When I lived in Milwaukee, one of my favorite stores for quilting fabric was the Ben Franklin Crafts store in Oconomowoc, WI. They had (and still have) a large quilting area with a great selection of fabrics. Every year they would sponsor a quilt challenge which required buying their Challenge Pack, usually 3 or 4 fabrics in 1/4-yard pieces. A recognizable amount of each challenge fabric had to be used in the entry, along with other fabrics of my choice. For this quilt, I believe the challenge fabrics were the large floral print, the blue, and the plaid.
1998 was the first time I entered the Ben Franklin Challenge with this Feathered Star quilt. My piecing looks pretty good, especially for someone who had been quilting only a couple of years at this point. The bigger problem, both then and now, is in the quilting. This quilt definitely needed more quilting in the background areas, maybe some stippling around those flowers. Perhaps someday I will go back and add more quilting to this little quilt.
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| Feathered Star Medallion Ben Franklin Challenge 1998 29" square |
1998 was the first time I entered the Ben Franklin Challenge with this Feathered Star quilt. My piecing looks pretty good, especially for someone who had been quilting only a couple of years at this point. The bigger problem, both then and now, is in the quilting. This quilt definitely needed more quilting in the background areas, maybe some stippling around those flowers. Perhaps someday I will go back and add more quilting to this little quilt.
Check out other Throwback Thursday quilt posts at Krista Quilts. Even better, add your own post to the link-up. We'd love to see your quilts from the past!
Julie in GA
Very nice early quilt. I love feathered stars but haven't managed to finish one. All our Ben Franklin stores are gone. I spent hours in their craft section back in the late 60s.
ReplyDeleteI think this quilt is an excellent representation of the times, wouldn't change a thing, it's lovely.
ReplyDeleteI love that quilt. Very creative use of the challenge fabrics. Thanks for linkiing up at Throwback Thursday this week.
ReplyDeleteA lovely quilt which really makes the floral fabric shine. I used Ben Franklin in WA state and just recently here in Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteA very pretty quilt. I love those flowers you quilted in the open spaces.
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