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.

It Took Me Eleven Years, But It’s Done

Fullsizeoutput_1fd8

Finally. It's been on the shelf for a long time, but it is finally ready to be quilted. This is the Fat Quarter Shop's Designer Mystery Quilt from 2011. The patterns for the blocks and for the finishing kit are still available on their website. You should know that I did not follow the directions for finishing the kit, but instead swapped out the finishing instructions for Designer Mystery 2020 instead.

My quilt finished at 90 inches square. It is as big as a circus tent, I swear. I added a 6-inch floral border in the aqua print, which gives the quilt a great drop on my queen-sized bed.

Fullsizeoutput_1fdb

I really struggled with pressing the whole gigantic thing perfectly, but I know it will look great once it is quilted.

And I did piece the backing!

Fullsizeoutput_1fd9

That turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself. I haven't worked with such large pieces of fabric as this quilt top and the backing in a l.o.n.g. time. I won't lie, it was a struggle. And my next large quilt is going to have 108 inch backing for sure. I did not enjoy wrestling with all that yardage. 

Thanks to all of you for your encouragement! Glad to check this UFO off as a "finish"!

96 responses to “It Took Me Eleven Years, But It’s Done”

  1. Congratulations!! You should be very proud of yourself! The quilt is absolutely beautiful – love the border you added – great choice!

  2. Congratulations!! You should be very proud of yourself! The quilt is absolutely beautiful – love the border you added – great choice!

  3. Congratulations!! You should be very proud of yourself! The quilt is absolutely beautiful – love the border you added – great choice!

  4. An absolute stunner!!! Can’t imagine the original finish could have been as beautiful as this. You should give yourself a pat on the back (or a long snuggle under your quilt when it’s back from the quilter)

  5. An absolute stunner!!! Can’t imagine the original finish could have been as beautiful as this. You should give yourself a pat on the back (or a long snuggle under your quilt when it’s back from the quilter)

  6. An absolute stunner!!! Can’t imagine the original finish could have been as beautiful as this. You should give yourself a pat on the back (or a long snuggle under your quilt when it’s back from the quilter)

  7. You’re not the only one who struggles with large quilts but I so enjoy them when they are finished and I really don’t need another lap quilt. The large border is just what was needed and it doesn’t detract from the center so it’s a win – win. It turned out great.

  8. You’re not the only one who struggles with large quilts but I so enjoy them when they are finished and I really don’t need another lap quilt. The large border is just what was needed and it doesn’t detract from the center so it’s a win – win. It turned out great.

  9. You’re not the only one who struggles with large quilts but I so enjoy them when they are finished and I really don’t need another lap quilt. The large border is just what was needed and it doesn’t detract from the center so it’s a win – win. It turned out great.

  10. Wow…how pretty and Congrats on the finish! Must feel great to have this done and now you will enjoy using this one…..Nice work Nicole!

  11. Wow…how pretty and Congrats on the finish! Must feel great to have this done and now you will enjoy using this one…..Nice work Nicole!

  12. Wow…how pretty and Congrats on the finish! Must feel great to have this done and now you will enjoy using this one…..Nice work Nicole!

  25. Can’t go wrong with Fig tree fabrics. This quilt is gorgeous! Great finish Nicole. I love your tweeks!

  26. Can’t go wrong with Fig tree fabrics. This quilt is gorgeous! Great finish Nicole. I love your tweeks!

  27. Can’t go wrong with Fig tree fabrics. This quilt is gorgeous! Great finish Nicole. I love your tweeks!

  28. It is beautiful! And the colors–especially the green–are PERFECT for your room. Cant wait to see it quilted. And I love the tulip on the back. Good Job!

  29. It is beautiful! And the colors–especially the green–are PERFECT for your room. Cant wait to see it quilted. And I love the tulip on the back. Good Job!

  30. It is beautiful! And the colors–especially the green–are PERFECT for your room. Cant wait to see it quilted. And I love the tulip on the back. Good Job!

