Pages

Friday, September 29, 2017

Barn Quilt

The Barn Quilts
Originally a pattern from Piecemakers, a quilt shop in Costa Mesa, CA.  
We adapted this quite a bit, and made the original pattern of 13 blocks into 2 quilts of 6 blocks apiece.
We, being my mom and myself. 
We both have a quilt that has 6 different blocks. Come January we will switch them so we get to look at all our work all year long without getting bored with it.
These blocks are 14 inches each and represent different barns all through the year.
Here we see from top left, clockwise:
February, December, October, July, August, and November
Here is a close-up of the July block. I love the little piggies and the flag here!
Mom and I selected the fabrics, cut out the pieces, and ironed them on together. 
Then Mom used invisible thread to applique them onto the backgrounds we chose.
Then I would take them home and embroider them. This is where the slow-down took place.
I would let 6 months go by sometimes between doing my part, then do two in a month, and then wait long times in-between again.
When I did have a block done, Mom would use silk ribbon to embroider and add that three-dimensional accents that make them pop.
At the end, she put the corners and sashings on them and then I hand quilted them all.
It was a labor of love.
We call it our legacy quilts, as we only hang them, will never sit on them, and will give one of them to each of my daughters. In a few months, when we switch quilts, I'll repost so you can see the remaining blocks. 
It was a fun project. We actually finished it the end of June this year.