Allietare Completed

     Those of you who have followed my blog know that I was less than thrilled with the 2014 Bonnie Hunter mystery, Grand Illusion.  When the fabric recommendations came out in November for the 2015 mystery, I did like the color choices and had them in my stash.  I also had a lovely piece of red I had picked up at an estate sale that I wanted to use for a border.  Because of my disappointment with Grand Illusion, I chose to only make one-fourth of the blocks until I could see what was going to emerge.  Just let me say this; I love, love, love Allietare.  Some days I regret not making the full size, but the 9 block version made a small cuddle quilt that measures 55" X 55".  Someday, when I finish all of the quilts in my UFO stack and the ones still in my head, I will make another Allietare.

      Here is the back with an extra block as the label. This fabric was in the sale room at my LQS and was being passed over by other quilters because it is an ombré, but I thought it made a great backing. What do you think?

      I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really enjoyed quilting this.  It was small enough to avoid feeling overwhelming, so I used some quilt stencils to mark the blocks, then did a free motion design in the scallops.  I have one of those long scallop rulers, so that part was simplified.  I chalked the scallops onto the border before starting the quilting there, so I had reference points.  The binding was cut on the bias, machine stitched to the front and hand stitched to the back.  I used the usual method of 2-1/2 ", folded in half.  I was afraid it wouldn't ease around the curves, but it did just fine.  

     Thanks, Bonnie, for a lovely, challenging quilt.  I'm looking forward to this years mystery.

Until then, I will

Keep on Stitchin'

Judy