Took these pilgrims long enough. . .

I started these guys in 2010 and kept putting them in timeout because I couldn't get the checkerboard border right.  I made finishing this quilt a resolution for the year so this weekend I pulled them back out and got to work.  I added two additional colors to the border and remade a ton of squares.  This isn't completely perfect but at least it's done!

I'm really glad to have this finished.  I plan to quilt it with invisible thread in a cross-hatch pattern.

That'll teach 'em

So I was having trouble with the border on my pilgrims. I solicited suggestions from friends. Here they are:

1. leaves leaves leaves!
2. no leaves! just leave it like it is
3. I like the leaves. I like it the way it is. Either way will be great!
4. one inch black border, three inches of leaves, back and bind in a medium gold
5. screw the border, just bind it in black
6. leaves are too busy
7. suck it up and re-do the checkerboard

And on and on and on.

I have, seeing as how Thanksgiving is one week from today and we will be gone most of next week, have sent the Pilgrims to time out for being difficult.

That'll teach 'em.

Dilemma

So, the checkerboard border didn't work. My little blocks were all wonky and it looked really dreadful. I ripped it out and tried to sew short lengths of the blocks but it still looked horrid.

So I thought I would try just a row of blocks. Umm. No. Don't like that either, especially at the bottom under the pumpkins.

DH recommended this for a border:

A couple turkeys, a few pumpkins. . .

And a million 1 1/2 inch squares to make for the border.

And then there were two.

Mistress Pilgrim

Isn't she adorable? I've been dying to get started on my pilgrims. This pattern takes a lot of long, skinny cuts of fabric but boy! is the result cute.

Am already thinking of how I can use the pumpkins in another quilt.

I originally saw this quilt on someone's blog who had taken a pic at a friend's house. I searched around for a bit and could not find the pattern. Then one day I was on ebay and searched for a pilgrim quilt pattern and voila! My search was over.