Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Friday Finish #8, Coventry

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It’s still Friday, right?  I just finished this by the skin of my teeth, as Grandma used to say.  The main body of the top has been done for a week, but I had to scramble a bit to get all the borders on in time for my deadline.


The pattern is Coventry, from the wonderful book by Brenda Riddle, “Comfort & Joy”.  (Brenda has a terrific blog called Little Acorns, but for some reason I am unable to link to anything today).   In the book, the fabric Brenda used was a pretty Christmas group from last year, called Roman Holiday.  I used one layer cake of one of this year’s Christmas groups–“Peace On Earth” by 3 Sisters for Moda.  Can you believe I could do this with one layer cake (a pack of 10″ squares from the featured collection)?  The stars went together great, and the background I used is Kona White.  I had a bolt of it that I appropriated from my daughter Sara.  The red used in the checkerboard border was a Moda Marbles that I had in my stash.  So, all I had to buy for this entire quilt top was one layer cake at around $30!


The pattern instructions were great, but this was a project where you could not go on automatic pilot while you were sewing.  You had to keep your wits about you and pay careful attention to the width of the three white border strips (three different measurements) and attach them in the correct order.  Also, each of the checkerboard border strips had a certain number of colored squares and white squares.  I spent a lot of time counting and re-counting those squares!


In my opinion, this quilt would be ADORABLE in one of the Mary Englebreit fabric groups, and with a black and white checkerboard border.   If anyone does this, please let me know, I would love to see it!  The beauty of this pattern is how it showcases a fabric group.  In each star, you can see a big swatch of each piece in the collection.  Super cute!


On the weight loss front, I lost two pounds overnight after eating only protein yesterday.  The waistband of my jeans feels much better today.  I don’t know if I can stick with this for an entire week, but I aim to try!  Only three more pounds to go. 


Have a great weekend everyone!

68 responses to “Friday Finish #8, Coventry”

  1. Congratulations on those 2 pounds! Make sure to eat healthy though! Don’t want you fainting into your sewing machine :o)
    Love the quilt. You are right… the fabrics are showed off so nice.

  2. Congratulations on those 2 pounds! Make sure to eat healthy though! Don’t want you fainting into your sewing machine :o)
    Love the quilt. You are right… the fabrics are showed off so nice.

  3. This is INDEED a beauty. The way white is used here is inviting, crisp and oh the quilting possibilities. What EVER will you do?

  4. This is INDEED a beauty. The way white is used here is inviting, crisp and oh the quilting possibilities. What EVER will you do?

  5. What a gorgeous quilt. I love the pattern! I’d love to see that done in shabby chic prints. Very tempting. I’m desperate for a new project so this might just tempt me. Hmmm …
    Wow — 2 pounds overnight? Congratulations!

  6. What a gorgeous quilt. I love the pattern! I’d love to see that done in shabby chic prints. Very tempting. I’m desperate for a new project so this might just tempt me. Hmmm …
    Wow — 2 pounds overnight? Congratulations!

  7. Oh, just beautiful!!! I love this quilt. I have been looking for a pattern like this to feature some of my pretty floral fabrics. Love it! Oh yes, and coincidentally, I’m starting a “slow carb” diet this week, so I’m using beans instead of rice/potatoes. I hope it works as well as what you’re doing!
    ~Angela 🙂

  8. Oh, just beautiful!!! I love this quilt. I have been looking for a pattern like this to feature some of my pretty floral fabrics. Love it! Oh yes, and coincidentally, I’m starting a “slow carb” diet this week, so I’m using beans instead of rice/potatoes. I hope it works as well as what you’re doing!
    ~Angela 🙂

  9. So how many hours do you spend stitching each week?!?!? I am SO impressed at all of these Friday finishes!
    Echoing a comment above – be sure to drink lots of water and take your multi vitamins while you’re dieting!
    What does Ozzie think about this so-much-white quilt? (my B&W cat would have a field day furring it all over)

  10. So how many hours do you spend stitching each week?!?!? I am SO impressed at all of these Friday finishes!
    Echoing a comment above – be sure to drink lots of water and take your multi vitamins while you’re dieting!
    What does Ozzie think about this so-much-white quilt? (my B&W cat would have a field day furring it all over)

  17. Beautiful quilt Nicole – and congrats on another finish and the 2 pound weight loss. you go girl 🙂
    Hugs – Karen

  18. Beautiful quilt Nicole – and congrats on another finish and the 2 pound weight loss. you go girl 🙂
    Hugs – Karen

  23. Another stunning finish! The next few days will be the hardest for your diet but you can do it! You have shown your determination to us many times and you can get over this hurdle too! Nancy in WI

