SAHRR 2024 Parade of Quilts
It’s SAHRR 2024 Parade of Quilts day! If you are new to my blog, SAHRR stands for “Stay at Home Round Robin”. This is a sew along that was put together by Quilting Gail during the pandemic when we were all stuck at home. Four years ago, she asked a few of us if we would co-host with her, and we have had so much fun. Usually a round robin quilt is sent from one person to the next, each adding a border, until it comes back to the owner of the center block. With the Stay at Home Round Robin, it all stays at home, with you. You choose the center block, then each week, we give you a border to add. This year there were six borders, but the rules of how to add the borders are fluid and left up to the owners of the quilt. Borders can be combined, or consist of just a few of the suggested blocks for the borders. It’s all up to you. It has been a fun sew along once again this year, and I want to say a huge thank you to Gail, who puts a lot of time and work into making this happen!
My 2024 SAHRR
You might recall that my center block is a quilt block made by my grandmother. It was pretty wonky and a bit tricky to square up, but I have enjoyed building this quilt around that block. Also included in this quilt are bits of a used apron that my mom wore – it is the yellow print in the quilt. The 5th border was a combined effort by my daughter and me. She sewed the blue/white 4-patches and I added the rest of the border. So now that this quilt is finished, there are 4 generations of creative women in my family represented in this quilt.
I decided to keep the quilting simple and went with a gentle wave running diagonally through the quilt. It reminds me of my mom’s apron hanging on the clothesline, gently swaying in the breeze. My mom loved to hang clothes on the line – she did so year round. Even in the cold South Dakota winters, she had a path shoveled to the clothesline. I remember bringing towels in that were frozen stiff and hanging them in our basement tofinish drying. Even in winter, we had that fresh air scent to our laundry!
For the back of the quilt, I used some scraps from my stash. A gray/yellow zigzag print and a bird print.
You can see the wave quilting a bit easier on the back. I kept the curve gentle so it was easier to quilt those corners. I was a little worried the diagonal quilting would skew the quilt, but it didn’t. The finished quilt measures around 38″. I used the same blue fabric for the binding as I used in the quilt top.
Eva’s Almost Finish
Eva wanted so badly to finish her quilt for the parade, and she is so close! She has been working hard on this large quilt – queen size! So let’s look at her progress. Today I’m going to show you her work on the quilt backing. You can see Eva’s finished quilt top in this post.
For her backing, Eva is using letters from the Letra pattern by Bound Co. Using some of those letters, she has spelled the word “Family” in the second vertical row from the left. Can you see it? Isn’t that a clever idea? I might need that pattern . . .
Eva’s quilt will be given to a family, so the queen size will be perfect for them to snuggle under while they read a book or watch a show together. She has put several special touches into her quilt top, and now also on the back. English is not Eva’s native language, so understanding the English in the pattern so that she could make the blocks was a challenge. She has done really well! So cheer Eva on – she’s almost done!
And there you have it, two quilts for the SAHRR 2024 Parade of Quilts! It’s hard to believe the sew along is over for another year! Thank you to all of you who sewed along with us – your creativity each week has been so much fun to see! I look forward to seeing all your quilts in the parade!
Link up your SAHRR quilt with Quilting Gail here.
Wendy
38 Comments
Barbara J Stanbro
I couldn’t see the quilting as well on FB. I like what you did with that too.
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
This is such a pretty finish, Wendy! I love the soft colors (and pops of red!) and the meaningful inclusion of all the women in your family. Another fun SAHRR project! Mine is almost done – just the binding left to do!
Laura Kate
Thank you for cheering us on and sharing the work of other quilters. You are generous and kind.
Helen
You’ve stepped out of your usual style and colors for this one. I do love the reasons behind that with your meaningful pieces sewn within.
texasquiltgal
What a priceless, beautiful quilt you made. This one is definitely a keeper. Your quilting looks perfect on it. Eva’s lettering looks amazing, and I’m so impressed with making a queen sized quilt!
Eva
Yes, the letters made fun, hence I understand the pattern. But this is fitness for the brain… 🙂
and.. sorry to say this, I am proud I could manage. I learned a lot about using colours with black & white!
Thank you for your kind comment 🙂
laura bruno lilly
I am so touched by the finishing waves of ‘gentle breezes’ quilting on this heirloom family piece, Wendy.
And Eva, your queen-sized quilt is indeed a creative labor of love.
Both of you had FAMILY in mind during this year’s SAHRR – I like that.
🙂
Eva
Laura! Did not see this point until now when you mentioned it. Yes… family … related in both quilts! I wished to have Wendy as my older sister… we are often so close. Thanks for your kind words! The light is bad in the night and I am running out of time, so it is not a real good foto. But the quilt is lovely and the SAHRR made so much fun!!
karenfae
old fashioned but yet modern – you combined two looks into one – great job
Kathleen McCormick
I love your finish and so cool that there are 4 generations right in that quilt – what a treasure. Eva did a fabulous job and I love that she put the word family on the quilt – fabulous. I am sorry she didn’t finish it, but she is very close, and that family will love cuddling under it.
Eva
Kathleen – yes I am close, but now running out of batting…. and I learned again a lot!
Wendys 4 generation quilt is such a good idea .. and I learned.. we both think about “family”
we did not talk about .. it comes automatically 🙂
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
I love all the family connections in the quilt and how even the quilting tells a story and has a memory associated with it, Wendy; what a family treasure it is! And wow, a queen size quilt is a lot of work and it’s awesome that Eva is so close to getting it finished!
