SUN BONNET SUE BY REBECCA LATHAM

 FROM CONCEPT

TO COMPLETION

From time to time, I have the pleasure of taking a customer's blocks that were made years ago, and designing and creating a quilt out of them.  

A couple of weeks ago, I received 12 hand-appliqued "Sun Bonnet Sue" blocks from a customer of Roberts Sewing Center (many thanks to Jane for the referral!) that had been sewn by the customer's wife before she died a few years ago. After meeting with Don and discussing his desires for the twin size quilt, I designed the quilt using my quilting software, shopped for the fabric at Roberts, assembled the quilt, and quilted it on my Tin Lizzie Ansley 26 long arm quilting machine. Attaching the binding and a custom label completed the project, and Don will be picking it up soon to present to his new great granddaughter, Maya.

Roberts Sewing Center has an extensive selection of 1930s prints, and I had a lot of fun choosing the coordinating prints for the quilt.

Here are a few of the photos I took during the making of this precious quilt: 

This is the quilt top, partially assembled, on the design wall in my home studio.

 

 

 

I learned a new technique, which was designing the sashing and inner border to include the points of the setting stars. I love the way it turned out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a closeup of the bottom right corner of the quilt top before it was quilted, to show the detail in the double border with setting stars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The digital quilting design is called "Pansies" that has flowers, leaves, and little swirls. It goes really nicly with the old-fashined theme of the quilt. I purchased the design from Urban Elementz.

 

 

Here is a short video of the quilt being digitally quilted with my Tin Lizzie Ansley 26 quilting machine and Butler Perfect Stitch computerized system. Maximize the screen to maximize your viewing pleasure!  I used a digital quilting pattern called "Pansies" that has flowers, leaves, and little swirls.

 

Don chose to use premium quilting fabric for this quilt, and the final cost of the project was $395.  If a customer wants to use regular fabric rather than premium fabric, it would reduce the cost of a similar project.

Do you have a collection of blocks that were given to you by your mother, grandmother, or great grandmother that you would love seeing made into a quilt to treasure for generations?  Contact me at 815.735.0997 to discuss your ideas.  I would love to work with you!