Wednesday, June 9, 2010

A Tisket a Tasket . . . . . .



Look who's making baskets!!

I've been wanting to make a basket quilt for ages, and when Sinta and Sherri picked Picnic for the November Schnibbles sew along, I really got basket fever. There are so many adorable basket patterns to choose from, big baskets, little baskets, with handles, no handles...I figured out real fast that I could spend the rest of my sewing days making nothing but basket quilts.

The Picnic Schibble did not work out for me, but when Sherri blogged about this basket quilt, my search was over.....



The pattern is called Laundry Baskets and is by Fig Tree.

I'm using a mix of Fig Tree fabrics for my baskets, this is the first time I've used Fig Tree Fabrics.

It's not my normal palette, pastels and florals, but the fabric just says "summer " to me and I'm in the mood for summer.




The pattern calls for scrappy background fabric but instead I chose a pale yellow solid from the Fig Tree Fresh Cottons family. The color is the exact color of the vanilla ice cream my grandmother used to cook on the stove then crank in the hand crank ice cream maker, and it makes me hungry and crave ice cream to work with it.

I don't like laundry, it's probably my least favorite household chore, I think because it's something that's never done. I may get caught up on the laundry, everything washed, folded and put away, but since I'm wearing clothes, I immediately have more laundry.....

So with that in mind, I've decided that I don't want to call my lovely basket quilt, "Laundry Baskets".......I think the baskets look more like ice cream sundaes...made with neapolitan, mint chocolate chip, coffee, and peach ice cream. So right now, this quilt doesn't have a name.

I'm planning to make this quilt large enough to use on our bed during the summer months. Having so much light fabric, on a quilt that we'll be sitting on, sleeping under, and Cooper will likely pounce on, makes me a little nervous.


So I decided to add scrappy corners, to make the blocks bigger, use more of that lovely Fig Tree Fabric, and cut down on the amount of exposed light material. The block went from 8 1/2 inches to 12.



I don't really like how they look connected, so I'm thinking of using some of that vanilla ice cream fabric for sashing.

So that's where I am right now, I'm thinking I'll also add a scrappy border of some sort....I need around 12 inches of something to hang over the sides of the bed.

I'm really enjoying this project, even if it makes me constantly crave ice cream, and for some reason, I'm feeling no fabric drama, or should I say I'm not creating any fabric drama. I'm just going with the flow and loving every minute I can squeeze out of my busy day to spend in my sewing room.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see what I'm up to......

25 comments:

  1. I love how you are rethinking the design of the quilt as you go along. It is a wonderful pattern and I am anxious to see your progress. Just don't eat any ice cream while piecing it, you just might spill some.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like how you are modifying this. I think the vanilla ice cream sashing will be nice. Laundry is a dirty word here too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love how you have modified this pattern. I too worry sometimes about keeping a "white" quilt clean with extended use. I have one now that no one can use but me (it is my favorite!). I can't wait to see how yours looks with the sashing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. ACK!! I love this!! I do love Fig Tree so this is too adorable for me! Do you happen to have any Dandelion Girl in your basket?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't stop making basket blocks either. You might consider "31 Flavors" as a name . . . .

    ReplyDelete
  6. I LOVE it...I've loved those baskets from the first time I saw them...now I really love them.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow - it's beautiful, Thelma. That's the kind of project you should always be working on. Not one that's a struggle, but one that makes you rush through all other chores so you can be in your sewing room! I love the corners! All the different prints add lots of interest to the baskets. Nancy's idea of 31 Flavors - how cute is that?

    ReplyDelete
  8. WooooooooooooHoooooooooooooo Thelma - the baskets are adorable. I like '31 Flavors' as a title, too. teehee Then there's "Thelma's Sweet Sundae Shop" :-) Or, "Thelma's Sweet Sundae Creations"

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very cute~ love Darlene's idea's for a name! :-) I think it is going to be a gorgeous summer-y quilt! Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love your modified version, with or without sashing and I think Darlene's name ideas are great!

    ReplyDelete
  11. They are so pretty. Isn't the creative process fun!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Laundry Baskets is in my quilt queue to do! I happen to love all the Fig Tree fabrics and want to do mine from scraps from other Fig Tree projects. I can't wait to see your blocks with the sashing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Like the idea of sashing - you do such beautiful work. I think you should call it Summer Sundae.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Personally I'd skip the sashing. It is cheerful as is--but I'm sure it will be beautiful anyway you end up making it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. i know just the color you are describing - my mom used to make the very best vanilla ice cream i've ever tasted - it was so delicious that i ate it even with the whole lactose-intolerance-now-aren't-you-sorry-bellyache that i knew came with it ...... i'm with you on laundry - i hate laundry - no waxing poetic about laundry hanging on the line and blowing in the breeze - bleck!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love this pattern. Have seen it floating around lately in blogland, I may just jump on the wagon. I love how you've made them bigger and changed it up a bit! I'm amazed at what you get done!

    ReplyDelete
  17. You are so creative that you need to think about designing patterns.
    Ladybug

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love your ice cream baskets!
    I enjoy sewing basket blocks too.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love your attitude. Creative people always reinvent or deconstruct. I personally like the pattern. I believe with your talent you can still improve it. More power!
    wine and cheese

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love how you are making this pattern your own. I think it should be named "Ice Cream Social"
    Patty

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thelma, when I saw the first sentence of this post about making baskets, I said "oh no" to myself. I love basket quilts, and I knew you would be turning out a beauty. These blocks are (as usual) wonderful. You never fail to disappoint us; everything is stunning that you show us. Do you get tired of me saying that?!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thelma - you are so creative. I love reading through your thinking process. You always seem to make the best decisions. Gorgeous, as usual!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. There you go again, being all creative! You know I say that with the greatest of admiration. The baskets are bright and cheerful -- I'm so curious to see how the vanilla sashing changes the look.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love how they blocks look with no sashing. Very cute!

    ReplyDelete

I try to respond to all my comments but sometimes I just don't get the job done. Please know that I am reading your comments and appreciate you taking the time to add a little of yourself to my blog.