I Went to the Animal Fair

2025

96" x 96"

Most of the fabrics in this quilt are Tula Pink lovelies, and I enjoyed most of the past year hand-piecing the 16-point stars in which close-up inspection reveals many hidden animal details. However, the sashings - the SASHINGS - were a testament to patience and endurance, as they are constructed of 2,536 one-inch machine-pieced half-square triangles.

The design is original and inspired by a traditional quilt called Noonday made in 1840 by Fanny Noel Spindle Tod as included in the wonderful book Quilts of Virginia 1607-1899 by the Virginia Consortium of Quilters.

The custom stationary machine quilting includes circus tents in the yellow and green border triangles as well as many other whimsical and wonky meanderings in the blocks and center medallion.

Hand-pieced, machine pieced, machine appliqued, free-motion and walking foot quilting on a stationary machine.

So many fun blocks! Look closely for fun details hidden in the piecing.

And SO MANY one-inch half-square triangles in the sashings.

While most of the free motion quilting was "free-hand meanderings," I did transfer a circus tent design in the yellow and green border triangles using water-soluble stabilizer upon which the design was drawn with Sharpie marker, then pinned to the quilt surface.

Here's a photo of the inspiration quilt made by Fanny Noel Spindle Tod in 1840.

Started on November 12, 2024, I Went to the Animal Fair was completed just short of a full year.

ALL DONE!!!