Scrap Dance Minuet Mystery Quilt S L O W Finish

Last yearI joined in on my first Mystery Quilt - Scrap Dance Minuet - hosted by Carole over at From My Carolina Home.

It was a scrap buster and easy to follow along.  The clues were offered at an easy pace and the steps were beginner friendly and came together quickly.

Once the blocks were pieced I was stalled... 

I had the idea to use sashing strips between the blocks.  

I like the way it looked on the design wall and when someone commented that the sashing strips would take away from secondary pattern that was formed when the blocks were joined together my initial response "my quilt, my choice".  



I moved forward ignoring their opinion...  But once it was sewn with the sashings and a border I snapped a picture... and immediately... I did NOT like it.  At. All...

I ripped it all apart (while binging on Heartland over on netflix) and started over with sewing the blocks together sans sashing strips.  Okay, so they were right.  

Once I got the first border on it I was stuck again...  I was busy too, with some pattern testing and camping excursions.

When I finally returned to it in about September or October I had settled on doing a checkerboard border and using a printed double wedding ring backing for the quilt.  I got it sandwiched but lacked any great ideas on how to quilt. so  it hung in the closet until I had inspiration for how to quilt it.

Carole helped out with that as she revealed what she was doing.  I was in love with it, but I was bogged down with commissioned quilts and quilting for customers.

A few weeks ago I prepared my year in review and plans for 2020 at the end of December, and I had determined that this mystery quilt would be my first finish of 2020.  I was determined!

As I had it laying on the floor to consider marking for the quilting when my husband passed through the room and took a look and commented that he really liked it.  I asked him what he liked about it... it reminded him of an older scrappy quilt.  My response was "I'm glad you like it but, it's not really one of my favorites."  

That was before quilting!  Once I got it quilted and the binding on it... with big stitches with variegated floss... 

... it has really grown on me!

The timing of this finish is a little funny in that I am currently reading the last of the Patchwork Mystery books... I mentioned a few of them as I shared about the different steps of making this quilt.

There were many times that I related so strongly with statements made... such as in this conversation between Sarah, the main character and quilter with someone who was considering the purchase of a valuable antique quilt.   

Sarah::  "The artistry is in the color and pattern choices.  As well as the quilting pattern.  The maker of this quilt created a complex design in the spaces in between the calico pieces."

The potential buyer responded with "I feel that the artistry is lacking."

Sarah countered... "I think that quilters find the structure and simplicity soothing.  The construction of the quilt is full of passion and creativity, but the result is meant to comfort and bring peace."

For over a year I have become familiar with the characters of this series and I will miss reading about the various stories that unfold as Sarah repairs old quilts, researches quilts to determine who the maker may be and makes her own quilts.

But the good news is that once I am done I am willing to pass on the entire set (27 books) for just the cost of shipping.   (Actual cost has not been determined because of the distance that they may travel via UPS {the closer the location, the lower the cost than shipping across country}, but could be calculated quickly.)  Are you interested?  Let me know...

Just like Dave and I have differing opinions of quilts, colors, layout and more, we can always agree that the quilts are meant to comfort and bring peace to those who use them.

Happy quilting!

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Pieces From The Past Sew Along

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting