Friday, April 21, 2017

Ruby Roads Quilt

I would love to show you my latest quilt finish today, a quilt I am calling Ruby Roads.



The story of how Ruby Roads came to be...

My local traditional guild, the Foothills Piecemakers Quilt Guild, hosts an annual quilt challenge.  This year, we had to reach into a bucket, pull out a random letter, and make a quilt based on a block starting with that letter.  I picked the letter "R".

I pulled out my favorite quilt block book, "The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns: 4050 Pieced Blocks for Quilters" (affiliate link) by Jinny Beyer. From there I just went page by page skimming the blocks starting with the letter R until a block called Ruby Roads caught my eye.  Ruby Roads is an older block dating back to the early 1900's.  I changed the block a little to arrive at my block.

My cousin is having her first baby (a girl) in just a few weeks so I figured that my Ruby Roads quilt could serve two purposes: my guild challenge entry and my cousin's baby quilt.

I thought that putting the Ruby Roads block on-point gave the block a great (and totally different) look. Below is a picture of the block set horizontally on the left and on point (at a 45 degree angle) on the right.



Next, I added some half blocks along the edge of the quilt design and some sashing between the blocks to give them a little separation and breathing room.

Now that I had my quilt design set, I got to pick fabrics :)

I had just gotten a fat quarter bundle of Les Fleurs by Rifle Paper Co for Cotton & Steel and its delicate florals and prints along with its feminine but not overly girly color palette seemed perfect for the design.

Once the quilt top was finished I basted it with a backing of a Tula Pink print called Pit Crew in Orange Crush from her Slow and Steady line I had. I have a bunch of yardage of the print and the pink matched the pink from the Les Fleurs print almost perfectly.  Here is a quick picture of the finished quilt top after basting.


I had a difficult time figuring out how to quilt the quilt. I first was considering a dense, custom quilting design, but due to time constraints and the desire for the finished quilt to be soft and cuddly for the new baby, I went with an all over paisley/swirl kind of design. I think that it adds great texture without taking away from the piecing.  I used a soft white (2021) Aurifil in 50 wt for the quilting so that the stitches would blend into the quilt top.


I did enter Ruby Roads into the guild challenge.  It did not win any awards, but I think that my cousin will love it. The quilt is packed up and ready to mail out to my cousin to welcome her new baby girl!


Do you have any interest in making this design? If there is some interest, I can write a pattern for both a baby and queen sized version of this quilt. Thanks!

I am linking up to Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation, Whoop Whoop Friday @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday, Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts, Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabrics Studio.






60 comments:

  1. I love this quilt! The repeat of the blocks is so effective. New baby is very lucky!

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  2. Cheryl--that is a stunning quilt!! A pattern would be wonderful!

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  3. That is beautiful! I would love a pattern! And your fabric choices are wonderful too!

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  4. Love the quilt. Setting the block on point was a great decision.

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  5. That is a beautiful quilt. On point, as someone said above, really sets off the blocks. Also the the neutral fabrics in the background of the blocks make the colors pop. Hope you release this pattern.

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  6. Hi, Cheryl! I'm amazed at how different the blocks look on point. It's a beautiful quilt and your cousin will be over the moon at receiving it, the perfect little girl baby quilt. I'd love to say yes, I'd make this if you did up a pattern, but I'm so overwhelmed right now, I don't know which way is up! Enjoy your day! XO, karen

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  7. I love how you set this on point. I would love to have this pattern.

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  8. Amazing how how changing the setting resulted in a whole new look! Fabulous job! And love the quilting!

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  9. This is lovely! I love the quilting and the balance between the background and blocks.

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  10. Very lovely quilt. I would love to make this in the queen size. It would be so thoughtful of you to provide the pattern.

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  11. Stunning! I would love the pattern for this quilt!

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  12. This is so beautiful, simple and elegant, perfect for a baby quilt. I love how changing a block to on point can completely change the look of things. I feel pretty confident you are gonna get positive feed back for this one to become a quilt pattern :)

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  13. It is beautiful. I would love a pattern too!!

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  14. Gorgeous quilt. I don't know when I'll be inspired to make it but it's definitely going ok my Pinterest wall! I think you should definitely do a pattern!

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  15. I love this; it would be a good way to use up some of the scrap fabric. Thanks for sharing the inspiration!

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  16. Beautiful quilt and yes, I think you should do a pattern. I just love this quilt!!!