  24. Another stunning finish! The next few days will be the hardest for your diet but you can do it! You have shown your determination to us many times and you can get over this hurdle too! Nancy in WI

  27. It’s beautiful! The white background really makes the stars pop and I love the checkered borders! Now I’m toying with doing a similar quilt… Just what I need, another project. LOL!
    Anyway, it’s just stunning! Congrats, also, on the weight loss! You go girl! :o)

  28. It’s beautiful! The white background really makes the stars pop and I love the checkered borders! Now I’m toying with doing a similar quilt… Just what I need, another project. LOL!
    Anyway, it’s just stunning! Congrats, also, on the weight loss! You go girl! :o)

  29. I love the look of Coventry with the solid white background! What a wonderful finish! (I also love all the ideas of how else it could be made. I’d love to see them all!)
    You are amazing Nicole – I wish I could get quilts done at the pace you do! Whew!
    xo, Bren

  30. I love the look of Coventry with the solid white background! What a wonderful finish! (I also love all the ideas of how else it could be made. I’d love to see them all!)
    You are amazing Nicole – I wish I could get quilts done at the pace you do! Whew!
    xo, Bren

  31. What a wonderful quilt! Really love the color choice!!Congrats on the 2#…wonderful!!

  32. What a wonderful quilt! Really love the color choice!!Congrats on the 2#…wonderful!!

  35. Congratulations on another wonderful finish Nicole…BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
    Great job on your loss…keep it up!

  36. Congratulations on another wonderful finish Nicole…BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
    Great job on your loss…keep it up!

  37. Nicole….hooray for yet another Friday finish. As always, you amaze me with all your accomplish. Also, I love the color choices, as usual. Us Moda gals must stick together!

  38. Nicole….hooray for yet another Friday finish. As always, you amaze me with all your accomplish. Also, I love the color choices, as usual. Us Moda gals must stick together!

  39. I LOVE it. Oh my goodness. Is this another book I have to get? Did I tell you you’re killing me! But in a good way. Keep it up 😉

  40. I LOVE it. Oh my goodness. Is this another book I have to get? Did I tell you you’re killing me! But in a good way. Keep it up 😉

  45. Love this quilt! What a neat thing to do with a layer cake. I have bought one of those but have another quilt in mind for it; hmmmm, Nicole, I think you are going to cost me some money, lol.

  46. Love this quilt! What a neat thing to do with a layer cake. I have bought one of those but have another quilt in mind for it; hmmmm, Nicole, I think you are going to cost me some money, lol.

  47. Fabulous quilt, and what a great idea to do it in ME fabrics. I think that’s an idea I’m just going to have to run with. Fat Quarter Shop, here I come.
    Congratulations too, on the weight loss.

  48. Fabulous quilt, and what a great idea to do it in ME fabrics. I think that’s an idea I’m just going to have to run with. Fat Quarter Shop, here I come.
    Congratulations too, on the weight loss.

  53. I love the border. I know the center was much more work but the checked border just sets it all off so beautifully.

  54. I love the border. I know the center was much more work but the checked border just sets it all off so beautifully.

  55. Love that quilt…makes me think that I’ll have to make myself one as I gave the one I made to my sister…she begged…lol
    You get more done in a week than I do in a month!

  56. Love that quilt…makes me think that I’ll have to make myself one as I gave the one I made to my sister…she begged…lol
    You get more done in a week than I do in a month!

  59. Gorgeous! This is a great pattern that lends itself to so many fabric choices – and the checkered border is fantastic.

  60. Gorgeous! This is a great pattern that lends itself to so many fabric choices – and the checkered border is fantastic.

  67. I love Miss Rosie patterns too. I have been pondering what fabric to use to make Raise the Roof. I did Double Duty in Kansas Trouble fabrics, so want to do something different for Raise the Roof — would look too similar. Great thoughts about needing contrast. Thanks for the tip. I enjoy your blog. And Ozzie is a cutie.

  68. I love Miss Rosie patterns too. I have been pondering what fabric to use to make Raise the Roof. I did Double Duty in Kansas Trouble fabrics, so want to do something different for Raise the Roof — would look too similar. Great thoughts about needing contrast. Thanks for the tip. I enjoy your blog. And Ozzie is a cutie.