Rita's Rhododendron Trail Is A Top!

The skinny border sandwiched between
the top and outer border

When I wrote the last post about progress on my Grassy Creek project, I noted that I planned to detour and finish a Rhododendron Trail top that my friend, Rita, had started. It was her first Bonnie Hunter quilt. It was also a mystery quilt. 

This mystery happened during COVID and Rita didn't have enough pinks in her stash. At least one member of our Mystery Mavens group mailed Rita fabric. Stashes were shared because in person shopping wasn't a task that Rita could do.

Rita pieced away on the project. We celebrated when she announced to the group that she had the top done in the summer of 2023. . at least, that was what I thought I had heard. 

When she died a few months later, I learned that the family wasn't interested in having that project finished for them; but, they were happy to gift it to me. That happened in April 2024. I helped them distribute a lot of Rita's fabric, sewing supplies and quilting projects. I worked on my own projects as well as her temperature quilt that he family did want finished. This project languished in its project box.

The top on my bed

Last month, I pulled it out because the Gresham Senior Center is holding an auction in the fall to support quilting activities. Rita supported a number of organizations with time and quilty projects. She would approve of her project raising money to support quilt activities.

When I pulled the project from the box, Rita had the center complete and two of the skinny borders stitched to the center. The other strips were cut. I laid the quilt on a bed and using the center of the top, I measured the strips for length. Then I stitched the two remaining borders to the top. I did need to do a little easing. I did need to rip the stay stitches that were stitched beyond the seam allowances. 

I took photos of the 89 x100 inch top. 

Rita had pieced the flying geese borders. I did do a little unstitching and restitching so the borders mimicked the pattern.  I cut the binding strips and stitched them together. I took the top, the binding and the batting that was in the project box to the Senior Center at the end of June. 

The top on my living room floor

There was backing available which will look great. A volunteer will quilt it and another will add the binding. I'm glad to have my part in this project "finished!" The center is having a fundraiser in October to raise money for their quilting activities. I know that Rita would be happy to support the center in this way. I may make a bid or two on it at that fundraiser!

Goal number seven on my August list was to document getting Rita's Rhododendron Trail mystery to a top!