Jill's graduation quilt

When I started this quilt

in 1999, I hadn't planned for it to be for Jill's graduation. I found the pattern in a Fons and Porter Quilt magazine and used Civil War reproduction fabrics. No two blocks are the same and I tried to make it look vintage by substituting a few scrappy background pieces in some blocks as if I'd run out of the fabric.

I had most of the blocks made in '99 but tired of all the small pieces, but periodically pulled it out and made another. In April, when the girls went to Sunriver, I brought it again and realized it was the perfect quilt for Jill. She asked for one that was red and gold like many of the blocks. What I didn't like were the backgrounds, they were all too light, off-white instead of beige. Took a drastic step and dunked them all in tea which toned them down and now they look wonderful.

During the weekend, Rhonda contributed fabric and Judy helped sew a few more blocks. About a week later, Judy helped me put the pieces together and voila! Found a great quilter, Sue Capell, in Newberg who did a great job with a feather pattern in each block and a wavy feather border.