This month seems to have motivated me a little bit to work on some projects that have been “fermenting” on the shelf or on hangers! Last blog post I talked a little about getting stalled when it came to putting borders on quilts.
One project that has been quietly hanging in my quilting room is a Bonnie Hunter pattern. It was the Winter 2015/16 mystery quilt she called Allietare. The pattern was inspired by one of Bonnie’s trips to Europe and the Tuscan countryside.
My quilt top has been assembled since about March, 2016, all but the last border. Apparently, I had shopped for border fabric, because I had a box, with 4 different fabrics.
Looking back through my project notebook, I had receipts from Hancock Fabrics (RIP) and Hobby Lobby for various pieces in the quilt. I also had the “color chips” from the original pattern, where Bonnie recommended, 5 color groups for the project. I remember when I started to shop for fabric that the colors on Bonnie’s graphic were not the same colors in the “suggested” colors. I had a scrap of fabric that really “matched” the graphic.
(Note…the “spelling changed from Allietore to Allietare” about the 2nd week of the project. I never made a new book cover.)
I really felt like the choice of black was too harsh for these colors, so I opted for a brown. And Bonnie suggested just one constant color and that was a GREY. Again, I felt like I need to use the green, like in my inspiration fabric.
I was really happy with my fabric choices for the quilt top, but when it came to the border fabric, I stopped. I have to say I had 4 & 5 yard pieces of three different fabrics, and at the time, they just didn’t click with me for the project.
Early this week, my local quilt shop posted a sale and some photos of fabric and one of them caught my eye. In fact, I got so excited, I had to go out to my quilt room, get the quilt top off the hanger and spread it out on the table to measure for borders.

I debated and debated ordering this fabric for the borders. Because we still can’t enter the store, I didn’t have a good feel for it and how the width and the height of the repeat (12″) would work for my border. And in the long run, I thought it might be to light alongside that chocolate brown border.
So, I decided against ordering it for the border. What made my decision easier was pulling the box of fabric that I had originally purchased.
As I set out the 3 fabrics on top of the quilt top, I knew why the grapes wouldn’t work, and why the gold wouldn’t work. But, I didn’t know why that top fabric had been previously thought “unworthy”. It was perfect.
So, I did my measuring and decided to cut 8.5″ strips of the wine label fabric for the borders. Lots of discussion with my husband about how to best show the labels. Yesterday after lunch I got busy, did the cutting and got the borders on, and the quilt top is now READY to be quilted.
Now that the borders are on, the quilt top is 99 x 111″, perfect for our king size bed.
So, now, what about that Bella Toscana? I think it is going on the back of the quilt. I just loved that fabric, and have to do some quilt math in order to use it. The quilt is 99″ long. So, I think I will order 4 yards, and build the backing with that piece of Bella Toscana down the center. Because the quilt is very wide (111″), I need to build it up with something else. I initially thought to use the GRAPES fabric, but there is not enough to get the width I need on both sides of the center. I think that gold herringbone will come into play in the process, so, yes, a pieced back, with several sections. It will be fantastic, and I can’t wait to place my order today!
The big debate then is the quilting. As soon as my sister-in-law, Carolyn (aka OneBlockWonderWoman.wordpress.com) saw the photo, she volunteered to quilt it for me. We had lots of fun discussion about mailing it to her, or arriving with my suitcases full of quilts to long arm at her house on Greta the Gammil. That debate is still underway. In any event, I am really pleased with the outcome of the border.
If you are interested in the pattern, you can find it on Bonnie Hunter’s digital store https://quiltville.com/shop.html#!/Allietare-Digital-Pattern/p/59334161/category=13038426
For more about my adventures making this quilt top, just put Allietare in the search block on this page.
Are you catching up on anything this week?
I absolutely love the colors you chose for this quilt and the Bella Toscana fabric will make a dynamite back. It will be wonderful to have it checked off your UFO list and have another gorgeous quilt to change out on your bed.
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We used the size of the quilt you made as the model for this one. We like the width across the bed (111″) as it gives a nice drop. Still plenty of length too and bottom for pillow tuck. Ohhhh debating pillow cases….need another 2 yards
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Just ordered six yards of the fabric
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Nice blog
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Thanks for stopping by and taking time to read. π
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My pleasure, followed you β¨
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Working a little on a flag wall hanging. Little is the key word here. π
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Like the idea of LITTLE. It is achievable! I pulled a box from the shelf yesterday that is “little”. Another aged UFO, but it will be a wall hanging too. I look forward to seeing your project.
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I don’t have a UFO left. Nothing in the works or planning stage either! I’ll be playing in the garden, and going hiking, then perhaps I’ll be inspired to start another project.
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Wow, that’s amazing!! The zoom chat inspired me to get busy! I hope the weather stays nice and gives you lots of time for outdoor activities. When the weather isn’t cooperating, I bet you have a few good books to re-read.
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Whew! All those points! Looks great π
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Thanks. One thing you can always count on with a Bonnie Hunter pattern is lots of small pieces and lots of half square triangles! This pattern has a unit called a “headless geese” and they were new to me and a serious challenge.
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