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  17. What a pretty and sweet baby quilt! I love the delicate nature of it. It's so fun to see older blocks and especially fun to 'update' them! Congrats on this beautiful finish!

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  18. The variation of moving the block to being on point is wonderful! I really like this design and am sure your cousin is going to be thrilled with it. Let me know when I can review the pattern for you (I think you should make it)!

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  19. Hi Cheryl, this quilt is beautiful what a lovely gift. I would love the pattern.
    Warm hugs, Ruthie
    ruthie.peterburg@gmail.com

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  20. That is beautiful !!!! Would definitely love the pattern.

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  21. Definitely interested in a pattern. Beautiful quilt!

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  22. It's a winner in my book Cheryl. A pattern is a must, I love it.

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  23. I would love to see the winner of that challenge, because your quilt is beautiful. Perfect for that baby girl.

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  24. I have that book too and love it. Very nice layout and really suits the block, keeps the traditon but updates it too! Thanks for linking up to TGIFF

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  25. It really a beautiful quilt.

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  26. It is a gorgeous quilt (and yes please for a pattern!) - I love the half blocks on the side, it makes it really modern

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  27. Very attractive quilt. I like the way mostly white and grey- makes the colors used smooth. Yes the pattern!

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  28. Lovely finish, congrats! I am sure it will be loved. And I always find it amazing how different blocks can lock in new layouts, to but it on point and add the modern twist of half blocks, it is just great!

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  30. I must agree with most everyone else, putting the blocks on point made the quilt! It took an old-fashioned block and brought it into the modern world! It would be fun to have the pattern!

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  31. Truly a beautiful quilt top and quilting I would love to see a pattern

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  32. Pattern....YES!! Love this quilt. You did an amazing job.

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  33. What a beauty! I love how it straddles the line between traditional and modern. The layout, in particular, is inspiring. Well done!

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  34. This is simply sweet! I love that you put the blocks on point and added the partial blocks. This is the perfect setting for those pretty fabrics. I have a feeling you will indeed be turning this one into a pattern!

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  35. Definitely interested in making this quilt. It is gorgeous.

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  36. It's gorgeous! I would love the pattern.

    Sandy A

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  37. I love it too. The on point design made this whole pattern pop. Lovely quilting and colors. I think we are all saying yes please! :-) K- lkw2x6-apq@yahoo.com

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  38. Love it, I would be interested too! Please
    Caltexgal@aol.com

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  39. Blessed baby! Would love the pattern.
    Shelia stitchedfromtheheart2@gmail.com

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  40. This is beautiful Cheryl!! I would definitely encourage you to write up a pattern for this! :-)

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  41. I am very interested in a queen size version

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    1. Thanks so much! I am working on the pattern right now and it will contain a queen sized version.

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  42. I love this!!!! I really like how the blocks are cut in half along the edges! Beautiful!!!!

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  43. What a beautiful quilt. The negative within the block and putting the blocks on point make such a difference. I'd love a pattern. What is the finished size of this baby quilt? And what is the size of the square in the middle of the block? This is a great line of fabric. Thanks for sharing.

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  44. Beautiful quilt and such an interesting guild challenge. What size block did you end up making? It looks pretty big. maybe?

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  45. The half blocks are really effective in making this pattern look more modern as they flow off the edge of the quilt

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  46. This is gorgeous Cheryl. I'm sure your cousin will love it. I'm always impressed with how versatile your quilting skills are.

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  47. Isn't it amazing how putting a block on point can so change the look?! Love that. And...into a rabbit hole I go, LOL. Yes! Please do write a pattern, if you have time. I love the palette as well as the half blocks, great idea!

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  48. Love the half blocks on the edges! Excellent!

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  49. Would be fantastic if you would write up a pattern for this beautiful quilt.
    sascott4@hotmail.com

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  50. I love it and would love to purchase a pattern when you write it up!

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  51. Stunning quilt for a now very spoiled baby girl!! 😀 I love the fabrics, as well, and the white background really showcases the on point design. Also the North/South/East/West points alternating with dark center and dark outer Would love the pattern! When I saw your quilt, I hopped on Amazon to find a copy of the book. Can't wait to get sewing!!

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    1. Thank you so much!! I am working on writing the pattern right now.

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  52. What a stunningly beautiful quilt!!
    (Please... What size is this baby quilt???)
    Pat T.

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  53. Beautiful. Pattern would be great! Thank you for asking.

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  56. Love the quilt, and would really like to have the pattern, when available. Thanks for showing your work!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!