Rhonda Bracey: At Random

When I was in Seattle earlier this month, I went down to Pike Place Markets on my only day off. Not for the fish throwing (been there, seen that…) or the Chukar Cherries (though I made sure I did stop by and get some…), but to pop into Undercover Quilts, which is a tiny quilt store packed to the rafters right near the pub.

They had some great quilts, kits, and patterns on a Pacific North West theme and I was tempted… But eventually I settled on a ‘reverse applique’ type of pattern from one of their 2 fabric applique patterns: ‘Herd of Turtles’.

I made it up over the weekend and here’s how it turned out. Next time (if there is a next time) I might use more contrasting colours. BTW, I used two of the fabrics I bought in Bali last September. The pattern offered three applique options — hand -turned (nope!), fusible (I did this version and it was quite time consuming…) and raw edge. If I make this pattern again, I’ll try the raw edge applique option.

One other thing… the pattern piece is printed on a very flimsy and easily torn piece of paper. Before I taped it to the siding door glass, I reinforced the edges all round with clear packaging tape and then I traced it onto some tracing fabric (like a very light interfacing) so I don;t ever have to use the paper pattern again. I was disappointed that this pattern came on such flimsy paper, especially as the instructions are to tape it to the window or use a light box. If you did that straight ‘out of the box’, you’d wreck the pattern very quickly.

Threads used: water — ‘Mint’ (Robison-Anton, rayon, 40 wt, colour #2310); around turtle carapace pieces — ‘Wonder Blue’ (Robison-Anton, rayon, 40 wt, colour #2577); in border — ‘Pistachio’ (Fil-Tec Harmony, 40 wt cotton, colour #14066).

(Click on an image to view it larger)

Update: The recipient of this quilt and his wife had a baby girl, Isabella, on 30 April 2013.