It is the free pattern for the Red Rooster fabric line by Jennifer Chiaverini based on her book "The Aloha Quilt." I remember when the book came out and I eagerly read it, not just because I read her books, but certainly because I had recently moved here to Hawaii. I did not know anything about the fabric collection, though, until a while later when I saw an ad in a magazine. By then, it seemed too late. No internet shops had much of it left. What really shocked me was that no shop on this island had it, either. I did find a kit online and ordered it. That Christmas, we flew back to the mainland and I was in Lally's Quilt Shop in Shipshewana, and there was some of the fabric, including the hard-to-find panel and the outer border fabric. I used my smart phone to look up the quilt pattern to see what I needed. I found other fabrics to match, and bought some more. After I got home, I put it with the kit (I still hadn't started it) and waited.
One day I was browsing on an internet quilt shop, one that carries "discounted" fabrics, and lo and behold, there was quite an assortment of the Aloha Quilts fabric. I ordered some that I didn't have and some more for backings. When it came I got everything out and started. When I got done I had these:
I finished four of the quilts. I knew they may be popular here for gifts--not only from me, but to sell for others, maybe. I also have 2 more pieced center star units which I did not make into quilts. I packed up all the leftover bits and pieces in a box and stuck it in my closet.
Fast forward to last week. I had finished various smaller projects and turned towards my list/pile of unstarted projects and yet nothing appealed to me. Do you ever have that problem? You have a pile of things to do that you have wanted to do for so long/have in fact bought necessary things for those projects, and then when it comes time, nothing screams "do me next?" So I tidied up a bit and looked around.
My eyes rested on the box of leftovers. I had shared some of the panel "blocks" with some friends, and even used some to cover journals for my Bee Christmas gifts. I had learned when I lived in Alaska, that after I moved away, I never made any more "Alaska" themed quilts, so I got the box out and went through it. Inside was this pattern which I had found in my searches for more fabric. I looked over my fabric and determined that I had enough to make it, although I made it one row shorter.
During consturction I got a chance to use the Fit To Be Geese ruler and the Square In A Square Ruler which I love but haven't been able to use much since I got them. I can emphatically recommend them!
I mostly did this on Saturday, International Quilting Day.
It just needs to be quilted, now.
When I finished, I picked up all the leftovers and put them in the box.... Don't you wish that fabric "came out even" at the end of a project?
Aloha,
JoAnne
Hi JoAnne! Just found your blog on the Sew Many Ways "Find a Friend" linkup. Your quilts are gorgeous!! I'm with you on the military missing the fact they move people from cold to hot places. My husband and I were both military, and they moved us from Alaska to New Mexico in late March/early April. We went from negatives to 70 degrees!! At least we drove so there was some acclamation time! Have a great day!
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