Glory be, I have actually finished something. I had to stay inside out of the heat yesterday and used my time well. All 4th of July activities in our area were canceled except for our neighborhood golf cart parade. Even that was sparsely attended. As I write this it is 106°.
I finished sewing all my Blockheads 5 rows together, and starched and sewed on my inner and outer borders. Our humidity is around 12% so my dripping wet starched fabric dried in about 20 minutes. I am not kidding.
Anyway, back to my quilt. I love how it turned out! My fabrics were Harvest Road, an older collection by Lella Boutique that I had been saving. My background was also Lella Boutique, from a more recent collection called Flower Pot. The Moda Bella solid that is the closest match is Eggshell.
My setting is what makes the quilt, I think. It is a free pattern by My Sew Quilty Life, called Star Dance. It called for 29 blocks: 5 12" blocks, and 24 6" blocks. It is one of the best patterns I have seen for combining sampler blocks of two different sizes. It is supposed to finish at 60" square, without borders. I needed it to be a bit bigger so I added a 2" inner border and a 4 1/2" outer border. I used every inch of that border fabric! Yes, it is pieced.
I am on a roll now in terms of getting the borders on my UFOs, so look for at least two more completions in the next week.
I hope my US readers had a happy 4th of July!
PS: Sara and I have a new book review podcast up on Apple Podcasts and YouTube (Reeding Between the Lines). We are talking about our best 5 books of the year so far.
It's a stunning piece for sure!
Podcast was great, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Posted by: Mary | July 05, 2024 at 04:22 AM
This is simply beautiful, Nichole! You always have such a sense of color with great piecing accuracy. You've outdone yourself on this one! Stay as cool as you can in this heat and keep cranking out more wonderful quilts!
Posted by: Pam D | July 05, 2024 at 04:33 AM
Beautiful quilt top! Great fabrics, terrific setting - and your always stellar piecing. What a beauty!
Keep cool, Nicole, and sew on!
Posted by: Debbie R | July 05, 2024 at 04:58 AM
Wow! That’s an eye popper. Yep, always so satisfying to cross one off the list, but this one is truly a keeper. I do love the setting— I’m not a fan of these block-a-longs, but you have me convinced they can work— your quilt looks totally cohesive. Why am I complaining about being in the high 80s— we’re in Maine— humidity is 100%, though.
Posted by: Carol | July 05, 2024 at 05:25 AM
What a fabulous top. Your piecing is so clean and perfect. I hope you get a break from the heat. We have had more moderate temperatures this summer. But tornadoes devastated the west side of Omaha a few weeks back and last week the flooding from all the heavy rains in the Dakotas coming downstream. Then our suburb got 7.27" of rain Monday night into Tuesday. So far we have been ok. Our house sits halfway up a hill, so no sewer issues thankfully. I'm not sure which is worse. I don't handle heat well! I'd be staying inside too!
Posted by: Nancy | July 05, 2024 at 06:03 AM
What a beauty! I am sure you are happy to see it completed! I have not participated in the Moda block alongs for the past few cycles. They seem to drag on too long for me and I am not making many bed-sized quilts as of late. Lately, I have been picking a pattern I have wanted to make and then choosing stash fabric. I donate then to an organization called “Quilts of Compassion” that distributes them to victims of natural disasters. I just sent them 22 quilts! I am happy to use my stash but also to do a pattern that has been on my “to do” list.
It was 110 here with 37% humidity so we also spent most of the day inside, except for a brief spell in the pool, mostly to entertain our pups. But, that is summer in Arizona! Stay cool and be thankful for air conditioning!
Posted by: Patty | July 05, 2024 at 06:29 AM
Love the dots and plaids. Congrats on the finish!!!
Many years ago we moved from very hot but dry Las Vegas to hot but very humid Memphis. Our kids thought the movers had somehow cracked our drinking glasses . They had never experienced condensation.
Posted by: Barbara Groeschell | July 05, 2024 at 06:38 AM
Good morning. Your quilt is fabulous! I also think that this is the best pattern I have seen for putting together sampler blocks. My Sew Quilty Life also has some cute spool patterns. I have heard that Purex is no longer going to make any Sta-Flo. What brand of starch do you use?
Posted by: CarolE | July 05, 2024 at 06:40 AM
The best sampler quilt I have seen in a long time! The overall cohesiveness really makes it, while still letting the individual blocks shine. Well, done!
Posted by: Claire | July 05, 2024 at 07:12 AM
The quilt is fabulous, and what a great setting!
Posted by: Diane | July 05, 2024 at 07:34 AM
I love this setting! And so sorry for the heat. We will be in the 80s today with scattered showers. Sewing room, here I come!
Posted by: sue s | July 05, 2024 at 07:46 AM
A starry finish on the 4th of July! You did a beautiful job, as always. This is a quilt I'd have a difficult time parting with so hope you're planning to keep it! I'll tune in to the latest podcast as I'm sewing today! Weather report from NW Wyoming is 59 degrees with a high of 73 forecast for today. I had to laugh at the cute comment about kids not knowing about condensation on glasses from humidity! 😅
Posted by: Jan | July 05, 2024 at 08:24 AM
Absolutely gorgeous quilt - stunning! I have gone to the site and downloaded the setting you used. Thanks for the link. While you are very dry over there, here in Florida, we are swimming in humidity. Yuck! Stay cool and I will try to stay dry! :)
Posted by: Rebecca T | July 05, 2024 at 08:38 AM
one of your readers donated 22 quilts?! that's impressive.
this setting is just wonderful. it really makes the blocks stand out.
we were cooler yesterday but it's going back up today. ugh. it's my punishment for complaining about being cold all winter.
I hope you and your family stay safe. I saw there is a fire near Mariposa. I didn't know if that was close to Sara. Hope not.
Posted by: Ina | July 05, 2024 at 09:38 AM
Fantastic!!
Posted by: Clara | July 05, 2024 at 09:58 AM
So impressive! You set your mind to something, and you really made a beautiful quilt! Here's to hot days for being productive...
Posted by: Tricia | July 05, 2024 at 12:30 PM
I wasn't sure I was going to like this one because of the somewhat bland colors but once together they are much more than the sum of their parts. It turned out gorgeous! I love it! Very nicely done Nicole! ❤️
Posted by: Carolyn | July 05, 2024 at 03:59 PM
Nicole, Your finish is just awesome beautiful. Love the colors and setting, Don't think I am that creative, only wish.
Posted by: Francine from Dubuque Iowa | July 06, 2024 at 08:49 AM
Oh, my goodness, that quilt is gorgeous! (I usually don’t like sampler quilts because they look so scattered, but you made a beautiful finish with this setting!)
Posted by: Margaret | July 07, 2024 at 09:23 AM
This quilt is absolutely gorgeous! I think it's one of my favorites that you have made!
Posted by: Lisa D. | July 08, 2024 at 07:57 AM