One year ago I started this quilt, inspired by the official Rainbow Scrap Challenge on the
So Scrappy blog (which by the way is awesome).
Each month, on the first Saturday of the month, a color is announced on the So Scrappy site. Participants make as many blocks in that color as they like. You can make any block. They can all be the same or all be different. You can make one block of each color, or lots of blocks in each color. No rules. This is my kind of challenge.
The idea is to use up your scraps, and since scrap quilts are my favorites, this was perfect. I decided to make my 2016 quilt mostly from my overflowing reproduction scraps. The block I chose is called either Country Lanes or Cross in the Square, in Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns.
Some of the colors were a challenge to find in repro scraps. But never fear, I have all sorts of stuff. Yellow, orange, teal, gray, bring it on.
Everything in the quilt is based on a measurement of 2 in. finished, including sashing and the pieced border.
One of the best things about the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is seeing what everyone else is doing through the website links. I have been so inspired by all sorts of different scrappy quilters.
I chose this block because I had once made another quilt in this pattern, probably 30 years ago. That quilt was well-loved by all of us, and adopted (abducted?) by my oldest daughter when she went to college. It had a poly batt and a flannel backing, and was tied, not quilted. So naturally it didn't hold up, and has since gone to quilt heaven.
I still like the idea of a flannel backing, but this quilt will be quilted, not tied.
I can only hope it will be as well loved. Looking at it brings memories of sewing on Saturday mornings, listening to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me on NPR.
The new challenge is already starting for 2017. The first color is purple. Are you in?
Happy quilting, and Happy New Year!
