Indigo Blocks, Treasured and Now Hand Quilted

18 Hand Pieced 11.5" Blocks

A while back I had a little clean out in the sewing room.  The kind where I ask myself, "Are you really going to use/finish/keep this?"

I put this stack of blocks in our Etsy shop, and hoped for the best.  By that I mean, once they sell I no longer have control over what happens to them.  Would they be destroyed in some Steam Punk craft?  They sold rather quickly.

I was still having flashes of regret as I mailed them off to their new home...







Fast-forward 9 months...

Imagine my delight when I received this photo.
The blocks went to the best home EVER.

Tracy completed a quilt and took the time to send me pictures.
After deciding on the setting and assembling the quilt she spent 6 months hand quilting this beauty.

She worked her magic and 'quilted out' those bias edges.
Gently 'made' the points work and created a great quilt.

Had the blocks stayed at my house - they'd still be in a drawer...

How to set 18 blocks?

These are the blocks laid out in their new home as plans were taking shape.

All kinds of decisions...setting, sashing, borders and backing - oh my!

Tracy told me it took several trips to shops to find the right fabrics to finish the quilt.

Clearly these blocks found the perfect home.


Once assembled, it was time for the quilting.

Grace EZ3 Quilt Frame

This is the quilt in the frame.

Note the setting, and the corner block design solution.

Tracy had 18 blocks to work with.  She considered a 6 x 3 block on point setting but decided it wouldn't give her the finished size she wanted.

Variety of indigo and shirting prints

There were decisions on the quilting itself.

So many options, maybe an all over pattern?

Not for this quilt.


Here's a detailed photo of the hand quilting.

Fabulous isn't it?

Sweet head of curls helping at the frame

Every quilting project is more fun with help.

Tracy has a couple of grandsons who like to sit in her lap as she quilts.  Her frame sits in a great spot for the family.  She might have mentioned more quilting happened AFTER a certain bedtime...

The frame sits behind the sofa, facing the TV.

This is the first quilt Tracy quilted all by herself.  She started quilting years ago with the ladies at her church.

Back folded over the front - binding finished

This is the back and binding.

The quilt is all ready for use.  Yes, she does plan to use it.  She said the little helpers may not get to use it for now ;-)

When asked what inspired her most, Tracy said,
"I love thinking that someone lovingly and painstakingly made all these blocks, and I understand starting a project, putting it away, and never getting around to finishing.  Whoever made these blocks just needed someone else to love them and finish the project."


Tracy is not a blogger so please leave her a comment here.  I'm sure you are as impressed with her work as I am.

Thank you for sharing Tracy!!
It is certainly a FINISHED project to be very proud of.