Way back in the darker ages, eclipses were thought to run the gamut of Should Never Be Looked At, to fear and terror. Nowadays, thanks to NASA and all the people like me who love the heavens, eclipses are a big deal, and rightfully so. Way back in the day, I made this quilt and titled it Annularity, never dreaming I might be able to see an a real-life annular eclipse, but it’s going to happen in a week!
And. . . I made another quilt to celebrate. This one is called Eclipse, and is an easier –much, much easier — quilt to whip up to watch the Real Annular Eclipse. Next week! (Have I mentioned that before?) Here’s proof:
Yeah, I’m pretty interested in this.
I missed the big one a few years ago, and I’m determined not to miss these two, and am hoping that the weather in Southern Utah will cooperate. Historically, we have a good chance:
(Who makes up these charts? I don’t know, but I’m all in.)
Scenes from the Missed Eclipse in 2017:
We stayed in Southern California, and I doled out glasses and made eclipse cookies and friends came over. I hear libraries are passing out the solar glasses this year, but you can also rustle some up on Amazon, if you hurry. You HAVE to have them to gaze heavenward. If no glasses, then look at shadows:
Even the shadows in a far-away eclipse are cool. I’ve read advice to take colanders or steamer inserts to hold over white paper to see all the quirky shadows. Yes, I will. Okay, back to threads and fabrics and eclipse patterns.
This was my first thinking: to have the narrow sashing do a dance of colors, too. My husband helped me decide, and yeah — it’s fun, but you lose the eclipse blocks.
So I took out all the colorful bits in the sashing, and then put a narrow black border on it.
I will send it to the quilter when I return home, and get it ready for April 2024.
And because you might want a dedicated eclipse quilt, too, I made you two patterns. The Eclipse pattern you will have done in two days. Anularitywill be finished by the next solar eclipse. These sales are on until the end of the Annular Eclipse — like in a week. So head to my pattern shop if you want either a quick and easy — or many pieces, but beautiful — pattern. {Note: Sale has expired.}
And in case you aren’t the least bit interested in the heavens, but love a field of flowers, I illustrated this version just for you. All you Kaffe lovers, those centers are calling out for some fussy cutting. All info is on the pattern.
I hope you get a chance to wander outdoors next Saturday, and either with your glasses, or a sheet of white paper, take a look at the dance in the heavens.
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You sound very excited about the annular eclipse Elizabeth! I wonder if they occur more frequently in the Northern Hemisphere than in Australia. Some quick research shows our next annular solar eclipse is in 2042, almost twenty years away! I better not hold my breath for that one. Plenty of time to make a quilt, I guess! Both your quilts are lovely! Again, you are the Queen of setting strips….you give them much thought and always come up with a winning setting! Enjoy the eclipse party. Our thoughts in Australia will be elsewhere as we will be voting on “The Voice” referendum, hoping to enshrine the Indigenous people in our constitution.
I like the way the color darkens in the blues. Well done. Have a great time traveling to the eclipse. I hope the view is clear for you.
Hi Elizabeth. Â I have a friend who is going to Oregon to view the eclipse and she had sent this to me with a ð. Â As I told her, you canât ever count on weather this far out, but it looks like Texas is the place to be.
Iâm sure that no matter what the weather is, you will enjoy the trip. ð¤ð»ð¤ð»ð¤ð»ð¤ð»ð¤ð»
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
We had a total eclipse at the millennium in Cornwall UK, I was so excited as were our children. Cornwall is a massive tourist destination and everyone turned out to watch! Unfortunately we had a big low pressure and the rain was relentless so we didn’t see the event but the experience was incredible. It obviously went dark, just before it went totally dark the seagulls and nesting birds flew out to sea so fast it was amazing… got a bit spooky when it was totally dark with lashings of rain… it started to get light and the birds flew back to the cliffs etc etc! Enjoy every second of the experience because I’ve no doubt it will be an incredible time! Our girls and my husband stayed in the sea for the whole time they loved it …. I can understand how ancient civilisations got upset by an eclipse! I adore your quilts btw … the colours are so right ❤️❤️
I like the sashing choice you made. I rarely use sashings and should think about how they work with blocks more often. Hope you have a good viewing experience as it sounds like something you’re really into. It will be about 84% coverage here and falls right in the middle of our morning Bible study. Hmmm what to do?
We have family in Albuquerque, who are very excited (and rightfully so) about the annular eclipse next week! Great choice on the sashing – I like how it varies in color and how the darker blues and blacks frame it out.
Great quits! Bold and graphic and hooray for solids!
what fabulous information on the solar eclipse!
I’m hoping for a good viewing of the eclipse in North Texas. Will have two of the granddaughters next weekend so ordering a pack of the Nasa approved sunglasses. Hoping to make it interesting for a 5 year old and 12 year old– age gap sometimes has me scrambling!! I think the oldest will make an eclipse block with me and the youngest will enjoy painting one ( she’s not machine ready yet!)
October 14… 🙂 Is that the date you meant to reference in your post? 🙂 We might get a glimpse of the eclipse here in Central Florida, but family in Texas will have the best views. Thanks for sharing the maps, times, and info! Enjoy it.
Both quilts are great! I’ve always enjoyed astronomy and star quilts are favorites. Unfortunately visibility for the upcoming eclipse in my neck of the woods (northern New England) is poor, but next April should be very good! That gives me 6 months to make a quilt for it 😊. Enjoy the 14th!