147. Pop Beads

 I began making Pop Beads in 2011, using my precious Flea Market fabric by Denyse Schmidt.

I was inspired by a quilt made by Mary Hickey in one of my quilt books, and her quilt was inspired by a vintage quilt she had seen.

At the Quilters Paradise quilt retreat in Bass Lake, 2011:

Mary's quilt was very scrappy and had a "piano keys" border. So I figured out a way to simplify the block and make it out of a single fabric plus the background.

I had originally planned on posting a free tutorial on how to make the quilt block, after receiving several requests for the information. Then after the whole top was sewn together, I happened to notice a magazine in my local quilt shop with a very similar quilt on the cover. It turned out to be "Chain of Fools" by Jen Kingwell. At that point I was not familiar with Jen (which shows you just how long ago that was!), but still, even though quilt was totally based on Mary Hickey's quilt, it felt awkward to post the tutorial. So the quilt top languished in a pile for the next several years.

In spring I decided that it needed to be completed. My block construction is different from either Mary's or Jen's, but I've never felt comfortable posting a tutorial.

I love this quilt so very much.

Darby Myers quilted it with one of my favorite designs.

And of course, since it is made entirely of original FMF, it felt like the obvious choice to use more Denyse Schmidt fabric on the back.

And the binding too.

Pop Beads was in the Quilts and Classic calendar for the month of August. We were able to get the most amazing sunset.

Title: Pop Beads

Pattern by: Inspired by a quilt by Mary Hickey

Date Completed: 2015

Size: 53" x 52"

Quilted by: Darby Myers