I’ve just started month 7 of my Down the Rabbit Hole quilt, the block of the month by Sarah Fielke, it’s a medallion quilt so we’ve started in the middle and we’re gradually adding borders, this month we’re finishing the third major border. This is where I was last time you saw it, having just finished the Dresden flowers which caused me so many headaches trying to choose the right fabrics…
It was very reassuring on facebook to see just how many of us were struggling with the same issues, trying to help each other, that is the big advantage of doing a BOM that has an on-line ‘support group’ such as a facebook page, you don’t feel quite so alone, there’s always someone to help and encourage.
The suns in the corner of the cottages border are now turning into sunflowers! The outer quarters have an inner ring and an outer ring before the petals. Someone else on facebook had used purple for the outer circle and I thought ooh that would work with my colours. My original plan was to use four different gold fabrics for the petals, one for each quarter. I cut the four pieces for the inner quarters out of one 10″ square, so I thought Great, I’ve got just enough fabric with three more squares. Unfortunately I didn’t factor in the increase in size of the outer border petals, I could only get three out, luckily I found some in my stash that works sufficiently well.
As I’ve used three different purple fabrics for each flower I decided it would look better if each flower had all it’s outer petals in one fabric, it sort of brings it all together, a bit of continuity! Sarah suggested that we lay out the full quilt when arranging the applique pieces and I can see why, it would be so easy to get a Dresden flower upside-down or a flower pointing the wrong way. It also meant I could be careful when arranging my petals that they are all in the right corner! It’s getting harder and harder to photograph though as it get’s bigger with each border, it measures over 57″ already so I’m standing on tiptoe with it on the floor!
I’ve just started stitching the flowers onto the background, I’ve completed five so far, seven to go. I’ve got leaves to add in the corner squares too. The quilt feels a lot more balanced now, the dresden flowers don’t seem as dominating, I just hope it all goes together neatly when I come to piece it. Next month is all pieced, so I’m enjoying the hand sewing whilst it lasts 🙂
thecraftycreek 
it’s Gorgeous, glad you stuck to using the background you wanted, it is just lovely with it! Take care from Iowa, USA
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Now that I know someone else who’s doing this quilt (Tracey over at It’s a TSweets Day), I can see how very different it looks in another colour scheme. You take such care over your colour choices, and I think it makes the quilt completely individual and yours. I’m just waiting to see what you do with the big bunnies on the outer border 🙂
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It’s amazing how different it looks in different colours, I’m doing silver grey bunnies running across of field of purple 🙂
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Sounds gorgeous!
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The sunflowers are really wonderful in the color era like that, very clever design work. Have a relaxing time with the hand stitching!
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That is spectacular! I tried to hit the like button but my WP is acting up, so I will write that I LIKE it! (big time)! 🙂
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What a great pattern!!!!!
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this just keeps on getting better and better!
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Wow, it’s amazing and coming along so well! I love your choice of colours and it’s great that taking part in a BOM is so helpful on the tricky bits.
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This quilt is fabulous! I love your colours and fabrics. I love seeing it growing each week.
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It looks fabulous! It’s a challenging quilt pattern for sure, so it’s great to have support to keep going through all those decisions!
Enjoy your slow stitching today and thanks for linking up!
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This is looking more beautiful with each update.
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