Quilt #59: Easter Cross

It's Easter weekend, which means it's a good time to share this quilt I finished last year during Holy Week. I made for my son's Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Adkins, who is exactly the kind of person you think of when you think of a sweet little old lady who teaches first grade Sunday School.

Last year, on Palm Sunday, I noticed that Mrs. Adkins was not at church. I was really surprised so I asked about her and found out that her husband of 50+ years passed away suddenly. My heart just broke for her.

As soon as we got home from church, I started looking for ideas. I was really inspired the Carpenter Star Cross by the talented Judit Hajdu of Quilt Fox.

Source

I also drew inspiration for the tulips from Apple Avenue Quilts  and A Bee in My Bonnet. I paper pieced the tulip blooms from Apple Avenue Quilts--my first time ever trying this method.

For the leaves, I used the tutorial from A Bee in My Bonnet.

I started with the tulips, because I was most nervous about making them. I followed the awesome video tutorial from Jennifer of Ellison Lane, and she took all the fear out of paper piecing.

I was actually a little sad when I finished this part. (And I have done a lot more paper piecing in the last year).

The stems were traditionally pieced. The Joel Dewberry herringbone print was perfect for the leaves.

Next, I worked on the carpenter cross. I changed the size a bit so that design expanded beyond the cross. You can also see that I vastly underestimated the size of the tulips. If I were to make this quilt again, I would make them smaller for a better sense of scale with the cross.

Once those two parts were done, the rest went together easily.

I used straight line quilting to radiant out from the cross.

I was able to finish it in less than a week!

D showed me how big a hug he wanted to include with the quilt.

I always love to deliver quilts in person, but this one was extra special.

No better payment than a hug and a sincere thank you.

Reading the label.

A few days later, I received the most amazing thank you note. In trying to bless this sweet woman, I was blessed so much more in return.

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