You will be seeing this quilt on a couple of blogs today. This is Thelma's (Cupcakes 'n' Daisies) Door County Cherry Baskets quilt. It was a pattern designed by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings. Ever since Thelma started this quilt I have wanted one too. Primitive Gatherings was offering the quilt as a kit, which I had in my imaginary shopping cart on and off until it was no longer available. The $225 price tag was making me hesitate, and then it was too late. Thelma did not use a kit, she used fabrics from her stash. Thelma's quilt was masterfully quilted by Linda Hrcka of The Quilted Pineapple. Check out both Linda and Thelma's blogs for more pictures!
So. How am I going to get a quilt like this one?
Being the fine friend that she is, Thelma sent me her leftover black and brown triangles for the basket blocks. She did this ages ago and the pieces have been sitting around in my cupboard until yesterday.
That's a lot of brown and black triangles. Enough for lots of baskets.
When I was at Road to California, I purchased two of these gorgeous charm packs from The Primitive Gatherings booth. Each pack has 30 pairs of red prints–60 pieces in all. And I have two packs. Plenty for lots of baskets!
Now, I did not think I would be able to replicate the exact pattern that Lisa designed and that Thelma executed. But I was determined to use the leftover dark triangles and these gorgeous red charms to make some basket blocks and see what I might come up with. So I started playing around.
In Carrie Nelson's Picnic Schnibbles pattern, she shows how she made eight half square triangles out of two five inch charm squares. I remembered that, and pulled out the Picnic pattern, which as you can see is a basket quilt with four or five variations of basket blocks.
I did have to trim down the smaller dark triangle units to 2 inches, but every one of them is going to be usable. And the large triangles are exactly the right size, at 3 1/2 inches.
At this point, I have not decided if I am going to go with Carrie's basket blocks set on the diagonal with alternate red blocks, or if I am going to try for a smaller version of Lisa Bongean's Cherry Basket quilt. Today I am going to play around and see if I actually can make a version of the block in Thelma's quilt. Either way, I think I can replicate the feel of the original Door County Cherry Baskets quilt. You will have to stay tuned for this one!
30 responses to “Doing It My Way”
You can’t make a bad decision when it comes to basket blocks. Seeing you work on this project makes me want to find another basket block pattern to work on along with you.
Here’s a link to how I made my basket blocks. I did not use the same method as called for by Lisa in the pattern.
http://www.cupcakesndaisies.com/2011/10/dccb-progress.html
Happy Valentines Day!
You can’t make a bad decision when it comes to basket blocks. Seeing you work on this project makes me want to find another basket block pattern to work on along with you.
Here’s a link to how I made my basket blocks. I did not use the same method as called for by Lisa in the pattern.
http://www.cupcakesndaisies.com/2011/10/dccb-progress.html
Happy Valentines Day!
I love Thelma’s quilt – the red makes it a signature Thelma quilt doesn’t it? And basket blocks are so sweet. Your test block is looking great – really looking forward to seeing how this one develops x
I love Thelma’s quilt – the red makes it a signature Thelma quilt doesn’t it? And basket blocks are so sweet. Your test block is looking great – really looking forward to seeing how this one develops x
Why oh why do I think I need to make every single one of your quilts?? Our tastes are so similar and I fall in love with each one! This one will be beautiful as usual!
Why oh why do I think I need to make every single one of your quilts?? Our tastes are so similar and I fall in love with each one! This one will be beautiful as usual!
It is such a lovely quilt and will be fun to make…..I am rooting for you!
Gail
It is such a lovely quilt and will be fun to make…..I am rooting for you!
Gail
I think your way is magnificent!! What a pretty quilt this one will be!!
I think your way is magnificent!! What a pretty quilt this one will be!!
Oh, gosh, I am in love with that little basket!
Oh, gosh, I am in love with that little basket!
What a great friend Thelma is to send you her leftovers. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. I think whichever you decide to do will look lovely. I’ll have to remember the trick to get so many 1/2 square triangle units out of a charm square. I have on my list to make a red and white quilt after seeing so many lovely ones. I’m in the process of collecting reds now.
What a great friend Thelma is to send you her leftovers. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. I think whichever you decide to do will look lovely. I’ll have to remember the trick to get so many 1/2 square triangle units out of a charm square. I have on my list to make a red and white quilt after seeing so many lovely ones. I’m in the process of collecting reds now.
Love the quilt Thelma made from her stash and the Cherry Baskets pattern! Those scrappy red “setting triangles” that square up each basket really add sparkle as does that narrow pieced black border. Well done, Thelma! Applause!!
I have to agree that Thelma is a stellar friend to send you her leftover triangles.
All of y’all who fly thru piecing quilt top after quilt top just amaze me! I stand in awe.
Hugs!
Love the quilt Thelma made from her stash and the Cherry Baskets pattern! Those scrappy red “setting triangles” that square up each basket really add sparkle as does that narrow pieced black border. Well done, Thelma! Applause!!
I have to agree that Thelma is a stellar friend to send you her leftover triangles.
All of y’all who fly thru piecing quilt top after quilt top just amaze me! I stand in awe.
Hugs!
You certainly are channeling Thelma on this quilt, making it your own in every way. It’s so pretty !
You certainly are channeling Thelma on this quilt, making it your own in every way. It’s so pretty !
I am looking forward to watching this journey of a quilt unfold. Thanks for sharing. As for Thelma’s quilt it is just too stunning for words.
I am looking forward to watching this journey of a quilt unfold. Thanks for sharing. As for Thelma’s quilt it is just too stunning for words.
Wow, we really are in sync this week. I saw this quilt on Pintrest over the weekend and I was smitten. I had completely forgotten that Thelma had made it and started my search for the pattern (I knew it was by Lisa) but could not find it anywhere. Of course I couldn’t find it, it was in a book! Not that the book is any easier to find, lol!
I don’t think you can go wrong any way you make those baskets. The pattern is just stunning.
Wow, we really are in sync this week. I saw this quilt on Pintrest over the weekend and I was smitten. I had completely forgotten that Thelma had made it and started my search for the pattern (I knew it was by Lisa) but could not find it anywhere. Of course I couldn’t find it, it was in a book! Not that the book is any easier to find, lol!
I don’t think you can go wrong any way you make those baskets. The pattern is just stunning.
I love that you are doing it your way. makes perfect sense to me. Me the one that can’t follow a pattern from beginning to end ever!
I love that you are doing it your way. makes perfect sense to me. Me the one that can’t follow a pattern from beginning to end ever!
I’m so glad to see that Hill Country Baskets hasn’t turned you off of other great basket patterns! Have a wonderful Valentine Day! Will you be taking your father-in-law out for a special lunch?
I’m so glad to see that Hill Country Baskets hasn’t turned you off of other great basket patterns! Have a wonderful Valentine Day! Will you be taking your father-in-law out for a special lunch?
Wow, love Thelma’s quilt and your little basket 🙂 you are on such a roll already this year! Can’t wait to see what you decide to do…I’m like the other person who commented that they want to make every quilt you do 🙂 I see baskets in my future!
Wow, love Thelma’s quilt and your little basket 🙂 you are on such a roll already this year! Can’t wait to see what you decide to do…I’m like the other person who commented that they want to make every quilt you do 🙂 I see baskets in my future!
Thelma’s quilt is gorgeous and the quilting by Lisa is stellar. What a beautiful keepsake. Keep inspiring us.
Thelma’s quilt is gorgeous and the quilting by Lisa is stellar. What a beautiful keepsake. Keep inspiring us.