Don't Fence Me In is the last quilt pattern in my book. If you have a large scrap stash and work your way through the book you can use the last of your scraps in this quilt. If you are just building your scrap collection you can start with this quilt and work backwards through the book.
I designed this quilt with a large center area for featuring an interesting quilting design. The design used here was found in a historical pattern and ornament book from my local library. I tried to find out more about the original use but couldn't get any specifics. My library no longer has the book and I didn't write down any information about it when I had the book checked out. File that under "lessons learned".
After quilting the center and then basic fans in the border, the border would not lie flat. It had a bit of a wave to it. I added the flying geese in every other arc of the fans. The extra quilting worked like a charm.
I originally used the center quilting design as an applique on Childhood's End, a quilt I finished in 2001. The center is one piece of fabric appliqued to the background.
It is called Childhood's End because the making of it encompassed the time in which four family members moved into nursing homes and died. Three of those deaths occuring in the same week.
This quilt was in the AQS quilt show in Paducah in 2002. When it returned, I put it in the closet where it stayed for more than ten years. While cleaning the closet a couple of years ago, I took it out and looked at it. I was unprepared for my emotional response when seeing it again. I was instantly sobbing. Seeing all those stitches triggered an avalanche of memories of loving family members who I still miss every day. Hours of time sewing in the car driving to nursing homes, visiting family, and funerals. Needlework can be a powerful and therapeutic thing.
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