At what point does a WIP (work-in-progress) become a UFO (unfinished object?). It was early December 2022 when I last posted about one of my WIPs, a ’30s reproduction quilt top made some 20 years ago by my friend Vivienne, finished by me, and quilted by Karlee Sandell. I was speculating on my options for binding fabric, knowing the final choice needed to go well with the border fabric and the various ’30s repro fabrics within the quilt:

I figured it would be a cinch to find a medium-light solid blue, Alas, I visited three quilt shops and came home empty-handed each time. None of the shops had just the right shade of blue. I did have enough of the border print to bind the quilt but I was stubbornly holding out for a solid to frame the quilt.

Months passed. My WIP was dangerously close to becoming a UFO. To the rescue came a quilting friend, Sue H., who had inherited a friend’s vast stash of fabrics. The stash included a bin of ’30s reproduction prints and solids. Sue told me she thought there was a blue in the bin that might work. I admit to being dubious but when she brought me the piece of fabric last week, I had a glimmer of hope.

Sure enough, when I got home and put the fabric next to the quilt, I nearly jumped for joy: it was a nearly perfect match! Today I cut my binding strips and sewed them together:

It’s likely this blue was part of a ’30s reproduction line — but it’s also possible it’s a true vintage fabric. We’ll never know for sure. All I know is that the quilt I’ve already named Vintage Vignettes is closer to being completed. Thank you so much, Sue! Aren’t quilty friends the best?