish me luck! Do you ever rediscover an old project and decide to finish it? This seems to be my year for tackling UFOs!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. Eva is back from science camp. I picked her up on Friday at 6:00 PM. She was starving and dirty, so I brought her home and put her right in the shower. We fed her fresh baked banana bread and a hot meal, and she was in bed by 8:30. All in all, I think she had a great time.

 

 

Comments

[Mary]

I have been machine quilting some old tops that I made years ago. What a feeling of accomplishment to get a few of those completed!!!

I see copies of the Miss Rosie book on my favorite used book site and hope to get one ordered.

[Erin]

What a difference a little starch makes!

Those colors work so well with that pattern. I can't wait to see the finished project! It will be beautiful.

I've been thinking about that book for quite a while and finally decided I had to have "just one more" quilting book.

[Lecia]

I attend a retreat that has this quilt hanging in one of the bedrooms. I’ve always wanted to make it. I also have the book, but never knew the quilt pattern was in that book!

Now I’m headed down a rabbit hole! Thanks

[Sandy]

Miss Rosie’s books are so great! Your quilt is going to be gorgeous, Brannock & Patek fabrics can’t be beat. Starched fabric has been a game changer. I’ve gone back to older projects pre-starch, I will have to proceed cautiously as well.

[sue s]

I recently checked that book out from our library and copied the pattern. But it's going to be down the list aways...I'll enjoy your process in the mean time! I'm glad Eva enjoyed science camp. Yay STEM!

[Nancy Watkins]

I remember way back when, when you sewed a lot of Miss Rosie patterns and with all the yummy Moda fabric. You will be so happy to have this finished. I love finding old projects and there are many I wish I would have hung onto because I seem to love them more than the new ones. Will be fun to see your finish! Now I have to go see if I still have my book.

[Jan]

I ran across that book in my cupboard last week when I was looking for something else. Miss Rosie's patterns are so well written & user-friendly you can't go wrong with them! I'll bet Eva had a great time at science camp! But a hot shower & a delicious dinner were probably very welcome after a week away! Happy sewing this week!

[T Holzer]

What an amazing find, Nicole! If you give it up again, just send it to me because I'll finish it and keep it haha!! Maybe I need to go down to my sewing room and find some fabric in my stash to make my own version........

[Gloria]

I'm in the process of packing and cleaning out for a downsizing move....after 40 yes in this house. I don't have time to sew but I'm going to look for the book as I pack!!

[Donna Murdock]

Thank you for all your postings! I read everyone of them and I am quite addicted. I love Carrie's books, too. I just don't understand why I cannot sew fast enough to make ten quilts a month though. So many beautiful ideas and just not enough time or energy to stitch them all! I laugh at myself with all my first world problems.

[Ina]

so glad Eva had a good time...dirty is part of the experience of camping. ;p

I love those greens so much. That is gonna be a beautiful quilt.

[Carole]

The quilt on the cover is hanging over my sofa right now. It is in the top 5 of my favorites. In case of fire..."Grab that quilt!"

[Sally]

That made me chuckle "she was starving and dirty" after a week at science camp!! What a good Nana you are!

So glad to hear of the progress of one of Miss Rosie's fantastic patterns. I know you'll be so satisfied to have finished such a pretty quilt.

[Colleen]

That pattern is also in another book of hers - Spice of Life Quilts. It is a great book - I have plans to make all of the quilts in it except two.

[Dianne]

I bought this book when you started making your “Don’t Fence Me in Quilt”. I want to make Opening Day too. In the book the pattern is made with blue and white fabrics. I have 3 other quilts to make before I can start this one.

[Marie]

Wow, it looks like the quilting gods are with you on this one! So great that you not only found your UFO but had the pattern in your book as well. I've always loved this quilt and am looking forward to seeing yours.

[Marsha]

I love anything Miss Rosie. I wish she was still designing. I’ve collected all her patterns and books and have made sooo many of her designs - some of them twice!! The Opening Day pattern is one of my all time favorites. I’m like you Nicole, I starch, love Miss Rosie patterns, my piecing has improved sooo very much over the years (starching has helped that a lot!), and we use the same starch I noticed. I even love the fabric line you are using to do this quilt and I’m pretty certain somewhere in the back of a cupboard I have the same line but just haven’t used it yet. 🤦🏼‍♀️
Where we differ is that once I start a project I’m like a dog with a bone, I don’t stop until I’m finished. I have one unfinished project that I started about 2-3 years ago. I think it was a Moda quilt along and I lost interest in it and walked away from it and haven’t gone back.
I love your blog posts Nicole. Thanks so much for sharing a piece of your life with us!