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Is this quilt done? Nearly 25 years ago, I lived in Michigan and managed Country Stitches, Jackson. I was intrigued by a 2002 C&T book, A Bouquet of Quilts, based on the influential quilting magazine Quilts Japan. Of the nine projects, “Spring Irish Chain Quilt” tickled my fancy. I bought that book and collected shades of soft pink fabrics and within a year finished stitching the top. What happened next? Folded and nestled in a drawer, the top “seasoned” for almost two decades. Originally, I wanted to quilt the top myself. My plan was to quilt using a twin needle stitching on the diagonal in the white squares. Then reality hit. I knew this project had to be finished sooner than I could deliver. During Covid, I met up with my professional quilting friend, Mary Jane Kermmoade, in Lincoln, NE. Mary Jane did an outstanding quilt job that brought the quilt to life in less than a week. I immediately added the hallmarks of a finished quilt: binding and a quilt label.
Spring Irish Chain Quilt has been “done” for three years. But two years ago, I looked at it and thought something was missing. During a quilt retreat, I added little rosettes between the border scallops, and from Rita Farro’s stash found a collection of crocheted hearts to anchor the corners. Hooray! The quilt is done. Another year passed and I'm looking at that finished quilt and still asking, "Is this quilt done?" Yes but ... I think the Lily of the Valley machine embroidery needs to pop more with little sparkly beads placed like dew drops.
This year, my SCHMETZ travel schedule is robust with teaching at a variety of stores and events. Spring Irish Chain (which I adoringly refer to as my Lily of the Valley) is traveling with me. So, at the end of my classes, I will show my “finished” Lily of the Valley quilt and ask, “Is this quilt done?”
Sew SCHMETZ & Grabbit® Too!
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