Picnic and Fairgrounds by Denyse Schmidt
The rotary cutter and sewing machine have had a tough few days! My fabric bundle Picnic and Fairgrounds by Denyse Schmidt was transformed into pinwheel blocks too numerous to stack neatly without collapsing (not for lack of trying though).
I totally underestimated how much work it was going to be to make enough pinwheel blocks for a relatively large quilt, and for a while there this quilt looked like it might be another baby quilt. However I persevered. 88 pinwheel blocks. 350+ half square triangles, all neat and trimmed.
Right from the start the plan was to sew the pinwheels together by adding a strip of sashing fabric between each of the blocks, the only difficulty was choosing a fabric to suit the mix of colors/patterns.
I was keen to break away from a solid white sashing and instead wanted to use a red polka dot printed on a white background, but I was just a little concerned how it would interact with the pinwheel blocks.
I was keen to break away from a solid white sashing and instead wanted to use a red polka dot printed on a white background, but I was just a little concerned how it would interact with the pinwheel blocks.
Trust me, many other potential sashing fabrics were auditioned to convince me to go ahead with my initial choice, and I am glad I did. (The red polka dot print is from the Delilah collection by Tanya Whelan - it also turned out to be a good choice as dots were printed on grain which certainly makes cutting and sewing with such narrow strips a whole lot easier).
Next up? Preparing the quilt back.
Thank you for stopping by,
Rita
Beautiful...love pinwheels but never thought of sashing them.... the red dot fabric is perfect!
ReplyDeletei love the polka dot sashing, and the picnic gingham trim. excellent choices!
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing!! I rarely do pinwheels they are SO hard for me!! And look at you all those pinwheels!! I really love the border too!!
ReplyDeleteYum, Rita! This is such a happy-looking quilt.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely loving the dots on the sashing!!!
ReplyDeletei luv it! the sashing is great!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so wonderful! I've got the blue paid looking one to make myself a picnic inspired skirt :)
ReplyDeleteI think your choice for sashing is great. What a wonderful looking quilt. I can't imagine me making all those pinwheels.
ReplyDeleteThat polka-dot sashing was a brave choice...I never would have thought of that. But it works perfectly!
ReplyDeleteRita, that is awesome!! I absolutely love the polka dot sashing....
ReplyDeleteFantastic! the polka dot sashing is perfect! You have such a great eye.
ReplyDeleteThe red polka-dot sashing lets the pinwheels breathe and seems to give movement. Great fun choice.
ReplyDeleteoh how I love a pinwheel quilt. And the red dots are so perfect for it. I LOVE THIS QUILT!
ReplyDeleteFANTASTIC!!! This is a wonderfully happy, fun quilt! LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteLove!! Love!! Love!!
ReplyDeletebeautiful! Your comment about the dots being printed on grain - I have been trying to be more observant and notice lots of prints are off-grain :( How often should I expect to find this? And - how do you deal with it - cut on the grain or on the pattern? Thanks!
ReplyDeletePerfect application for this collection! I love it. But I hav to admit, when I saw the first photo of the top, I crossed my fingers and hoped you were laying it out on point. Oh well, maybe I'll have to make that one!
ReplyDeleteWell I think it looks terrific! Love how the dots bring it all together. You have shown diligence and perseverance to sew all those pinwheels.
ReplyDeleteI love it, can't wait to see it finished.
ReplyDeleteWords can't even express how beautiful this quilt is!
ReplyDeleteLove this! You've done it again!
ReplyDeleteHi Rita
ReplyDeletethat is beautiful lovely colours and great dots!
LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE
ReplyDeleteWOW - awesome!
ReplyDeleteHi Rita,
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, bright and happy quilt! How do you achieve such precision in your quilts? Do you "square up" the blocks after sewing together the 4 HSTs? Any other tips? I admire your creativity in choosing and putting together the fabric and patterns, and your skill in sewing the pieces together. Inspirational!!! Lovely !!!
That is super cute. Thanks so much for sharing. I never would have thought of a polka dot as sashing. Terrific idea.
ReplyDelete- Jen
Just love this. Pinwheels and spots are my favourites
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilt....the sashing looks great.
ReplyDeletethe sashing looks great with these pinwheels.
ReplyDeleteKaren
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
this is great! and yep, stick with your instinct it's usually right!
ReplyDeleteRita, this looks fantastic! I am in awe of how perfect each pinwheel block is. Absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeletei like the dots alot! good job!
ReplyDeleteRita, I love the way your brain works!! Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteA veritable, heart palpitating TRIUMPH.
ReplyDeleteA very pretty quilt..... as always! Love it!
ReplyDeleteLove pinwheels and the red dot sashing worked so beautifully!
ReplyDeleteGreat choice with the stashing!
ReplyDeleteRita, you amaze me. The sashing looks great! I probably would have done a solid red or something and then it would have dominated the whole quilt. You choice of the white background with red polka dots is perfect. I see you also added some other dots, and stripes to the quilt, as well as some Katie Jump ribbons.
ReplyDeleteLovely,
Lindsay
I can only echo what others have said- perfectly amazing and a fantastic triumph!
ReplyDeleteenvious :)
ReplyDeleteI. LOVE. IT. LOVE the sashing.
ReplyDeleteOh man! I was going to do pinwheels with my DS Picnic and Fairgrounds. Now at least I know it will look smashing if I get around to it. Your quilts are awesome as always!
