Some years ago I titled a post “Can This Quilt Be Saved?” with a chuckle and a memory of a long-ago column in a women’s magazine entitled “Can This Marriage Be Saved?” So here is round 2.
I am testing patterns to use for teaching Beginning Quilting in 2026 and started with the Nantucket pattern from Villa Rosa Designs. I made it first with leftover Tim Holtz fabric, since a friend had done something similar.
This is just the blocks on the design wall; the quilt isn’t finished yet.
After that went pretty well, I decided to try a version using leftover florals.
That was waaaaaaaaay too many florals all jammed together, so I tested various fabrics for sashing to give them a little room to breathe.
I finally settled on a blue Grunge and, while it’s not my favorite quilt ever, it’s acceptable.
With the added sashing and borders, this is the right size for Flying Horse Farms, so I will save it for my friend Jerri to quilt. Until it gets to her it can be the what-not-to-do example for beginning quilting–ha!
Zippy Quilts 
You saved it! Hurrah!
Yep, a done quilt is a good quilt!
You and your florals! Ha! Great save and lessons learned by Zippy-the-teacher. It sounds like you’re excited about your new class offering in 2026 – lesson prep can be inspiring in and of itself, even if frustrating at times!
And yes, you know about lesson prep (smile).
Saved is saved. I have made worse quilts. Some of them quite recently 🙂
Yes, me too!
At first I was confused because I saw the version with the Tim Holtz fabric and I thought: “that doesn’t need to be saved, it needs to be sent to my house – because it is freaking awesome!!”
Then I gazed upon the “Floral Explosion” and understood – ha! You did a great job saving it by setting it and giving the eye a pause from floralfication – ha! 🙂
Thanks for your comments–ha!
Showing both at the same time is a good example of the difference that fabric choices make! Good save for the florals.
Thanks, Nann.
I too was thinking about how different the design looks with the different fabrics. I do like combining prints in an overall pattern, but it is a challenge to get it to please my eyes. Good you didn’t give up.
And I do remember that column. I used to love reading it when I was a teen, I think.
I guess we’re showing our age! Thanks for your comments.
Dare I say that I prefer the undashed version of the floral quilt top?
unsashed
Oh, good! I’m glad somebody has a different opinion! Thanks.
Glad I didn’t offend you 😊
It’s quite a process to come up with a design for a beginner quiltmaker, isn’t it? I designed a simple quilt myself, so students wouldn’t have to buy a pattern. But I like your process too because there’s always value in knowing what not to do. Students appreciate knowing that their instructor can be just as fallible as they are. 🙂
Yes, I agree!