Well here are the 13 rows all put together. You most likely won’t be seeing this one again for awhile. I really and truly am taking a break from this one now for the rest of the summer and will try to get started on the borders and corners this fall.
276 hours of work in this hand pieced wonder so far. I estimate about another 100 or close to that to do the border and corners. And no I really do not plan to make another one - I think 2 is enough. It will be time to try other challenges after this one is done.
I took the Baltimore Bliss quilt out the other day to start looking it over a bit. A couple weeks ago I had drawn some feathered wreaths on the two plain blocks and some feathers in the half square triangle and corner areas. When looking it all over though I found that my border just wasn’t laying flat enough. When I put it on I had noticed a little stretch here in there but thought it was going to be ok when it was quilting. When I got it out yesterday though to start drawing a quilting grid on it I decided it wasn’t good enough – not flat enough and it would be hard to quilt it out well. I got out the trusty seam ripper and took all four borders off (plain borders) and now today it is back to the thinking on what to do with it to finish it off. With the borders off it lays flat so the problem was when I put the borders on it. I’m sure I will solve the problem and really want to get it done today if I can. I still have the same fabric so not a problem there. The fault (besides me) is that the fabric has just a little stretch to it and the quilt is set on point so there are half square triangles on the edges. I need to be more careful.
I’ll show a photo tomorrow or next of the completed top.
{ 18 comments }
Whoa, you go girlfriend, that is awesome! What a stunning quilt that is, and hand pieced to boot! Are you keeping this one for yourself?
Are the borders as complex to piece as the center?
.-= CJ´s last blog ..Nearly insane! Ack! =-.
That is so beautiful. I have great admiration for anyone who has the patience to make one of those.
.-= Judy Laquidara´s last blog ..Memorial Day Challenge Quilt #1 =-.
I admire your work! Beautiful!
Have a nice weekend!
.-= Oddbjørg Pedersen´s last blog ..BQF =-.
Oh Karen I’m so proud of you!!! You met your goals long before you needed to. I look forward to seeing what you do with the borders on the Bliss….it’s such a pretty quilt :0)
Crispy
Wow Karen! Amazing!
.-= anina´s last blog ..I’m still here =-.
We blogged about “Insanity” and “Insanity revisited” only a month ago*, and are amazed to see all 13 rows put together now. It looks even more beautiful than we imagined…the red-and-ivory colorway is stunning. We admire your work, and this accomplishment.
(*http://quiltinspiration.blogspot.com/search/label/Dear%20Jane)
.-= Marina´s last blog ..Waste not, want not: Quilts from reclaimed clothing =-.
I know you must feel good. I think it is beautiful.
That is amazing looking! I’m so impressed that you managed to do it with just one red fabric too… it’s such a cool look! (I would never have been able to stick with just one fabric… that’s awe inspiring to me!)
.-= Robin´s last blog ..Happy pants dance! =-.
Congratulations Karen! It is magnificent!
What are you planning to do for the borders?
Congrats on the finish – so far! A gorgeous quilt in red and I admire you for handpiecing it!
Oh, extra work on the ‘Baltimore Bliss’…. I agree, it’s better to unpick, redo and in the end be satisfied, than not do anything and it’ll haunt you forever!
Have a great weekend!
.-= Astrid´s last blog ..Weekend Updates; Prize, CTS, Garden, Award… =-.
Karen, all I can say is “”Wow”!! It turned out just beautifully! I think though that I would agree with you, two is most likely enough. I look forward to seeing your post tomorrow!
.-= Jackie´s last blog ..Progress On My Stash Fabrics =-.
Love your Insanity quilt. Still can’t imagine making one of those. I can’t wait to see your Baltimore Bliss quilt. But, it may have to wait until I get back.
.-= Vivian´s last blog ..The Quilt that Grew and Grew =-.
I find that if I do a row of staystitching a little less than 1/4″ from the edge around the quilt top, that my borders go on without rippling.
.-= Wanda´s last blog ..Clean the garage, mark the items =-.
It’s looking fabulous! I love it in red and white.
That is so incredible!! You are so inspiring.
.-= Yvette´s last blog ..Random Stuff (Lots of it) =-.
thanks everyone. I am putting the usual border on it – the pieced triangles and the scallop edges.
Yes next time I need to stitch around the quilt edges before adding the borders to it to keep from having the little bit of stretch!
Congratulations! You deserve both a pat on the back and a vacation!
Gorgeous!
.-= Miri´s last blog ..Vintage Thursday Thingie: Silver Serving Pieces =-.
Great job! Your perseverance has really paid off! Take that much needed break and I can’t wait to see the border blocks start!
.-= Gina E´s last blog ..I Loaded This One =-.
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