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain, those pinwheels are time consuming! Just did 48 of various sizes for a twin quilt. Then snowballed them. Then appliqued circles on the center to make them look like umbrella tops. Then sashed and sewed them. Phew! A long process.
ReplyDeleteThese look great, and I think your sashing fabric choice is perfect.
That is such a pretty quilt. I love the polka dots you chose for the sashing.
ReplyDeleteRita, I guess you know Pinwheels are my very favourite - yes, a lot of work to have them looking beautiful - you have made a lovely quilt!
ReplyDeleteHugs - Lurline♥
This quilt is inspiring for my DS fabric too. Plus I bought some solids. I'm looking forward to your quilting. I recently made a pinwheel quilt and did a stitch in a ditch so I'm anxious to see what you come up with. Wonderful. Nice points.
ReplyDeleteI would never have thought of that sashing, but I love it! What a fun quilt!
ReplyDeleteWow! That red spot looks great!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I invested in quite a lot of the same polka dot fabric for a quilt I have in mind and its lovely to see it in an already made real life quilt, beautiful work as always :-)
ReplyDeleteThis fabric really works great for the pinwheels! I absolutely love the red dots for sashing -- brilliant!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely quilt. Looks like a whole bunch of fun sewed together. Jacinta
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! And the sashing just makes the colors all pop together...wonderful job!! Can't wait to see it all finished :o)
ReplyDeleteShanna
Ah, it’s soothing and yet energetic at the same time !~! Your choices of sashing and borders are fantabuloso, just perfect.
ReplyDeleteYou are my quilting inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteSuch perfect points.
Such beautiful fabric combinations.
Sigh!!
This is a beautiful quilt. The combination is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI love your choices of fabric and putting them together. The shashing is just great! congrats.
ReplyDeleteThat is one cheerful quilt top! And a heck of a lot of HSTs. Can't wait to see the finished quilt.
ReplyDeleteI love it! So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the meander of yellow and orange pinwheels down the quilt - they really catch my eye! Red polka dots - so right!
ReplyDeleteNOW I want to make a pinwheel .. the sashing is inspired ... and as usual your quilt top is just divine inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI think this one should be (affectionately) called the "Hypno Quilt". :P
ReplyDeleteStunning! I love pinwheels & the sashing is perfect. Jxo
ReplyDeleteStunning work Rita - what an incredible amount of sewing! Love the dot for the sashing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous quilt top! And a lot of work. Kudos to you!!! I love the dots as sashing, too!
ReplyDeleteIt turned out beautiful! Now I need to get to work with mine!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun quilt! Great choice on the sashing.
ReplyDeleteJust a lovely combination of all those bright colors and the polka dots!! I also really like the border you selected! Can't wait to see what you do for the backing :)
ReplyDeleteLove it! The sashing was a great choice and those pinwheels are pristine!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely gorgeous! It so fun and happy.
ReplyDeleteyou do such beautiful work, I love this quilt!
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic
ReplyDeletePutting sashing around the blocks is so much easier. Making the sashing polkas- sheer genius!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented!! This quilt is awesome!
ReplyDeleteLauren
I love that red polka dot sashing--just added this one to my inspiration file!
ReplyDeletesimply fabulous! perfect for summer, too. you do beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderfully fresh combination! The red polka dot fabric is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI just love making pinwheels. And ever since I started using the easy option explained here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekYpJzHoW6E
it just goes so fast!!
Enjoy your quilt!!!
What an awesome quilt! So bright, cheery, and fun. Great work, well done.
ReplyDeleteHave a super great sewing and stitching day.
You scored again! with your delicious polka-dot sashing. I can count on you to come up with a fresh and interesting look every time. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Stunning quilt. Love the polka dots was a great choice. The whole quilt moves around just as I am sure you planned. Great job
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteThe red polka dots really make the white background pop!
ReplyDeleteOn Saturday I finished my April Pinwheels quilt, finished size 87"x87"...12x12 5" pinwheels, with 2" sashing...And I made 150 pinwheels instead only (ha!) 144, so I think there will be a matching pillow soon!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you told us that Denyse Schmidt fabric was at Joanns. I went right out and got some. I thought pinwheels as soon as I saw it. So it made me happy to see that you had the same thought. I love how you have some Katie Jump Rope in there and I really love the idea of sashing the blocks. I didn't think of doing that. Thanks so much for sharing you creations with us all the time. I get alot of inspiration from you.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the sashing!!
ReplyDeleteThe red polka dot sashing is perfect! I love it.
ReplyDeletePinwheels and polka dot sashing could not go better together. Your quilt is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLooks great!! I really like your sashing and border choices.
ReplyDeleteLove the sashing and the border...they look perfect together and set of the blocks to perfection!
ReplyDeleteToni
www.lifeinapinkbunnysuit.com
Well done, I think it looks awesome! Reminds me of a sunny summer day!
ReplyDeleteYou inspire me! Now, I just need more time!!! Happy day!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE IT ! The polka dot sashing really looks wonderful , and it was a great idea !!!
ReplyDeleteWow! I love That!!! Good job on the sashing, it deffinitly complements instead of taking away from the pinwheels
ReplyDeleteThat is fabulous!
ReplyDeletethe red polka dot sashing is genius!
ReplyDeleteI am in love with this quilt! I adore pinwheels and the fabric you chose is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteLove that quilt - great colours and LOVE the red and white spot!
ReplyDeleteCute, cute, cute! I just love polka dot fabric. I think this is a "Happy Quilt."
ReplyDeleteOh I love pinwheels and these are just adorable between the dots!!
ReplyDelete