The Ugly Duckling Challenge - Part 1

Way back in February, mom and I came up with an idea for a quilt guild challenge called the Ugly Duckling. Each member was to bring a piece of their ugliest fabric - at least 10" square - from their stash. At the meeting, we labeled each piece with an Ugly Duckling tag with their name on it and placed them all in a sack. Then for roll call, each member drew a piece of fabric out of the sack. Their challenge was to make something pretty from the fabric - turning the Ugly Duckling into a beautiful Swan - and then we would gift them back to the original fabric owner. We were going to hold the gift exchange at our spring retreat in April. Then the stay-at-home order happened in March and our guild didn't meet again until last night. So now that we've finally gifted our Ugly Ducklings back, I can show you what I made.

My Ugly Duckling was not really ugly, but a pretty piece of vintage fabric from guild member Pat's mother's stash that she inherited. I was lucky that she brought a yard of fabric so I had lots to play with. When we have our Sewcial Hour (an open sewing afternoon prior to our evening guild meeting), Pat brings her featherweight to sew. I decided I wanted to make her a sewing mat to put under her sewing machine. I used Lillyella's Undercover Mat tutorial for my pattern, except I decided to piece the mat so that I could use a variety of fabrics.

Since the piece of fabric I drew was vintage, I decided to use reproduction 30's fabrics for the project. I had this Modern Gem P2P quilting pattern in mind when I chose to piece that mat section, I just think it is such an awesome design by Anita Shackelford.

Lillyella's tutorial includes cute pockets on the front of the mat to hold sewing essentials.

And a little thread catcher that hangs from a button attached to the front.

I finally got to use some of my polka dot bias binding with the crochet edge that I bought a year or two ago - it was just waiting for the perfect project. 

I just love the way this Ugly Duckling turned into a beautiful Swan. I hope Pat does too!

Happy Quilting!
~Sharla

P.S. In Part 2, I'll share the Ugly Duckling fabric I brought for the challenge and the Swan I received last night!

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