Sunday, January 1, 2017

Cows Quilt Flimsy Finish

One of the fabrics I snagged when I was shopping with Julie last week was a rich purple, my aunt's favourite colour, "Mementos" by Gudrun Erla for Red Rooster Fabrics.  I thought with the multi-coloured daisies all over it, it might work as the border for the cows quilt.  I'm so happy to say it DID!!
Finishing this flimsy was on my 'sidenote' to my Q4 list and with a couple of hours until midnight, I got it done!  The above photo was taken first thing Sunday morning, January 1, but Instagram peeps saw it New Year's Eve.

Here's a closer look at that border and how it just works with the multitude of fabrics in this quilt, which was my RSC 2015 project...that um yeah, kind of bled into 2016! (get it?! 'bled'?)
I am SO happy with that barn block! It has led to my block plan for the RSC 2017!  For placement of all the blocks, I staggered the floral churn dashes rather than trying to line up seams.  The cows weren't all exactly the same size; they actually were 12" unfinished which made me freak out a bit.  However, I had many months to ponder a solution to this problem, and so I ended up adding narrow strips to two sides, and because the cows and the churn dashes all are floating on the background fabric, it worked.

Speaking of working, I thought I'd show you how well this Quilt Calculator from Robert Kaufman works for borders.  It's a free app!

Notice though how many uses it has, from figuring out how much backing you need depending on the size of your flimsy, to measurements for those pesky side-setting and corner triangles.  Here is how I used it to figure out how much fabric I needed for my final border:
I put in the width and length for the flimsy before borders. 60.5 X 64" it was at this point.  I wanted a 4" finished border (it automatically will add the 1/2" seam allowance).  So I put 4 in Border 1.  Notice that it will figure out yardage for up to 4 borders.  Nice!  Hit 'calculate' and...
It tells me how much yardage, and how many strips I will need to cut.  I did cut seven, joined them with mitred seams and I had a little left over.  I did buy a yard, because who buys 7/8??!!  So I had about 5" X WOF left in addition to the little bit left over!

I'm up to speed with my 150 Canadian Women blocks too.
#19 Roberta Bondar, first Canadian woman in space in 1992 (note the use of black in her block); #20 Sarah Edmonds, the only woman, Canadian or American, to receive a federal veteran's pension, because she disguised herself as a man! #21 is Amber Balcaen, who, as of August 28, 2016, is in the first level of NASCAR. She's only 24 years old, so I made sure to use modern fabrics and put a "checker flag" in the centre!

I'll be back on Monday with a challenge for 2017! Hope you join me as well as Lisa of Sunlight in Winter Quilts for this.


19 comments:

  1. What a happy finish, and timely, too! The border print really ties it all together so nicely. And I'm totally intrigued by what you and Lisa are planning; I look forward to learning more!

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  2. Those Canadian Women would be so thrilled to see their blocks, and a chequered flag fabric!!! That is the best yet.

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  3. The herd looks great! Love the border it pulls it all together. Hmmm now I wonder what you and Lisa are up to.

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  4. Congrats on a great finish during the last minutes of 2016! Love the barn block.

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  5. Great finish, Sandra, and now you are off and running for 2017.
    Happy New Year!

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  6. What a fun quilt, Sandra! I love the pretty cows interspersed with the churn dash blocks and the surprise barn block in the corner. And the border print you found for it really is perfect! It's so great when the vision you have for a quilt all works out!

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  7. Cute! I too love the little barn in the bottom corner.

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  8. O.M.G. Those cows and churn dashes are adorable! You obviously knew the churn dash block is also called hole in the barn door..,all the cows have escaped!! I love it!!
    Today I'm going to my LQS to buy fabric for the 150 Canadian Women quilt. I'm going to splurge and treat myself with new fabric instead of stash busting. :)

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  9. Oooh, your cow quilt is "udderly" beautiful --lol no kidding--it turned out so well. My hubster thinks cow quilts and any tv ads with talking cows are a riot--I can see one in my future...hugs and Happy New Year Julierose

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  10. It looks freaking cute!! I use that RK calculator all the time, it's one of my favorite tools.

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  11. Love the cows, especially that bull holding court in the center. What a great finish!

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  12. I love the floating layout of all of your blocks. This quilt looks awesome and makes me smile with a chuckle or two.

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  13. Adorable!! And that is indeed a very useful app!

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  14. Absolutely adorable! Such a fun scrappy quilt. Congrats on the finish.

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  15. I love this finish - well done! The border is fabulous! And you've given me an idea of what to do with some randaom cat blocks I have....thank you :-)

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  16. I love it! You did a great job with this. Congrats.

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  17. Love the cows, absolutely adorable!!! :D

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