Community Quilt from Cheryl

I got a very nice note and update from Cheryl today. I know many of you have been thinking of Cheryl on her cancer journey and I want to update you to say, she got a pass from having to go to the doctor until December. As someone with cancer myself, I know the joy that comes in getting a pass!! Congrats Cheryl!!

Now onto the post. Cheryl writes:
“This batik top arrived at Jo’s house in a box with lots of additional fabrics. Jo, you forwarded this top and some batiks from Jan and her friend in Wisconsin. I love it when gals clean out their stash and forward goodies to others who will finish their tops. Spreading the quilts and love around!

I spread this top out in the living room (I have a Quilt Floor — very efficient except when the puppies want to help) to determine how to trim it. Do you like my technique of securing everything with painter’s tape?

 

Then I used a measuring tape to line up the wonky side.

 

After a bit of trimming and in no time at all… the top was loaded onto the longarm.

What a simple pattern that turned out so lovely. I must admit that batiks are not my favorite, but seeing what your readers do with batiks is winning me over.

I used an edge-to-edge quilting pattern called Bossa Nova. It was designed by Natalie Gorman and is available at urbanelementz.com. I enlarged the pattern to go along with the large blocks in Sue and her friend’s top.

Don’t you love how these big blocks show off the fabric pattern? I like everything about this quilt. It is 82” x 91”, very generous for a twin bed.

 

I had company when photographing the quilt in my backyard.

 

Yes, an admirer from the trees!

 

Recently I have not been so steady on my feet, and hubby has pitched in to help with the photoshoots. Quilting is a family affair, isn’t it, even for people who don’t use a sewing machine?

 

Jan and friend included this dark blue fabric that I used for the binding. That’s a nice treat for a community quilter to have matching fabric at hand.

 

The backing came from a local Dallas quilter who donated it for use with community quilts. Thanks, anonymous donor!

 

Jan and her friend’s quilt is going to a student at Dallas Theological Seminary. It’s going to be the focal point of some guy or gal’s dorm room.

 

 

Many thanks to Jan, Jan’s friend, an anonymous donor, and all of your readers who work on community quilts or donate supplies. Making such a beauty requires a lot of time and love, and the student will surely see that as part of the gift.”

This turned out so nice. Many thanks to Cheryl for going the extra mile in trimming this up and making it into the beauty it is. I’m with Cheryl. When I first saw batiks I wasn’t a big fan but they have really grown on me. Maybe they will with Cheryl too.

Thanks to the gals who made the top…and for sending the extra fabric for binding. Cheryl is right, having that extra binding is nice.