Red and White Tribute Quilt . . . .

The Infinite Variety Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts show in New York City consisted of more than 650 quilts. When I started working on ideas for my tribute quilt, I knew I wouldn't be satisfied with making one red and white quilt, but also knew I didn't need to be making more than 650, that's how I came up with the idea of combining several mini quilts.

I studied all the quilts and narrowed the list of potential projects down to nineteen. It wasn't even really that hard. A lot of the quilts are similar in nature, so I knew I would pick only one from quilts that used the same block. Some of the quilts used techniques that I don't have the skill set for, like Hawaiian Applique quilts, there were several of those, and I eliminated those right off the bat. Some of the quilts required a pattern that I just didn't have the ability to recreate, so they were out too.

I ended up using 10 from my original list of nineteen. There wasn't a big plan to only use 10, that's just how it all worked out, the quilt told me it was done, and I listened.

I though perhaps you would enjoy seeing the nine quilts that didn't make the final cut,

Quilt #853, Pavilion 4 Exterior Middle - A pineapple quilt. I love pineapple quilts, making a pineapple quilt is on my To Do list. Maybe someday I'll make a red and white one, just like this, but there are no pineapple blocks in my project. I just didn't think they fit in with the other blocks.

This is Quilt # 907, Pavilion 2 Exterior Middle, Churn Dash block. I personally feel like this block has an old time quilt feel to it. I've never made a churn dash block and thought this quilt would look so good in my project, I just ran out of room. Luckily the Farmer's Wife quilt has two churn dash blocks, so there are some in my future.

This is Quilt #831 Pavilion 11 Chairs - I loved the look of this quilt, and there were several of these. I thought about having just one row of these blocks in my quilt, but I was afraid if I stuck in single rows here and there, you would loose the feel of an entire quilt, even though my project has just sections. It's hard to describe and hard for you to imagine, me not wanting my project to look too busy, but believe me, even I have my limits when it comes to busy!

Quilt #963 - Pavilion 2 Interior Middle. I thought this pattern needed to be on a corner to work, and I used up my corners before I got to this one.

Quilt #1023 Pavilion 2 Interior Middle -I loved the look of this quilt and thought I would enjoy the math challenge of making a mini one of these. Then I decided I would need a good chunk of this project in my quilt to look like this pattern, and I didn't have the space to give.

Quilt #1074 Pavilion 2 Interior Bottom - there were several checkerboard designs and I loved them all. My grandmother made this type of quilt, cutting her blocks with scissors and using a cardboard template. She made a brown and white one, a red, white and blue one, a pastel colored one (I got that one!) and several others. I initially thought this pattern would be good filler, but it looked too busy when put in the mix.

Quilt 1189 Pavilion 11 Interior - Irish Chain - there were several Irish Chain patterns in the show, I went with a very simple design, but I really preferred this one, but I didn't have the space I needed to pull this one off.

Quilt #822 Pavilion 3 Interior Middle - There several of these plus some were the reverse, white blocks with red sashing. You just don't see this design anymore, I thought this one would be a good filler or background project, but I just didn't need it.

Quilt 689 Pavilion 1 Exterior Top - Dots! I love these dot quilts. There was another one that was red strips with white dots next to a white strip with red dots, back and forth, too cute. Of all the quilts in the show, I would say I'm most likely to make a red and white dot quilt, they just tickle my funny bone for some reason.

So that's my parade of "almost but not quite" quilts. You'll be relieved to know my Red and White Tribute Quilt is DONE!! It took me 22 hours to get all the pieces together perfectly, and one section took 4 tries. I'm surprised you didn't hear me hoot'n and a holler'n when I finally got the last section to fit, it was a celebration at my house, that's for sure, and a huge relief. I think it was worth every minute, stop back by next week and see if you think so too!