Eva
Yvonne, I was inspired by your video about putting a quilt together before you went to the fair… so, I did not think, I just do but at the end late at night – I had to stopp, there is a gap of 7 inch and I have to think about how to go soapy and fill the gap, so I took the foto to be with all the others in the parade. Wendy did a real family jewel.
Laura
I love both of these sentimental FAMILY treasures! Wendy, your quilt also brings back memories for me of my Mom hanging laundry. And goodness, she even ironed underwear! 🙂
Eva
Laura, yes I know this grandma’s who ironed underwear, but it was cotton and long long legs…. not this small things you do not see .. how my granny said! But anyhow – a good press makes a good quilt.
Quilting is in my Blood
Your finished SAHRR turned out so lovely and is truly a family heirloom. My goodness, Eva’s SAHRR project is so impressive, both the front and the back. I’ve never seen those letters before. I also may have to purchase that pattern some day.
Eva
Hi there, thanks for the comment. These letters make real fun and the best is, you can use the pattern for all things you want to write. It is real worse to buy. Modern – but check the fabric you use. it must have a good contrast so dark blue or black and bright colours. I learned a lot. So thanks to SAHRR 2024 and Wendy!
Katherine Duquette
Wendy, your finished quilt just sparkles. The blue was a good choice. I like the reference to clothes drying in the wind too. I can’t think of a better description.
Eva’s solution for her back is well done. The pieced colors and spelling of Family are fabulous. I hope we can see the completed quilt before it’s gifted.
Thank you both for sharing.
Eva
Kathrine, sure I will. As well as my SAHRR 2023 when it will be finished. this is the next project under my needle. And if Wendy has time it will be shown here. Thanks for your kind comment.
Brenda @ Songbird Designs
I love it Wendy! I think it’s an awesome tribute to your mom! I loved the smell of fresh clothes from the clothesline when I was growing up. Way to go Eva!! Looking good.
Eva
Thanks Brenda.. yes I think Wendy did a real faboulous tribute to her mom! yes, you are right we know all the smells when we were growing up… the white linen of my granny’s bed smelled so well…. she had always a bed like a princess… What smell will our kids remember?
quiltinggail
As you know, I LOVE your quilt and it’s heirloom future!! And Eva’s is so clever! She does amazing work! I’m glad that she participated int the SAHRR again! And I’m super happy that you are part of the SAHRR team!!!
Eva
Thank you .. that makes me proud!! It took my sleep because often late-night-sewing… but it makes fun and another quilt is done early this year!!
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Cool finish, Wendy!!! Love the generations ties! I’m surprised to hear your mom hung laundry out in the winter! I’ve seen Amish do that, but no one else. Very cool backing, Eva!!! I want to look up those letters now.
Eva
Hi Nancy, yes it makes so mich fun…. It is worth to bit a dent in it… correct using the phrase? :-))
marissthequilter
Your piece enthralls me Wendy, from the startlingly fresh combination of the bright yellow and blue with white, to the beautiful family connections and memories stitched into it.
Eva, I am so impressed by all the work you have done on your big quilt. The pieced pieces in the backing add an extra special feature.
Eva
Thank you Mariss! The deadlines every week keep me on track! Not really easy… I should have a label on it.. moon light sewing…. Hope you have a lovely autumn!
marissthequilter
Keep stitching and enjoy the springtime
Cocoa Quilts
Wendy the memories and sentiment in your quilt are priceless!
Eva I love the Family in the backing. It took me a quick minute to see it, but sometimes I look to hard and it is right in front of my face.
Eva
Hi, thanks for your comment… no, it is not easy to sea, because I had bad light in the night and the letters are very modern…. But made so much fun to build.
The Morning Latte
I think I missed Eva’s finished-top reveal but it turned out really well, and so big! LOVE her creative FAMILY on the back too! And your quilt is so pretty and such a great reminder of Mom. My mom did the exact same thing btw! We had frozen clothes! LOL. I always think of her freezing hands! And I remember standing there handing her clothespins two at a time (on warmer days tho!) when I was VERY little. I think a quilt to remind me of those times would just be so treasured! We actually had that clothesline up until about 10 years ago and I really miss hanging clothes out there (though I never did when it was cold! Nope, no way!).
JanineMarie
What a great way to represent laundry on a line and making one more family connection. You also jogged my memory of hanging clothes with my mom and the lovely fresh smell. It’s been so much fun seeing what you added each week, and to see Eva’s quilt, too. Eva, I’m so impressed that you made your wonderful quilt queen sized in such a short amount of time. Thanks, Wendy for your prompt and for sharing Eva’s progress along with yours.
Eva
Janine you are right, big thanks to Wendy! She helped me to go through all the weeks. When I was unsure if it is good… she motivated me so much! And had all the work here to show mine.
Betty Cruikshank
I Thought it looked very Pieceful.
Kate
Your 4 generations SAHRR turned out beautifully! Do you have a place for it? Eva’s quilt has that exotic look to it, she used such fun fabrics. Congrats to both of you on wonderful finishes. And thank you for being one of the participants. It is such a fun quilt. along.
Janine @ Rainbow Hare
I’ve really enjoyed seeing your quilt grow. It’s beautiful and a wonderful tribute to your 4 generations 🙂
J Mur
Wedging the word FAMILY into your design was SEW very clever, Eva! Best of luck with the quilting. What a wonderful gift this quilt will be!
Vicki in MN
That is so cool your daughter got in on the sewing with you! Eva-you can do it!!