This is an old project that I've been meaning to show you for some time now. I started it when Molly was about the same age that Nora is now, which is to say, about a year and a half ago. We had just moved Pippo into his big boy bed, and he needed a quilt. So of course I had to make him one!
I basically have two modes when it comes to working on projects: either I get stuck in an endless crippling loop of planning, trying to find the exact right pattern/colors/fabrics/techniques, or else I decide not to plan at all, and just jump right in. I'm sure there is some string of letters that expresses this in terms of personality type, but one of those letters would also represent the fact that I inevitably get distracted about 25 questions in to those personality tests, and can never make it to the end. I think I might have made it through, once, but then I promptly forgot my letters, and now just feel left out with all the INTF talk. Is there a letter for that? Probably.
Anyway, this quilt falls into the latter, jump-right-in category. While I was working on it, I actually named my process: it's called Path of Least Resistance Quilting. It got that name when I accidentally sewed two sets of triangles together the wrong way (no matter how many times I tell myself “right sides together,” something always falls through the crack), and rather than quickly rip out the seams and do it properly, I told them: “you're dead to me,” and tossed them aside.
(I did actually save them, just in case I didn't have enough at the end. Because, you remember, I didn't plan at all, and had no idea if I would be able to make a rectangle-shaped quilt, let alone a coherent pattern. But, miracle of miracles, I had exactly enough.)
To give you a quick rundown of how Path of Least Resistance Quilting (PLRQ) works: First of all, I only used supplies I had on hand. From start to finish, all I bought were a few extra skeins of the embroidery thread for quilting. Everything else, including the batting, I already had in my stash. Yes, I have a problem.
I pulled out all the fabrics I was considering, and three-year-old Pippo immediately divided them into two piles: the ones he liked, and the ones he didn't. I tried to sneak one back into the good stack at one point, thinking he wouldn't notice, but he definitely called me out on it. Luckily he has good taste, or I would've been in trouble!
(Edited to add: since I've gotten a bunch of queries about the alphabet posters in the comments, I thought I'd add the info about them here. The alphabet prints are actually sheets of pretty wrapping paper that Habou sent us. I popped them into cheap poster frames that I’d spray-painted red (so, altogether, an inexpensive way to cover a lot of wall space!), and the kids love looking at them. They’re really cute! Habou found them at a local papergoods store, I think, but I tracked down one of them on Amazon, here: Cavallini Decorative Paper- Vintage Illustrated ABC I didn’t see the other one with a quick search, but I know it’s made by the same company, which also has a lot more cute designs that look like they belong in a vintage schoolroom.)
I was pretty confident in the overall look I was going for (I have a whole bunch of simple but beautiful quilts pinned), which I had internalized as “bright, modern, colorful, triangle quilt,” so I just cut everything into six-inch squares (because that's the width of my ruler, and thus the easiest size to cut out quickly) and made a big batch of half-square triangles. When I ran out of white fabric, I declared myself done, and spent a while arranging and rearranging them on the floor (always with the assistance of my trusty helpers, as you can see above) until I settled on this sort of flying geese-ish pattern.
I can't believe it worked, either. I honestly had at most a square or two to spare. But I'm telling you, Path of Least Resistance Quilting works. Sometimes.
As I mentioned, I had the batting on hand and pieced together the backing from my stash, hand quilted with pearl (perle?) cotton embroidery thread, fought the good continuous bias binding fight and came out on the other side with a cute triangle quilt.
Pippo and I are both very pleased with it, and I think it only took me about six months from start to finish, which isn't too bad, considering the derailing effects of a first trimester on one's crafting efficiency.
Molly is still quite happily in her crib — which is good, because I've been on a stashbusting and project-finishing mission lately and need to get through a few more things before I can start on a big girl quilt for her. I think that this flurry of creative energy must be part of my postpartum routine — once my baby hits a certain age, I start to believe that I really can keep our daily family life going on a basic level, and realize that I also need to make some time to make something beautiful. Do you experience this, too?
Heather says
Turned out great love it!
Shyla says
Rosie this is beautiful! So glad you shared on here (sneaky toddler fingers erased instagram from my phone and now I’m just going with it because Lent) It’s gorgeous!
Barbara says
Really beautiful work! What a treasure.
Michelle M says
Watch out, I sense another baby coming soon! 😉 I absolutely love this quilt. Pippo’s choices in fabric and your eye for pattern is a huge winner!
Rosie says
I know, right? I’ll just keep on with my quilting until God gives me a bigger project to work on. 🙂
gwen says
Wow, nice quilt! I would love to learn quilting. I get the general idea, but the batting part still confuses me. I understand the need for making beautiful things. I still love my crosstitch after 9 kids . Brings me joy!
Rosemary says
Lovely!! And I do not think a stash large enough to make a quilt from is a problem … is that not why we have stashes? 😉
Rosie says
Don’t encourage me! (But yes, it was QUITE satisfying.)
