Big Hapi Quilt Top Finish

Hapi Quilt

My design wall has been dominated by this large quilt for a few weeks while undergoing a slow design process. Slow design is just that at times. Slow. But when you do figure out what a quilt is asking for, you'd like it to happen right then--that day, and have it done! Unfortunately, big quilts take a long time simply because they're much bigger. This one finishes at 92.5" x 93.5". That's the same size as about 4 baby quilts. I asked myself how long 4 baby quilts might take to finish, and relied on patience.

Fussy Cut Corners

This cabbage rose fabric was one piece of the yardage I purchased years ago with the charm packs this quilt is based on. I loved it then, and love it now! I used it to border the center block bringing it up to size so the design fit using alternating on-point blocks. I also decided it would be good to repeat it for the corner blocks. The blue background blended well with the tapestry fabric of the outer borders when I tested it while a lighter color 'opened up' the corners. I opted for a feeling of a framed or closed border.

First I fussy cut 4 roses. These were 2 of the same motif, but I skewed each cut enough to have them appear slightly different to each other. I prefer that to identical corners. I created a star similar to the background star in the center with the Schott cotton, and positioned the corner stars toward the inner corners just as the center design was. It seemed to give it cohesiveness. 

Why didn't I use the border fabric in the corners, you ask? You might be surprised to know how close I came to having just enough fabric for the borders. I trimmed off 3/4" while fitting the borders, and that was the end. I was very lucky!

The colors are very similar to the tapestry border fabric.

Borders to background fabric

Getting the Corner Stars to Fit Exactly

Up and down from my step stool dozens of times it was time to fit the last two borders. Working on the floor at this point was easier, and more accurate to reduce drag caused by hanging long borders. 

Why You Should Wait to the 

Very End to Cut a Border

I trimmed one end of the border and added the first corner star. I smoothed and pinned the length of the border to the quilt, and carefully measured the cut off with the last corner star laid in place. This is important why, you ask?

I'm digressing here, but have you ever had someone hem a dress for you? Let's say the hem is at the knee, and she/he says, "Put the shoes on you'll be wearing with the dress." And you say, "But it's at the knee! How does that change things?" And she/he says, "It just does." And he/she is right!

It's the whole finished look, and we make tiny visual adjustments based on what we see.

If the star is a bit on the skimpy side size-wise, you can adjust the border to meet exactly at the seam point, but still give a little extra fabric past that. While it is difficult to put all the reasons into words, your eye can see best how to fit the last puzzle piece into place. You will not regret this advice.

Hapi Makes Me Happy!

I'm quite happy to move a queen size Hapi to the finished tops rack. Just looking at it makes me smile, and I think it's going to have to live at my house at least for a while. This one was really a surprise ending. Aren't those fun?

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Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

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