  31. You are so right about large quilt backs. My least favorite part.
    Your decision to use the suggested border fabric on the back was spot on. Your selection for the border is much softer. Wonderful.

  32. You are so right about large quilt backs. My least favorite part.
    Your decision to use the suggested border fabric on the back was spot on. Your selection for the border is much softer. Wonderful.

  33. You are so right about large quilt backs. My least favorite part.
    Your decision to use the suggested border fabric on the back was spot on. Your selection for the border is much softer. Wonderful.

  37. Great job of sticking to it and finishing it! Those 108″ quilts are so big to maneuver, but I can’t afford to send them out so I manage to work it on my 11″ spaced Janome. Every time I lay out a quilt hubby says but it isn’t big enough! Once in a while I agree.

  38. Great job of sticking to it and finishing it! Those 108″ quilts are so big to maneuver, but I can’t afford to send them out so I manage to work it on my 11″ spaced Janome. Every time I lay out a quilt hubby says but it isn’t big enough! Once in a while I agree.

  39. Great job of sticking to it and finishing it! Those 108″ quilts are so big to maneuver, but I can’t afford to send them out so I manage to work it on my 11″ spaced Janome. Every time I lay out a quilt hubby says but it isn’t big enough! Once in a while I agree.

  40. Just beautiful!! I am with you-I have started buying wide backs for the big quilts and it is a game changer!!,

  41. Just beautiful!! I am with you-I have started buying wide backs for the big quilts and it is a game changer!!,

  42. Just beautiful!! I am with you-I have started buying wide backs for the big quilts and it is a game changer!!,

  43. Very, very nice quilt! It turned out to be quite a beauty. Your way of assembling the blocks made this one so special. Good job!

  44. Very, very nice quilt! It turned out to be quite a beauty. Your way of assembling the blocks made this one so special. Good job!

  45. Very, very nice quilt! It turned out to be quite a beauty. Your way of assembling the blocks made this one so special. Good job!

  52. When you tweak a pattern or quilt kit to add your own touch, it just makes it more special. Your quilt is gorgeous!

  53. When you tweak a pattern or quilt kit to add your own touch, it just makes it more special. Your quilt is gorgeous!

  54. When you tweak a pattern or quilt kit to add your own touch, it just makes it more special. Your quilt is gorgeous!

  58. Beautiful! And all the nicer for making it to your tastes (which are excellent) and for actually being done!
    As for huge quilts and large backings, I have one of those to deal with now. Don’t love seaming and ironing such huge expanses of fabric.

  59. Beautiful! And all the nicer for making it to your tastes (which are excellent) and for actually being done!
    As for huge quilts and large backings, I have one of those to deal with now. Don’t love seaming and ironing such huge expanses of fabric.

  60. Beautiful! And all the nicer for making it to your tastes (which are excellent) and for actually being done!
    As for huge quilts and large backings, I have one of those to deal with now. Don’t love seaming and ironing such huge expanses of fabric.

  61. You have a beautiful quilt with your personalized changes to the pattern. I’m happy you pieced the back, too! It’s more trouble but just gives a quilt a little extra surprise! And, you don’t have a leftover flower to wonder what use it for! Congrats on the finish!

  62. You have a beautiful quilt with your personalized changes to the pattern. I’m happy you pieced the back, too! It’s more trouble but just gives a quilt a little extra surprise! And, you don’t have a leftover flower to wonder what use it for! Congrats on the finish!

  63. You have a beautiful quilt with your personalized changes to the pattern. I’m happy you pieced the back, too! It’s more trouble but just gives a quilt a little extra surprise! And, you don’t have a leftover flower to wonder what use it for! Congrats on the finish!

  64. Your quilt is beautiful Nicole. I like the changes you made. Last year I made some draperies and struggled trying to press them. My husband made me a giant ironing board that slides over our Kitchen peninsula counter. It’s just a piece of thin plywood with batting stapled on it, covered with fabric. It is about four feet wide and about six feet long, gives me plenty of irong space. I have used it several times on quilting projects. I slide it off and store it against the wall in our laundry room.

