African Quilt Top Completed

I finally finished the African quilt top. I just have to now add the batting and backing, machine quilt it and complete the binding, but I did want you to see it. Joe stood on a chair and then stood on top the dresser to catch the whole wall hanging. The two borders that I used are the gold African fabric and then the darker pattern with yellow and black fabric. Don't count the purple that you see...it is only part of the bedspread. The circles and background has a bit more black in the Fairy Frost, but that is the best that Joe could catch it, as the flash went off. I am really so happy about it.

As to putting it together, it is not easy. I laid out the individual blocks and put them in the color pattern that I wanted. I had to pick them up the row in the order that I would have to sew it and I put sticky notes to mark the numbers of the rows. Then I sewed the blocks into rows and finally sewed the rows together. There are a lot of matching seams that you have to worry about to get the pattern just right, so this is definitely not a quilt for a beginner. I did enjoy making it so much! I will have to order the backing fabric and batting and will do that when I order the batiks for the two zebra pillows I am making. That is my next project....two 30x30 inch pillows where I will applique two zebras against a gorgeous African background.

I am making an African quilt once I finish the pillows, but it will be an elephant appliqued scene in the centre of the quilt, and then a colour wash effect for the rest of the quilt that I will create with the tons of four inch half square blocks that I will cut out with my AccuQuilt GO. I decided that I would make a different quilt to go with the African theme rather than a larger quilt made from the Drunkard pattern. I think the whole ensemble will be pretty.

Off to get dinner on the table. Joe is having a cottage pie that I made for him and I am having vegetarian.