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.

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Proud Finish: Belle Meade

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I am quite proud of this quilt.  The pattern is by Bonnie Blue and is called Belle Meade.  The quilt top calls for 656 half square triangles.  The fabric I used is a combination of French General (for Moda) collections:  primarily Rural Jardin, but including Rouenneries and Lumiere de Noel.

My friend Thelma, from Cupcakes 'n' Daisies made this quilt as well.  The quilt was one that we both wanted to make, but had put off due to the rather formidable number of units it entailed.  We talked it through and figured if we both worked on the project simultaneously, we would be able to encourage one another throughout the process.

We decided to make our half square triangles all through December and get started on assembling the blocks in January, with a finish deadline of early February.  Woo hoo!  We did it!  Please do go check out Thelma's version of this quilt.  She used the same fabrics as I did, but chose a different finishing technique for hers.  

I wanted my quilt to be as large as I could make it, and also chose to emphasize the red.  To achieve those goals, I picked a red print for my setting triangles, and added a 6 1/2 inch outer border of the same print.  I liked the idea of adding in a narrow (1 inch finished) containment border of tan to kind of bring a stop to the craziness of all those half square triangles.

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As you can see, this will be a great top for my queen size bed, with plenty of generous over-hang on the sides.

If you ever consider taking on a fairly challenging project, think about working along with a friend on the same quilt.  Working with someone else can encourage you to stay focused and on task.  Set manageable, mutually agreeable deadlines for your progress, and the result will be a fabulous quilt that you may not have tackled otherwise. 

Have a fabulous weekend, Friends!  I know I will be able to relax—I earned it!!

 

134 responses to “Proud Finish: Belle Meade”

  3. All I can say is WOW – that is absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations on such a quick finish – if I were to try to tackle this it would take me months, if not years.

  4. All I can say is WOW – that is absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations on such a quick finish – if I were to try to tackle this it would take me months, if not years.

  5. It’s beautiful!! The containment border really does it’s job on this quilt, I often add them myself when adding that extra border.
    What a great accomplishment so early in the year, good for you!

  6. It’s beautiful!! The containment border really does it’s job on this quilt, I often add them myself when adding that extra border.
    What a great accomplishment so early in the year, good for you!

  9. Just beautiful! You and Thelma amaze me with all the sewing you accomplish! Both your quilts are stunning 🙂
    Donna

  10. Just beautiful! You and Thelma amaze me with all the sewing you accomplish! Both your quilts are stunning 🙂
    Donna

  11. Breathtaking! Love, the beige skinny border. It makes the red POP! One of your best. I’m on my way to look at Thelma’s. Congratulations on an awesome finish.
    Mary

  12. Breathtaking! Love, the beige skinny border. It makes the red POP! One of your best. I’m on my way to look at Thelma’s. Congratulations on an awesome finish.
    Mary

  21. APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!!!!!!!!!!! Belle Meade is beautiful and you were so right to choose to have your setting triangles and outer border match with the tan containment border so perfectly set off the center! Well done!
    Enjoy feasting your eyes on this glorious quilt as you take that well earned relaxation break.
    Popping over to Thelma’s blog to see her wonderful creation!
    Hugs!

  22. APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!!!!!!!!!!! Belle Meade is beautiful and you were so right to choose to have your setting triangles and outer border match with the tan containment border so perfectly set off the center! Well done!
    Enjoy feasting your eyes on this glorious quilt as you take that well earned relaxation break.
    Popping over to Thelma’s blog to see her wonderful creation!
    Hugs!

  27. I love how you expanded it. It looks like that extra border was just meant to be (like when you did something similar with your version of Elizabeth).
    It is just lovely!! Congratulations on your finish. It is a real gem.

  28. I love how you expanded it. It looks like that extra border was just meant to be (like when you did something similar with your version of Elizabeth).
    It is just lovely!! Congratulations on your finish. It is a real gem.

  37. Woo hoo indeed! I know what you mean about quilting with a buddy. That’s how I got started. My two friends and I quilted once a week at one of our homes for years. Now two of us still do it. I don’t know if I’d get anything done otherwise.

  38. Woo hoo indeed! I know what you mean about quilting with a buddy. That’s how I got started. My two friends and I quilted once a week at one of our homes for years. Now two of us still do it. I don’t know if I’d get anything done otherwise.

  41. A proud finish indeed! You did great, Nicole. It’s so beautiful. Great job. Love the little tan containment border as well. This looks so pretty in this fabric line. A big huge Congratulations!!!

  42. A proud finish indeed! You did great, Nicole. It’s so beautiful. Great job. Love the little tan containment border as well. This looks so pretty in this fabric line. A big huge Congratulations!!!

  49. Very nice. Good work. And congratulations. Working along with someone is certainly good encouragement.

  50. Very nice. Good work. And congratulations. Working along with someone is certainly good encouragement.

  51. It turned out just stunning, Nicole, just as you imagined it would! And having a friend to quilt with, even miles apart, is just the best! Congratulations on getting through all those cutting and piecing and switcheroo sessions 🙂

  52. It turned out just stunning, Nicole, just as you imagined it would! And having a friend to quilt with, even miles apart, is just the best! Congratulations on getting through all those cutting and piecing and switcheroo sessions 🙂

  55. absolutely stunning. You and Thelma have done a great job on these quilts. you continue to inspire and motivate me. have a great weekend

  56. absolutely stunning. You and Thelma have done a great job on these quilts. you continue to inspire and motivate me. have a great weekend

  57. What a great idea, to work on a project with a friend to help you along! Fun too! Love the quilt……well worth the effort :). You certainly deserve a nice restful weekend.

