If you’re interested in a simple project for a summer throw quilt, maybe even one that looks more complicated than it is, look no further! I’ve got just the thing. This quilt is called Friendship and measures 41″ x 55″.
I made the quilt for Quilt Market using Dena‘s Tangier Ikat collection. Time was very short and there wasn’t a moment to spare on a precision based pattern or any kind of fussy cutting. A friendship braid seemed like the perfect solution. It turned out even more lovely than I expected. The prints work so well together even though you might think the two color stories aren’t made for mixing.
If you’ve never made a braid before, I’ve put together some simple diagrams to help you out. Just click over to the pattern and get started. Braids make wonderful borders too, so it’s a great addition to your toolbox. For this quilt I used 3 inch x 9 inch strips. You can use any size you like–just make the length of the strips three times as large as the width for balance.
Tangier Ikat is in stores now. You’ll find these prints translate exceedingly well for garment sewing. And don’t forget decorative accents around the home–pillows, curtains, etc.
I’m so thrilled with this collection, and this quilt, that I’m giving away enough Tangier Ikat strips to make the braids for this quilt. I’ve done the lion’s share of the cutting as these are ready to start piecing. All 105 pieces, waiting for a new home. Don’t they look enticing? They remind me of my favorite summer flavors–citrus and berries. Think Lavender Lemonade, Sparkling Roasted Vanilla Lemonade, Key Lime Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie, Blackberry Nectarine Cobbler, Blood Orange Ricotta Torte, sun warmed kumquats.
Here’s all you need to do for a chance to be the lucky winner:
- Leave a comment on this post before the deadline to enter. If you feel so inclined, share your favorite summer flavors.
- One comment per reader. Duplicate entries will be deleted.
- You have until 12:00 midnight Pacific Standard Time on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 to enter.
- International entrants are welcome.
- Winner will be selected by Random Number Generator.
- Winner will be notified by email and will have until July 3, 2103 to respond. If winner does not respond, a new winner will be selected by Random Number Generator and notified by email.
Due to the volume of comments during giveaways, I won’t be responding to comments for this post. But I’ll definitely be reading them. Thank you for visiting and entering!
UPDATE: This sweepstakes is now closed. A winner has been chosen. Thanks for visiting!
I love oranges in the summer. Oh and pinks and yellows and…….lol!
Never cared for orange before but now find myself drawn to it, along with lime greens.
I love blackberries and honey.
Can’t beat raspberries from the garden!
Love it all
I love a watermelon and mint granita in summer! Thanks for a wonderful giveaway!
Good Morning
I love the colors in your photos! I’m really into the lime greens right now. that color just makes me happy!
Last night had a lovely strawberry raspberry shortcake topped with whipped cream and fresh mint to top off my mom’s 90th. birthday . She still lives in her own home cares for it herself. A wonderful memory for herself, children and grandchildren.
Any fresh fruit is wonderful in the summer…we have fresh peaches, pears, nectarines, plums, watermelon, cantaloupe and cherries in Colorado and I can’t get enough of them! Isn’t it interesting how the colors of these fruits would make a lovely quilt!
I have to admit .. I can’t pass up alll the fresh fruits. well, except for pineapple!
Your selection of fresh pop colors right up my alley, love the variety of bright fantastic selections and patterns. Thanks for my discovering your site.
Can I tell you how awesome and lovely the quilt and fabrics are! And my colors too!!! Oh happy birthday to me!!!!
Love the way you combined the two color lines in your beautiful quilt! Indeed, there appears to be more “friendship” between them than I’d expected at first glance! This is a beautiful fabric line especially, to me,in the sunset palette.
My favorite flavors in summer are strawberry and apricot, although in this country (the Netherlands) the flavors are never as good as they are in the more southern regions of Europe. Fortunately where I live (the Hague) we have a huge international market where we can buy the real sun-ripened fruit freshly flown in from the south.
Thank you for a chance to win these lovely fabrics!!
Summer is tomatoes and basil fresh from the garden! As soon as I saw Dena’s Tangier Ikat collection, I knew I had to have it. A quilt made from this fabric would feel like summer all year long. Thanks for hosting a giveaway.
