Baby quilts

Many months ago I offered, and I was asked and I begged to make a baby quilt for some dear sweet neighbours of mine who are about to be great-aunts for the first (and second) time. We discussed over the months what would be appropriate for the baby to be and something the mama would like as well. A quilter does not want to make something the mama would thing ugly. So I had kind of a plan in mind but no real direction. I just want to make everyone happy and still enjoy what I do.

So I started out making a few blocks to see if I was going in the right direction. I brought over some of these blocks to share with my dear neighbours. People who don't quilt don't have quilter's brain, the ability to envision a finished quilt top in their heads, so it makes it a little for everyone to see the whole picture. Most of the time I don't like to make cookie cutter quilts, the ones that are so simple with 3 fabrics of the different colours and prints. I like to think carefully about the choices I make in regards to colour, print, scale, balance,  and contrast. I wanted a feel for something they would like and be happy with.


The beige blocks were the first blocks to be made. I thought to myself that it was way too drab that beigey solid fabric and went to visit to my favourite fabric shop and bought a few more prints to add for variety. Now it looked like the quilt was going somewhere. I made blocks and made blocks and made more blocks all of varying sizes after remembering the many times I've brought over my work to share (they are my biggest fans you see). What they loved most I think were my Bee Quilts that I'd put together in the llast couple years. Something about all the different blocks and fun elements it hit me that this was the direction to go. I did have a specific request to use some of my precious Japanese fabrics. And of course I obliged. Because afterall there is more just a click away.

Once I felt I had enough blocks I laid them out on the floor and thought they'd best be set together in rows. I added filler pieces of fabric to fill in the empty spaces. I then sandwhiched and commenced the quilting. Only after a little freakout because I had missplaced my free motion quilting foot and New Jan didn't like free motion quilting larger things than placemats or purses. Well. New Jan was going to have to "learn to dance" with me as a wise quilter woman once told me. And dance we did. We had this baby all quilted up in several hours. Each block was quilted differently and I had fun making it all up as I went. After I put on the binding and gave it a good wash, twice to make sure no red bled all over, I hung it up outside to take photos. The backing which matched perfectly with the front and came from my stash! One thing I learned about making this quil t is that I mustn't mixed washed and unwashed fabrics. After washing and drying I noticed the unquilted areas were a bit more bubble but that's because the parts that were around it where heavily quilted on unwashed fabric. But all's well that ends well and both ladies, as well as the grandmother to be loved the quilt very much and even invited me to the baby shower in December to share the joy of the gift with many others. Tomorrow I'll share the story of quilt 2.