  58. What a great idea, to work on a project with a friend to help you along! Fun too! Love the quilt……well worth the effort :). You certainly deserve a nice restful weekend.

  59. Well, no wonder your January didn’t have finished projects… you had this wonderful quilt “up your sleeve”… It is just beautiful Nicole. Stunning and well worth the zillion HST’s you suffered making!

  60. Well, no wonder your January didn’t have finished projects… you had this wonderful quilt “up your sleeve”… It is just beautiful Nicole. Stunning and well worth the zillion HST’s you suffered making!

  61. Congrats Nicole on finishing your Belle Meade! It is absolutely stunning. I just love the red in this quilt, you can not go wrong with red

  62. Congrats Nicole on finishing your Belle Meade! It is absolutely stunning. I just love the red in this quilt, you can not go wrong with red

  63. Wow!! It is BEAUTIFUL! Who needs curved piecing when a thousand half square triangles can be made with triangle paper??!! ;0

  64. Wow!! It is BEAUTIFUL! Who needs curved piecing when a thousand half square triangles can be made with triangle paper??!! ;0

  65. Wow!!! Its absolutely gorgeous Nicole! I am so excited to see this! And especially since I adore these fabrics,and red is my favorite color. I MUST make this quilt!!!!
    Congrats on a job well done!!!

  66. Wow!!! Its absolutely gorgeous Nicole! I am so excited to see this! And especially since I adore these fabrics,and red is my favorite color. I MUST make this quilt!!!!
    Congrats on a job well done!!!

  67. Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous! It looks so good on your bed. Congrats on a beautiful quilt!

  68. Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous! It looks so good on your bed. Congrats on a beautiful quilt!

  79. Looks great. I love these French General fabrics and now I love this pattern too. Great borders!

  80. Looks great. I love these French General fabrics and now I love this pattern too. Great borders!

  81. SUCH a wonderful quilt! It continually amazes me how fast you can get these things done! Hopefully one day I can be that fast with my quilting projects.

  82. SUCH a wonderful quilt! It continually amazes me how fast you can get these things done! Hopefully one day I can be that fast with my quilting projects.

  93. Nicole, you made this quilt spectacular with YOUR fabric selections. Stunning! Makes me want to buy up every bit of French General left at the shop….to add to my collection already at home!

  94. Nicole, you made this quilt spectacular with YOUR fabric selections. Stunning! Makes me want to buy up every bit of French General left at the shop….to add to my collection already at home!

  95. Oh my, Nicole, I am in awe that you finished such a detailed quilt so quickly! This would have taken me several years for sure! I’m making a quilt for my sister’s birthday, but it is very simple compared to this and I know I won’t finish it by March 28. Your quilt is stunning and you do such beautiful work! 🙂

  96. Oh my, Nicole, I am in awe that you finished such a detailed quilt so quickly! This would have taken me several years for sure! I’m making a quilt for my sister’s birthday, but it is very simple compared to this and I know I won’t finish it by March 28. Your quilt is stunning and you do such beautiful work! 🙂

  97. Beautiful!
    I think the idea of working with a friend on the same quilt pattern is a good idea. A friend & I are working on Barbara Brackman’s BOW and it is helping.

  98. Beautiful!
    I think the idea of working with a friend on the same quilt pattern is a good idea. A friend & I are working on Barbara Brackman’s BOW and it is helping.

  103. Belle Meade turned out so beautifully. I’m a softie for reds. I like that you used that red for the the border AND the setting triangles. The insertion of the very narrow inner border between the two is a nice, crisp contrast to the soft, flowery fabric designs. Very nice.
    Now I’ll go see what wonders Thelma has done.

  104. Belle Meade turned out so beautifully. I’m a softie for reds. I like that you used that red for the the border AND the setting triangles. The insertion of the very narrow inner border between the two is a nice, crisp contrast to the soft, flowery fabric designs. Very nice.
    Now I’ll go see what wonders Thelma has done.

  111. That is one is a keeper for sure. Love the red color for the borders and setting triangles.

  112. That is one is a keeper for sure. Love the red color for the borders and setting triangles.

  113. Beautiful work! Congratulations on finishing such a huge undertaking!
    I love all the French General fabrics.
    Great teamwork! Woohoo!!!

  114. Beautiful work! Congratulations on finishing such a huge undertaking!
    I love all the French General fabrics.
    Great teamwork! Woohoo!!!

  119. What an amazing quilt! I’ve never made a bed-sized quilt, and yours is making my mind go into overdrive. Don’t be surprised if I have one in the works soon.
    It’s definitely more fun to work with a friend on a challenging project. It doesn’t seem so much like work!

  120. What an amazing quilt! I’ve never made a bed-sized quilt, and yours is making my mind go into overdrive. Don’t be surprised if I have one in the works soon.
    It’s definitely more fun to work with a friend on a challenging project. It doesn’t seem so much like work!

  131. It’s been such fun watching you and Thelma make this together! It’s gorgeous! Love the red. Love the containment border.

  132. It’s been such fun watching you and Thelma make this together! It’s gorgeous! Love the red. Love the containment border.