Monday, January 24, 2022

Design Wall Monday

It's a finished quilt top on the design wall today... woo hoo!

This is my version of the Rhododendron Trail which is the Quiltville mystery that started in November  2021. If you think it doesn't look exactly like the original design, you are correct. Here are the changes I made: 1) sew fewer blocks, 2) blocks are straight set, not on point 3) no sashing, and 4) different borders on the top/bottom and sides, made from leftover blocks.

Sewing the blocks together was a breeze, but the borders took a lot of thought.

 At first there was going to be a dark plain border but after I sewed 2 borders on and made a cutting error and ran out of the purple stick figure fabric, a new plan had to be made! (Pay no attention to the sewing machine collection on the top of the design wall!) 

trial and error border construction

I spent a long time playing with the blocks to a workable design and to get the measurements right. My friend Becky tried to help me figure it out mathematically to sew coping borders, but my brain nearly short circuited doing that! So I used the trial and error method, and added extra pieces here and there and ... voilĂ !


Quilt top measures: 48.5" x 58.5" 

Linking up to Design Wall Monday at Judy's

23 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

it looks great! Bonnie always has so many pieces in her quilts I have only made a couple of them

julieQ said...

How perfect! I just love it! I am working on borders, too.

julieQ said...

How perfect! I just love it! I am working on borders, too.

Gretchen Weaver said...

This is so pretty, great job with the changes! Happy stitching!

Nann said...

Oh, I like your version!

Rebecca said...

While I have never sewn a Bonnie Mystery I love seeing all the ways people make it up using their own colors or changing the setting!
Soooo much fun seeing the "options" people use that make it their own.

Susan Earle said...

Well done! Sounds like a perfect way to figure out borders!

Susan Earle said...

Well done! Sounds like a perfect way to design borders.

Mary said...

I've got most of my Block 2's ready to finish. Not sure I want the Setting pieces either. I like the crossed Butterflies in the Straight setting. Fun Borders. Still have my Grassy Creek Blocks in Limbo. I didn't care for the big Gray Sashings and string Pieced border on the pattern. Way to make it your own.

Deanna W said...

A finished quilt is perfect no matter how many troubles you met with along the way!

loulee said...

It looks great. I like your version very much.
I'm a trial and error designer too. LOL It works well.

Robin said...

I love the way it turned out. Nice job!

Judy Hansen said...

I like all the hourglass blocks going the same way - less confusing to my eye. Good job on figuring out a nice border and using the extra blocks in it.

Ivani said...

Perfect changes, Kathy.
Love your version for this quilt.

Pat at Bell Creek Quilts said...

your borders are a great modification for the RT quilt!

Chantal said...

Well, your trial and error method works just fine because this is a dynamite of a finished border. Love it to pieces. Better than Bonnie's I would dare to say. Kudos to you! ;^)

Kim said...

Gosh, what a lot of piecing in your gorgeous quilt top. LOVE that border!

Jenny said...

Great job! I tried one of Bonnie's quilts once but gave up, there were too many little pieces involved!

Jan said...

This layout looks really lovely! I am still deciding wether to change mine or not. Love the colours in this too.

Mary said...

Looks great, well done!

Sherri said...

I am with you on having the butterflies making a secondary pattern. Thanks for the idea of completing it as I have been in a dilemma..

Sherri

sandi s said...

Your quilt is gorgeous! Hugs,

Vicki W said...

Your version of Bonnie's quilt is beautiful! I applaud you. I don't have the patience for her patterns although I do like the designs.