23 years ago, my parents gave me for my birthday, a Quilt Block of the Month program from The Quilt Basket in Victor Harbor, South Australia (quilt shop no longer open) called the Country Garden.
I had only been quilting for a few years and had done a number of small baby / cot sized quilts, so this was a HUGE undertaking!
23 years later, including 4 house moves, 3 different sewing machines and a 2nd husband, I have FINALLY finished it!!!!
If you would like to read a bit more about the issues I had with the quilt and blocks, head to this blog post.
But finally I had all the surgery on the blocks done, I made up the last couple of blocks (to the correct size!) and then started on the painfully slow zig zagging around each of the applique pieces.
The squeal when they were all done and I had the middle part of the quilt finished was LOUD!
I decided not to do the additional applique around the border, so was able to sew the scrappy border on quite quickly.
I chose to do a leaf quilting design in the border to echo the applique that *should* have been there, I think it actually looks better than having the applique there!
It took me almost 6 weeks to do the custom quilting! Each block got a different treatment.
Wind behind the windmill and washing on the line.
Cobblestones leading up to the wishing well
A circular motif around the flowers
And from the back you can see the flying geese design I quilted into the coloured log cabins!
I am thrilled to have finished this one! Twenty three years is a VERY long time to have a WIP, it was good to finally tick that one off the to-do list!
I have taken it over to my parent’s place so that they can enjoy it for a while, considering they gave it to me originally.
So now I can pat myself on the back, and start working on my next long outstanding WIP on my list!
This was one of the projects on my UFOChallenge2025 list.
Absolutely fabulous. Wonderful quilting. Congratulations!
Thank you Maryln! So glad to have this one finished and I was really happy with my quilting <3
Hi Anne
Like you I have just finished my A Country Garden BOM as well . My friend is quilting it for me . I’m entering in our BUNGENDORE Quilt Exhibition at the end of November . I had the blocks all sewn together ages ago but life got in the way . I’m also trying to finish my numerous WIP’s . Very satisfying and I’m also using up the fabrics in my stash . I love watching your tutorials .
Regards Elke x
Oh Elke, I would LOVE to see your version!! It is sooooo satisfying when we can finish some of these older WIPs! Are you coming to Raylee’s Bungendore Quilt Retreat? (Sunflower Stitcheries)
That is the most gorgeous quilt I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing it
Aww thanks Elsa! It was good to get it finally finished and it is in South Australia with my parents (who gave the BOM to me as a gift all those years ago!)