Two quilts in two weeks? There's no stopping me!
This is the first of many quilts I'll be making for our baby who is due next month. I'm loving being able to work on small quilts AND keep them. Before I found out I was pregnant I'd run out of excuses to make a quilt in anything but a superking size for us, but they'll hopefully be lots of excuses to make mini quilts over the next few years.
This quilt is exactly a yard square and is intended to be used as a play mat with a baby gym. The fabric I used is from Moda's It's A Hoot range. I'm slowly learning that there tends to be a bit of a lag between me buying fabric and actually using it for a project, by which stage the yardage has often sold out.
I learned my lesson this time and bought two packs of charm squares and yardage as soon as I saw it on sale. I had a few reservations that the colours were a bit girlie (we don't know what we're having) but when mixed together I think it looks sufficiently unisex....
I had a new tool to play with when I did the binding for this quilt. Previously I have always used this method to finish attaching the binding. It produces great results, but is fiddlely to do. Then when I was searching youtube for quilting tutorial videos for my sister, I found this video which recommends using a binding tool to achieve exactly the same finish. After finally tracking a UK store down that sold them and waiting for the stock to arrive, I can confidently say I won't be going back to the old method!
I also bought myself a copy of Block Party- The Modern Quilting Bee. I have been wanting to get involved with or organise a quilting bee for ages and there are some great ideas and patterns in the book. I'm just trying to decide whether it would be insanity to start a bee with a new baby on the way, or whether it would actually be a rather nice manageable size quilting project - what do you think and would anyone be interested in joining the fun?
I love your gorgeous baby quilt and the fabrics you have used for the circles! It is like looking through the round window in Playschool (If you don't know what I am talking about you must be a fair bit younger than me!). I have been wanting to start a new Bee with a blogging friend in Alloa, but just haven't had time what with all the mini quilt swaps ;). But if you could hang fire till about September, I will definitely help you get one together!
ReplyDeleteI love this! My mom made a similar one for my baby, now 3 mo. Yours has fantastic texture- what kind of batting do you use?
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is gorgeous. I've got some of this fabric but haven't decided what to do with it yet. I like the idea of a bee. I've not been brave enough to join one yet.
ReplyDeleteI have just found your blog having spotted you as a new follower of mine - how lovely to have a new baby as an excuse to make quilts! I wasn't a quilter when I had my babies (now 26 & 28)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great link to the binding tool. must have one! The Missouri Star company also carries Pepper Cory's Apple Core templates, I took a class from her and made the larger one. very fast and fun.
ReplyDeleteYour baby quilt is darling and I bet the little one will enjoy it. I bet you were happy to have all your quilting things again, I would have gone bokers having it all packed for months.
Well yes, I do think it's insane with a baby only a month away! But that said, I would love to join in - it would be my first.
ReplyDeleteLoving circles at the moment - and your quilt is great. Two quilts in two weeks....if only!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Kathy
I love,love,love those circles! I`m thinking of trying a quilt similar to this, but I don`t have a blanket stitch on my machine. Maybe I`ll leave a raw edge...have you done that before?
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