My 2008 Christmas Quilt

Every year for the past 8 years I have been making a quilt for one of my nieces or nephews. Being the youngest of 5 I also have been making a quilt as my sisters turn 50.  So far two of my sisters have gotten there 50th birthday quilts.  Last year I ran out of nieces or nephews who had not received a quilt.  So I made one for my family secret Santa, which was my sister Ruth.  She loved her quilt.

This year my secret Santa is my Sister Ellen.  And yes, she is getting a quilt.   And no, she does not know about my blog.  She will on Christmas day.

I planned out the quilt I want to make and pick all the fabrics a couple of months ago.  The problem is I haven’t had the time to sit and work on the quilt until this past Sunday.

Ellen’s favorite color is Pink.  At least that is what I have been lead to believe.  I found the pastel floral in my stash and thought it was the most perfect fabric for Ellen’s quilt.  I then selected various pastels from my batiks, some white on whites for the blocks.  Then the light green for sashing and the blue batik striation for the inner border.

The pattern I am using is a variation of the Birds in Flight wall hanging from Thimbleberries™.  I enlarged the main blocks from  8″  to 12″.   I also added another row of blocks and sashing both vertically and horizontally.   I will be using two borders.  The quilt should be 96″ square when complete.

The quilt will be made up of 356 half square triangles.  I used the Triangles on a Roll™ foundation paper.  It allows you to make accurate half square triangle simply and quickly.  I prefer them over Thangles™.

At this point I have all the squares sewn, cut and pressed.  I even have all the sashing cornerstones complete.  I just need to assemble the 16 main blocks.  I should be able to do that tomorrow,  as I have the blocks partially assembled.

I hope to get the main part of the quilt without borders completed for Christmas.  My family is used to getting quilts that are incomplete.  I know Ellen will be surprised.  I will update you with pictures of Christmas day.

Have a Merry Christmas.

C