  65. Your quilt is beautiful Nicole. I like the changes you made. Last year I made some draperies and struggled trying to press them. My husband made me a giant ironing board that slides over our Kitchen peninsula counter. It’s just a piece of thin plywood with batting stapled on it, covered with fabric. It is about four feet wide and about six feet long, gives me plenty of irong space. I have used it several times on quilting projects. I slide it off and store it against the wall in our laundry room.

  66. Your quilt is beautiful Nicole. I like the changes you made. Last year I made some draperies and struggled trying to press them. My husband made me a giant ironing board that slides over our Kitchen peninsula counter. It’s just a piece of thin plywood with batting stapled on it, covered with fabric. It is about four feet wide and about six feet long, gives me plenty of irong space. I have used it several times on quilting projects. I slide it off and store it against the wall in our laundry room.

  70. Absolutely Gorgeous!! I enjoyed reading each blog post and seeing the final project. Congratulations!

  71. Absolutely Gorgeous!! I enjoyed reading each blog post and seeing the final project. Congratulations!

  72. Absolutely Gorgeous!! I enjoyed reading each blog post and seeing the final project. Congratulations!

  73. Your quilt is really beautiful! Proof that good fabric doesn’t go bad waiting patiently to be used! Lovely!

  74. Your quilt is really beautiful! Proof that good fabric doesn’t go bad waiting patiently to be used! Lovely!

  75. Your quilt is really beautiful! Proof that good fabric doesn’t go bad waiting patiently to be used! Lovely!

  76. gorgeous! I feel the same way about working with large pieces of fabric. so difficult to cut and press.
    I finally gave up on that. I piece my backs in squares. I cut my backing anywhere from 10′ to 15″ squares and sew together. yep, same fabric just cut into large squares. so much more manageable.
    have a lovely weekend with your dad. it’s going to be warm so maybe your dad can sit out back and enjoy the birds more.

  77. gorgeous! I feel the same way about working with large pieces of fabric. so difficult to cut and press.
    I finally gave up on that. I piece my backs in squares. I cut my backing anywhere from 10′ to 15″ squares and sew together. yep, same fabric just cut into large squares. so much more manageable.
    have a lovely weekend with your dad. it’s going to be warm so maybe your dad can sit out back and enjoy the birds more.

  78. gorgeous! I feel the same way about working with large pieces of fabric. so difficult to cut and press.
    I finally gave up on that. I piece my backs in squares. I cut my backing anywhere from 10′ to 15″ squares and sew together. yep, same fabric just cut into large squares. so much more manageable.
    have a lovely weekend with your dad. it’s going to be warm so maybe your dad can sit out back and enjoy the birds more.

  79. That quilt is beautiful! To you it may have taken 11 years but to me it seems like just a week or two! I’m happy that you could get the extra fabric. I loved that line, I have a quilt made from it that I kept and I don’t keep many anymore. Your setting is just beautiful, I think that would work for many quilts, I like the star without it being a medallion quilt. Very well done!

  80. That quilt is beautiful! To you it may have taken 11 years but to me it seems like just a week or two! I’m happy that you could get the extra fabric. I loved that line, I have a quilt made from it that I kept and I don’t keep many anymore. Your setting is just beautiful, I think that would work for many quilts, I like the star without it being a medallion quilt. Very well done!

  81. That quilt is beautiful! To you it may have taken 11 years but to me it seems like just a week or two! I’m happy that you could get the extra fabric. I loved that line, I have a quilt made from it that I kept and I don’t keep many anymore. Your setting is just beautiful, I think that would work for many quilts, I like the star without it being a medallion quilt. Very well done!

  88. I’m so glad you got back to that pretty top and finished it up. Turned out quite pretty. Woohoo. Have a good weekend and enjoy your dad.

  89. I’m so glad you got back to that pretty top and finished it up. Turned out quite pretty. Woohoo. Have a good weekend and enjoy your dad.

  90. I’m so glad you got back to that pretty top and finished it up. Turned out quite pretty. Woohoo. Have a good weekend and enjoy your dad.