Come strip with us

October 2018 a local quilt shop named OOOO la la sponsored a three-day jellyroll retreat called Come Strip With Us.  I had never attempted a jellyroll quilt and decided this was a perfect time.  When I showed up for the first day I realized that this retreat wasn't the typical jellyroll challenge, but several pattern options were offered.  I picked a Bargello pattern in which different fabric widths from one inch to two and an half inches were used.
This was not my first Bargello pattern to sew.  A few years back I made a Bargello table runner and also, I made a Bargello quilt - which has a crazy story of its own.  I will be quilting that other Bargello quilt soon and share that story.  This Bargello quilt is different than ones I made previously.
The Bargello pattern looks extremely hard, but once you master the technique it is so simple.  It is time consuming if you use narrow fabric strips, but the end results makes a stunning quilt.
Looking through my fabric stash I came across a bird print fabric that I purchased for no other reason accept I loved the fabric with leaves, birds and beautiful bright colors.  I only bought one yard and had no plans on what to do with it at the time of purchase  This was the quilt to use this fabric.  The pattern on this fabric was too large to cut up, so I decided it would work best as the center panel and piece the Bargello pattern around it with matching colors.

Queen-size Bargello with a center panel of leaves and birds

Close up on the quilting design of vine swirls and leaves that are inspired
from the fabric center panels