My favorite flavor currently seems to be peaches. Just love the white peaches just arriving on the markets, they’re so sweet and juicy on these humid days. That ikat fabric looks intriguing and love that you’ve already got it ready for the winner, that’ll be one lucky quilter! Thanks for the chance. Jane
Your friendship quilt in it is adorable.
hola desde México!
azules, amarillos, naranjas, blancos… hermosos para el verano! con un toque fresco de verde!! los rosas aportan ternura! es como desayunar una deliciosa ensalada de frutas en la mañana! con fresas, melocotones, algo de melón, sandía y unas ricas y frescas uvas! y viendo el azul del cielo fresco cuando la mañana empieza!! suerte para todos! ese kit de telas es un verdadero manjar a la vista!
Oranges cold from the fridge, strawberries warm from the sun, raspberries fresh from the cane, blackberry stains on my fingers.
My favorite summer flavor is/was my grandmothers homemade ice cream (either the vanilla or peach). OMG it was to die for. I havent had homemade ice cream in years.
Fresh peaches!
Oh so many commenters!!! I think it turned out lovely. I always enjoy you’re pretty photos!!!
I love these colors! Thank you for the pattern and the chance to win 🙂
I’m so glad summertime is here, and I’m enjoying fresh watermelon right now. Beautiful prints!
Oh, such a beautiful quilt!!! My favorite is strawberries and watermelon. Thank you for sharing!!!
I love the colors. Nice and summery. Would be great to sit out on this quilt along with a snowcone or some cotton candy. Beautiful. I can see me getting it done quickly.
These are such gorgeous fabrics and your Friendship quilt is a wonderful demonstration of how the colour ways blend perfectly. It’s fun to think of summer flavours, I immediately thought of fresh sweet basil picked from the garden.
The orange reminds me of sherbet! I love all of Dena’s colors!!!
I’ll do one better than just share my summer flavors — here is the recipe (a secret no longer) to my favorite summer drink:
In a blender throw in
– an entire lime, with peel, quartered
– one forth of a watermelon ( with seeds if it has any, but no rind)
– one super heaping tablespoon of the best honey you can get your hands on
– 8 large basil leaves
– 2 cups ice
Blend until you can’t sense the lime peel.
Now, Melissa, you know I adore you – I just gave you my best kept secret! And to whomever wins : may you make a quilt with this fantastic giveaway that keeps you forever wrapped in summer’s golden light and may the flavors of summer linger longer than a summer itself!
What fabulous fabric!! 🙂 I love melons – honeydew & watermelon and berries – strawberries & blueberries all summer!! mmmm! 🙂 Thanks for a chance to win! 🙂
Beautiful…just shouts Summer!
all the yummy berries and citrus (key limes and iced tea with fresh lemon)
Coconut is my favorite flavor
I love it all, summer colors, the oranges and yellows and the pinks and rose colors.
Love the quilt and thanks so much for the pattern and the chance to win these beautiful fabrics.
I think the colors are gorgeous! I will now investigate the pattern!
Oh my….I can just sit and stare at your photo for hours….the way the sunlight filters through the branches and shimmers on your quilt…..it just looks so refreshing, like a nice glass of pink lemonade on my front porch in the middle of summer. So pretty!!! AND …I’ve never made a braid before, so that has me excited!! Maybe this time I will be lucky……so….thanks AGAIN for another fun giveaway!!! And my favorite flavor of summer is a cold, fresh, Muscatine watermelon….oh they are the BEST ever. So delish!! Thanks, Melissa!!
Love both color ways of Tangier and they look so beautiful in this quilt! I’ve never made a Friendship Braid but would love to in this fabric.
I am loving pink and yellow combined with orange. What a great idea to add aqua! Love your blog!
Your throw is beautiful!!!!!
My favorite summer flavors that’s a tough one. I love all of the fresh produce summer brings…cantelopes, berries, tomatoes, squash, beans…I think my favorite top 2 blueberries and white acre peas. 🙂 But then ice cold grape slushies are pretty good too! 🙂
Watermelon all the way for a summertime treat.
The colors are beautiful. I was never really drawn to orange before, but have been loving them lately. Blueberries are my favorite summertime fruit. Nothing like them when they are fresh!
I guess my favorite summer fruit would be melons. Most all fruits are very good, but melons are usually my draw.
Love the colors.. very summery and compliment each other.. My colors that I am working with are pastels.. love that for the summer months.. have also worked with reds…. but no matter what color… once wedded together, they are all beautiful!
This showed up for the first and only time late night July 3, 2013, on my FB home page. Obviously I can’t submit my info to win, but thank you for the guidelines for the Friendship Braid
PS Congrats to the winner of this contest! 🙂
WOW such eclectic colours – I would never have thought about putting such a colour match together, would have used others in each colour range. But that is fantastic.