I released Rosecity in September this year and then hosted a SAL immediately after its release. I knew I wanted to make a Christmas quilt in this pattern but it took me a minute to settle on the palette. Here are some of the mock ups I made when testing out my idea. I choose the last one for my quilt.
I loved the combination of some basic "neutrals" which to me are ginghams, strips, low volume prints and brighter more traditional solids - hot pink, greens and reds/corals.
We made the Small Throw Rosecity for the SAL which finishes at 50" x 62.5" and uses all 2/3 yard cuts for each fabric/color in the top.
The solids I used for this Rosecity are all Kona Cotton: Flame, Tomato, Valentine, Pickle and Fern. Then I used a 1/4" scale gingham, a basic black and white strip fabric and this Carolyn Friedlander print.
Because I sewed this up for the SAL, I took a lot more progress photos for the weekly newsletters and tutorials. A few of these photos will have little white markings on the fabric labels as that information is private to the pattern.
Rosecity is such a joyful pattern to make. There is a good amount of prep and set up at the beginning of the make and then once you get all organized, the sewing is a breeze! The Rosecity quilt pattern provides a very detailed label sheet that you can color code!
Each label provides you information on what color it is, what piece it is in the block, how many you will need depending on what size you are making and then what block that cut/piece go to! These little labels are like puzzle pieces.
Once you are done cutting and labeling each of your stacks, then it's time to match up your pieces to make the blocks.
So now that all the fabric is organized into its stacks, we started sewing each stack into their blocks week by week. Each stack has fabric cut for 5 blocks for the small throw.
Here are the Block 1A blocks.
Next up are all the blocks for Block 1B. The fabric within block 1A and 1B are the same but the fabric moves placement between the two.
One of the magical parts of sewing a Rosecity is that you make all the blocks first and then you see it come together. I like the delayed satisfaction of this make. Here are how Block 1A and Block 1B relate to each other side by side.
Then it was time we moved onto the Block 2 fabrics - the greens. Here is Block 2A.
Now here is Block 2B.
And then Block 2A and 2B together.
And now finally all of the blocks are done! Now is when you can start to see the final block placement pattern emerge.
I laid out all the blocks on my design wall and we sewed them together row by row.
My suggestion when sewing a quilt top together is to try and sew it up into halves as best as possible. So for this quilt, there are 5 rows - so I sewed rows 1 + 2 together and then I sewed rows 3 + 4 + 5 together. Then I sew the halves together, it makes it way easier to manage the bulk of the fabric going through the machine.
Before you know it, your quilt top is finished! To get this next shot, I laid under my sewing table all scrunched up and looked ridiculous. I am not use to shooting photos in a room with 4 walls. I use to sew at my kitchen table which was open to the living room so it was easier to stand back and get different shots. The things we do!
The finished quilt top looks so festive with our crystal dining room light.
I tried to get my traditional lay on the floor scrunch up the quilt shot and someone furry had other ideas.
I new I wanted to use the Scandi Snowflake pantograph on this finished quilt. I love the retro feel without it feeling too in your face "Christmas". Karlee of SewInspired2Day quilted up this quilt and did it so quick, I appreciate the fast turn around.
I backed the quilt in a green Kona Sheen so it shimmers beautifully. I bound the quilt in a black metallic Add It Up print. I love how it frames the quilt and ties in with the black in the quilt top.
Amy suggested we light the candle sticks and I was a little nervous for how close they were to the quilt but have no fear! No one burned the quilt!
We couldn't have a Christmas styled photoshoot in our house without our festive Redford making an appearance. When Amy sent over these photos, I was giggling and she texted "Redford is an actual human boy." It is true.
I love how this turned out, now to decide what to do with it? No idea!
If you want to make your own Rosecity Quilt, I do have some kits still available in my shop!
