I saw the pattern for the main block in this top somewhere on my travels on the internet. I can’t remember where it was, maybe facebook, but the block pattern stuck with me even though I read that it included partial seams.
The partial seams turned out to be simple!
I had just enough of the red fabric for the background to make 25 blocks including the optional sashing which I think really adds to the overall look:
However, it wasn’t a useful size and I had no interest in a square quilt. And I couldn’t find anymore of the red fabric even with my good google search skills. So I had to get inventive.
This is what I came up with for borders for the top and bottom of the quilt:
However that still didn’t look finished and I didn’t want to make it a square quilt by putting borders on the sides. However, the sides needed something. So I thought why not duplicate the inner (black) border treatment.
That looks more finished to me even though part of me is screaming that one needs the same border treatment on all 4 sides of the quilt.
The moral of this tale is that picking a random piece of background fabric that looks like it should be big enough and hoping it will be is not always the best plan.
What an interesting block on it’s own, but putting all the blocks together makes it even better. I’m not a fan of square quilts either. What you did with the top and bottom is amazing and the side detail pulled it all together! I don’t know how many times I thought I had enough background fabric for a project only to be just a bit short!
Your quilt looks great! Thanks for sharing with Moving it Forward!
Many of my quilting project have ‘morals to the story’…I especially like the way you incorporated the pattern into the borders…lots of effort to make it non-square, though!
That’s a great quilt block! I love how your quilt top turned out. Thanks for sharing the link to the block.
I wonder how many been there done that’s you’ll get. LOL! Beautiful, and I think it’s perfect as is.
What a beautiful quilt top!! The red really makes the design shine, and I love those fabrics you chose. Partial seams?!! You are the second person that mentioned a pattern that used partial seams. It looks like the borders that you added really make the size more useful, and also pull out those fabrics out of the blocks. Good problem-solving. Thanks for linking up! ~smile~ Roseanne
What a wonderful top with the scrappy chain links. I like how you are finishing it with the top & bottom borders.
Your quilt came out great! I am always afraid of running out of background fabric, so I don’t usually start using fabric that might not be enough, even though you can never be really sure. I always play it safe. I guess I am not that adventurous. You came up with a very good and unique solution though.
I meant to ask, how big is the quilt and how many yards of red did you start out with?
The red background fabric makes this quilt so much fun. It blends great with your scraps. I LOVE what you did with the top and bottom. Scrappilicious!
Interesting block! That made for a lovely quilt! I am not fond of square quilts either. You came with a great solution.
-Soma
It looks great. I’m guilty of thinking the sides need the same treatment as the top but I have managed to cross that line a time or two myself. Sometimes you just need to know which side is up. Thank you for linking up with Put your foot down.
Hi! I really like how you finished your quilt. Just that little bit of black on the sides really finishes it. I love you you problem-solve on your quilts. I love doing that too – just a little challenge gets the creative juices flowing. Well done! Thanks so much for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks.
This is such a fun block and I love how you finished it. Adding the black border to the sides was a great idea. The red really helps all of the other colors to really pop. Great quilt!
I have mixed feelings about square quilts, too. Good for your for making it work!
I love this quilt! What a fun and interesting design!. Pinning!
Your quilt looks great. Those blocks are an interesting design. Thank you for linking up to the Peacock Party.
Love your chain link top, especially how the links work into the border – well done!
It may not have been the plan to run out of red, but I love that it resulted in those awesome borders! Perfect finish I think. Thanks so much for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss. This is lovely.
My first thought was a party quilt! (What’s that?) No, it’s so vibrant and happy, it looks like a little party on its own. Your border is a perfect wrap up to it. Excellent design finish.