Finally!
Finally! 92" square
Well, this one took long enough and that's how it got it's name.
I started this quilt sometime around the time we moved to Montpelier, VA in 1998. The original pattern was in an issue of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine. The original had alternating black and solid postage stamp blocks but I wanted mine all scrappy. I've always loved postage stamp quilts and, many years ago, bought a postage stamp top off eBay and quilted it. That one has been long ago gifted but I did love it and used it on a guest bed for several years. Meanwhile I worked on this in fits and starts. There were a couple of periods where it sat for years unattended but I've always loved it and always intended to finish it.
It has 3970 pieces.
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The center of the quilt is made up of alternating 15" blocks. There's an "X and an "O". Each of those is made from 9-patch blocks set 5 x 5. The original pattern had these blocks set 5 x 5 with and X block in each corner. There were no borders.
The quilting was inspired by a online class that I took in 2021 with Bethanne Nemesch where I finally learned how to properly quilt feathers. I specifically learned how to quilt the inside of feathered wreaths. The postage stamp blocks are quilted with continuous curves. The thread is Superior Magnifico on top and Superior So Fine! in the bobbin. The batting is Quilter's Dream blend in black.
The quilting was inspired by a online class that I took in 2021 with Bethanne Nemesch where I finally learned how to properly quilt feathers. I specifically learned how to quilt the inside of feathered wreaths. The postage stamp blocks are quilted with continuous curves. The thread is Superior Magnifico on top and Superior So Fine! in the bobbin. The batting is Quilter's Dream blend in black.
One thing I didn't like about the original design was how the black diamond of the "O" blocks was chopped off at the edges. I wanted complete diamonds for quilting. To resolve that I added one border of 9-patch postage stamp blocks all the way around basically using the pattern of the first row of 9-patches as if I was continuing the alternating "X" and "O" pattern. Then I wanted the quilt bigger so I added a 2" black border, 2 rows of postage stamps and a 4 " black border. After washing the quilt shrunk to 92" square, which is perfect.
The quilting for the border is a simple feathered vine using the same 3 or 4 feather motifs that I used in the block.
The quilting for the border is a simple feathered vine using the same 3 or 4 feather motifs that I used in the block.
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The backing is hand dyed and is actually a darker blue than what shows in the photos.
I added this little block as a message to myself in case I decided to make another quilt like this!
The label is a simple Spirograph design.