I didn’t think I’d ever finish this quilt top, but here it is…hooray!

I had been anxiously awaiting this new collection, Outback Wife, the debut collection from Cathi Bessell-Browne of Gertrude Made. I first noticed it when Blair Stocker posted her beautiful Outback Values quilt, and ever since I couldn’t stop thinking about making my own. Cathi’s beautiful florals are printed on a cotton barkcloth base, which I really liked working with. I was worried it might feel thick or bulky, but instead it was easy to sew with and provides a really interesting texture.

I considered following Blair’s free pattern, but as you know, I tend to like to do my own thing, so once I had my fat quarter bundle in my hands I immediately thought back to my friendship bracelet quilt. I had always wanted to make a larger version of that quilt, and decided these prints might be perfect.

I happily chopped up all the fabrics into triangles and then remembered how I didn’t necessarily love making half rectangle triangles! This time I used a Darlene Zimmerman triangle template I picked up from JoAnn’s ages ago rather than making two units at a time out of two rectangles. I found I was more accurate doing it this way.

Trouble was, any time I wanted to work on this quilt, I had to lay out all the pieces – the pieced units and the individual triangles and sew as much as I could before someone inevitably walked though it! It made this a time consuming one (not to mention… all those seams!)

Happily, I’ve already forgotten about the difficulties now that it’s done!

I picked up my fat quarter bundle from Stash Fabrics, and I just checked and they have a few left, so if you’re loving this collection like I am, go snag a bundle!