Delectable Baskets • Quilt #220
Approximately 70″ wide by 90″ high
Delectable Baskets gets its name because each basket is filled with food — well — food fabrics. I’d been collecting for over twenty years, so I had a few to choose from. In February 2018 I was Queen Bee for the Gridsters, and put up a post about making basket blocks, deciding that I wanted to use my collection of fabrics with food motifs. I sent each of my beemates a couple of squares. (There is a free basket tutorial on that post, if you are interested in making some baskets.)
Not only did my Gridster Beemates send me blocks, but a few other long-time friends sent them also; I had so many blocks that my quilt grew and grew, and then it was overflowing, a lovely dilemma to have. So I pruned it a bit, as I was aiming for twin-size, and still have enough baskets for an upcoming wall-hanging.
Cathy of CJ Designs did an expanded Baptist Fan on it, leaving it nice and soft, which is a good thing, as I intend it for use in the guest bedroom, which is currently the quilting-and-thread-storage bedroom. I promise that maybe I can share.
The back, using some Phillip Jacobs (on the right) and some Marimekko (from Crate and Barrel’s outlet sale some years ago). The signature blocks (the white Xs) are pieced into the Phillip Jacobs, or at least I think that’s who designed that fabric. At any rate, the print is a lovely-as-can-be radishes.
Thank you to everyone who sent me blocks. Delectable Baskets has been on my radar for a couple of decades or more, beginning with visits to Fabric Patch quilt shop, the vendor mall in the early years of Road to California, a couple of Southern California Shop Hops, and an occasional trip to Utah. There were no mail-order shops then, as there was no internet then. We bought fabric from JoAnns which it wasn’t then (maybe Cloth World?). I accrued fabrics a yard at a time, a piece at a time, a slow compilation.
This quilt was finished in an era where everything is on hyperdrive. The internet runs, assists and invades our lives, helping and hindering us in our quilting. Sometimes we are in a quilt bubble, making the same quilt (see my Flag Quilt from last post), using the same colors, same fabric lines. Other times it brings us news of friends in Australia, in Japan, Canada, Germany and certainly from around the United States, and allows us to meet and be friends with people all over the world.
Our gathering of Gridsters would not be possible without the internet, and all members, past or present, contribute to my life is a positive and beneficial way.
I am happy to know you all, Gridster Bee member or not. Thank you for enriching my life, making it a veritable feast. I dedicate Delectable Baskets to you.
OccasionalPiece--Quilt! 
It looks fantastic! Such a modern quilt from such a traditional block. It’s been a privilege to be a Gridster!
Oh my. A quilt like this sure stirs my heart. Having pieces of friends from all over the world is such a warm feeling. I understand the fun challenge of visiting shops to collect fabrics “back then,” and admire that you were up for making this into such a large quilt. Go big or go home, right?! It’s nice that you were practical and had it longarm quilted. Those quilted fans suit it well. I hope some of the guests who contributed a block or two get to sleep under it sometime. Isn’t that a happy though?
beautiful quilt! I love the “food” fabric focus prints! Another block to add to my “someday” list. Thanks for sharing ♥♥
I have been lucky enough to be embraced by a group of ladies who quilt together on the third Friday night of every month. They have taught me to enjoy the process (I have “finishitis” and want to FINISH everything). Your post is proof of the joy is enjoying the journey – however long it takes.
What a fun quilt. Reading the back story is always my favorite.
That turned out so well. I loved your idea of food for the baskets and the blocks were so fun to make. It was an interesting walk down memory lane reading about the days before internet quilting! Can you imagine what the ladies, sitting around their quilt frame while using oil lamps, would have thought had they been told how quilting would evolve? It’s a blessing and a curse.
What a cute quilt, so much nicer than the ‘jar’ quilt design. Your Jacaranda tree is pretty too, those purple flowers, such color.
Such a lovely quilt, I myself have just bought fabric to make a baskets quilt, I’m so excited to start. I wasn’t able to find that tutorial perhaps you have a link. Thank you for sharing all your excitement of quilting!
I really like the quilt and food theme fabrics but what caught my eye was your beautiful Jacaranda tree and is your wisteria still blooming? So jealous! 🙂
I really like the quilt and the food theme fabrics but what caught my eye was your beautiful Jacaranda tree and is your wisteria still blooming? I’m jealous! 🙂
This is just lovely Elizabeth, and all the more special because of the people involved in making it. I enjoyed hearing the back story of it’s long term development. I have plenty of those long term ideas floating around. And with all the fruity fabrics I still have I could probably make a bunch of baskets for a quilt of my own. Hmmm . . . not that I need any more ideas.
I was also reflecting on the power of the internet as I prepare for my upcoming talk and trunk show and feel blessed to have made connections worldwide. It has also given me the dream and the goal to visit some of those special people one day and even sleep under a delectable quilt! The baskets are lovely and very special given the history of the fabrics and the making. I love the border and the backing too!
What a memorable quilt! I knew you had a collection of “food fabric”, just no idea how extensive it was! This pattern is so perfect and so graphic that it makes everything work all the better. And the back story – love it!
What a wonderful, colorful quilt packed with so much meaning. When I first read “delectable” and saw the baskets I thought it might be a play on “Delectable Mountains”. I know what you mean about the internet both helping and hindering our quilting!
So pretty. I really love those food-print fabrics.
Your quilt is beautiful! All those little triangles would have required me to name it **** Baskets instead of it’s real name!
I love this take on a traditional pattern. You’ve really jazzed it up (and it makes me hungry).