Continuing my series of posts about the annual May quilting retreat I attended with my Quilting Sisters in Vancouver, WA May 17 – 20. To read my previous posts about quilting retreats I’ve attended, see my post category – Retreats.
In the post The Pillow Project I mentioned that for this May’s annual quilting retreat I pulled out some old unfinished objects/projects (UFOs); or as my blogging buddy Shirley @ handmadehabit calls them – “stranded” projects.
Well another “stranded” project that I brought to the quilt retreat was the Tango Stripe (pattern by Jean Wells of the Stitchin‘ Post) project.
This quilt is made with Kaffe Fassett stripes fabric and coordinating solids. I’ve wanted to make this quilt for years after falling in love with the store sample when visiting the Stitchin’ Post.
I’ve nearly started it a couple times as evidenced by these posts:
Diving into a quilt (and other stuff) (January 2017) and Quilt Seating! (December 2016)
A couple of months ago at the monthly art quilter group I attend, our group leader brought in her completed Tango Stripe quilt, set in olive green fabric instead of denim colored fabric, and it was fantastic. This reminded me how much I want to make my own.
So I brought my collection of Kaffe Fassett striped fabrics and solids to the retreat and finally started cutting the blocks with the templates from the pattern:
I got this far in my progress on the quilt top during the quilting retreat:
I know it does not seem like a lot but there is a lot of template work to create the effect of the quilt. You do not cut the whole quilt out at once per instructions but you design as you go.
I did not finish it as you can see but I made a lot more progress than I had in the 5+ years since buying the pattern!
For now it is put away as I need my large design wall to finish it up and currently my large design wall has a quilt in progress for a future WCQN exhibit that I cannot yet share. But once I finish that piece, Tango Stripe is going up on the design wall and is going to be finished!
It is a tale whose story needs to end (with a completed quilt!)
Postscript
During the retreat, one of my quilting sisters gave me a sweet Moda fabrics Frivols quilt kit for my birthday:
This section of the insert inside the tin made me smile as I think it describes many of us well:
Hope you have a great week of “making” if you are a “Maker“!
More stories from the May quilt retreat are coming.
I love the colours of your stripes, it’s colourful without being bright. The maker quote is grteat too, might have to pinch that sometime 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much – I like the combination of the dull and bright colors in the stripes palette!
LikeLike
Great start on a lovely new quilt. I love the Frivols kit too — looks yummy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and I have to at least be happy with myself that I finally STARTED it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve done a great job with your start with the Tango Stripe Pattern. I love the colors you chose. The maker quote is great — so true:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much my fellow Maker 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Tango is one of my favorite dances to watch, and now, the Tango Stripe Quilt is tops on my list of favorite quilt designs. I love the Kaffe Fassett fabric.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you can get the pattern still on the Stitchin Post website online, or you can call them and they will do a phone order. But warning – it is a wee bit complex with the templates and has Y-seams in each block (it took me about 5 blocks to get better at those Y seams!)
LikeLike
It is above my level, but I’d like to try.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease, nothing is above your level my dear! You are brilliant 🙂
LikeLike
You just made my day! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely design with glorious fabrics. I especially like the lime green “pop”. You will just have to finish this one, Tierney!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and I think I need to repeat the lime green when I can in the quilt, I agree with the pop effect 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. Very cool, love the colors and that awesome pattern.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dawn 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So very good for you! There are so many patterns and fabrics I love, I never know where to begin…especially for a quilt to keep! Love the stripes and the organization you always have! Keep having fun!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I totally understand waiting 5 years to start something!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, ha! I appreciate your comments 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just looking at all those pieces and knowing they’re only the beginning is a good reminder of why I will leave the quilting to my mom and will be keeping my sewing world to my shirts and dresses that only require a few pieces! Excellent start, though .Can’t wait to see it completed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I feel the same about writing a novel, I dream of it but will leave that to you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always love to see what you’re working on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The quilt is looking good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much 🙂
LikeLike
Maybe it could be your perennial retreat project, thus saving you having to plan new ones. LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! Then sometime in 2025 I can finish it 😉
LikeLike
You are officially on a roll! 🙂 It’s great to read that the annual retreat saw lots of opportunities to return to some familiar and beloved projects. It must feel nice to reunite with those gems, and rediscover what brought you to them in the first place. Ooh to the tango stripes – they very much look like a blanket-knitting technique called mitered squares, too. Maybe this is not a coincidence given Kaffe Fassett’s knitting/quilting talents! And what a wonderful statement on makers! I hope you had a grrrreeeeat birthday, Tierney! Many happy returns!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and it does feel good to move forward on stuff and to “unstrand” those projects! Mitered squares – I will put that in my dream knitting skills catalog, ha! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t wait to see it finished! It will be gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can totally understand why you fell for this pattern, Tierney! It’s beautiful… And I’d say the retreat was a great place to make a start on it at last! Enjoy 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person