Pennsylvania Dutch

I was getting a bit tired of working so diligently on the vegetables and I needed another project that I could also work on. You know, so I could have a bit of a change of pace. And I am totally committed to this being the year where I complete all my unfinished projects. Yeah, I know, you can stop laughing now. I really mean it.

Anyway, I was going through the bins of my UFO’s and came across this.

This quilt got started in the late 1990′s as a group project when I worked at ThimbleCreek. There were probably twelve or so of us on staff then and we would pick a quilt and each of us would make 12 blocks exactly the same and then we would exchange blocks so everyone walked away with 12 different blocks. I think I participated in four such projects while I was working there. It was a lot of fun and I’ve gotten some gorgeous quilts because of those group projects. This quilt is the only one that I never finished.

When I opened up the box, I just had the ten pieced blocks.

Also in the box were the fabrics for the applique blocks. Yes, it’s applique again. Real change of pace right? There were only six whole blocks and ten setting triangles that needed to be appliqued. I’m happy to say that I have finished the six whole blocks and am mostly finished with two of the setting triangles.

It’s been pretty quick and I’m pleased with how it’s looking on the design wall.

I can’t remember the name of the book this pattern was in, I just remember it’s from an antique Pennsylvania Dutch quilt. The pattern calls for a pretty elaborate applique border but I don’t know if I’ll do that. Although now that I’m thinking about it, the quilt is so complex and rich, it would probably look silly with a simple, plain border. That means more applique, hum, we shall see. I’m really loving it.