Julie says
It’s beautiful – stash-busting done well!
Lisa G. says
That is simply gorgeous! You couldn’t have done better if you’d planned it, truly.
Mary Eileen says
I love it!!!
diane says
The quilt is lovely and perfect for your big boy! PLRQ works more often than you would think. I love the “You’re dead to me” attitude (I find myself singing “Let It Go” to stop obsessing over little flubs that aren’t show-stoppers).
Continuous bias…is this the “cut a square on the diagonal, rotate one of the resulting triangles and piece to the other so you have a parallelogram, mark your strips perpendicular to the seam you just sewed, then join the two slanted sides to form a tube, offsetting by one your marked lines….” method? So much harder to explain than to show, and I have to experiment and double check grain lines every time I do it.
It does, however, create a binding that will stand up very well to the antics of an active little boy!
Rosie says
Yes, that’s the one! I find it so tricky, somehow, even though the internet seems to think it’s straightforward. But it does make a lovely binding!
mary says
The quilt is beautiful–as are your trusty helpers! Thanks so much for sharing the process as well as the completed work. I couldn’t help noticing the red-framed vintage prints hanging on the wall above the bed–do share info. about them, please.
Rosie says
Thank you, Mary! The alphabet prints are actually sheets of pretty wrapping paper that Habou sent us. I popped them into cheap poster frames that I’d spray-painted red (so, altogether, an inexpensive way to cover a lot of wall space!), and the kids love looking at them. They’re really cute! Habou found them at a local papergoods store, I think, but I tracked down one of them on Amazon, here:
Cavallini Decorative Paper- Vintage Illustrated ABC
I didn’t see the other one with a quick search, but I know it’s made by the same company, which also has a lot more cute designs that look like they belong in a vintage schoolroom.
Lauren says
Could you please tell me about the really cute ABC posters you have? They are just perfect. I really love your quilt and it has given me a lot of inspiration for my boys room after we move.
Rosie says
Thank you, Lauren! See my reply to Mary, above, for info about the alphabet posters!
Rosie says
I’m the exact same way with projects and personality tests! Maybe it’s a Rosie thing 😉 We defy labels!
That quilt is so fabulous 🙂 Awesome job!
Habou says
Love the quilt. Pippo is so awesome in the way that he quietly appreciates things. Great taste.
Elizabeth says
how lovely, wonderful, bright, simple and beautiful!! love!!!!
Melissa D says
That quilt is so beautiful (yet thoroughly boy)!!! And he’s getting so big! Like… heading into true “big boy” territory, not just “little big boy” territory.
Rosie says
I know! Looking at these pictures from a year ago, I’m a little shocked at how big they both are now…
April L. says
!The quilt is perfect! And count me among those who need more info about those alphabet prints!
Rosie says
Thank you, April! See my reply to Mary, above, for info about the alphabet posters!
Adele says
What a beautiful quilt. I love that I don’t have to dig around pintrest I just follow all of your accounts and I never have to find something for myself.
Margo, Thrift at Home says
hooray! I come from the same school of quilting with NO apologies! Furthermore, I try to keep my stash reasonable (ie, fits in the closet space I have) and that’s quite efficient to have fabric on hand instead of wanting to make something and needing to drag 3 kids out of the house to buy fabric. My fabric stash is to my projects what my pantry is to my meals, yes?
I think this is a beautiful, lively quilt and I love how your perle cotton quilting outlines it. I’m pinning it for my quilt board.
Rosie says
Thank you, Margo! You’re right, of course — lugging three kids to Joann’s is The Worst. Really, the problem with my stash (which fits on its designated shelves, so is actually quite reasonable now that you mention it) is that enough of it is old enough that I’m just not too excited about it anymore. I’ve been trying to use what I do love, and the rest I think I’ll pass along.
Victoria says
” My fabric stash is to my projects what my pantry is to my meals, yes?”
I’m so going to use this line with my husband.
Stephanie says
Rosie, the quilt is beautiful! The colors and pattern are both fun and soothing at the same time, and the finishing is so tasteful! What a wonderful gift to give your child (and your family in general for years to come)! I am so impressed by your handiwork.
And seeing the pictures from back then really highlights how quickly children grow up, doesn’t it?!
Thanks to you and all the LMLD contributors for sharing your ways and wisdom with us! 🙂
Rosie says
Thank you, Stephanie! And yes, it does. These pictures are only a year old, but they look so much younger to me!
Barbaral says
Your quilt is just beautiful…what a wonderful accomplishment.
Do you sew it together by machine , then hand quilt?
Rosie says
Yes, that’s right! And thank you!
Susan (DE) says
I LOVE the quilt! It’s so pretty! (As are the babies.)
Julie says
Please tell about the label on the back!
Laura says
Absolutely beautiful!
I loved hearing about the way your mind works! Too funny!
Mary Virginia says
I can NEVER remember my Myers Briggs letters… Which totally makes me feel crazy. Hah!
Charisa says
Beautiful quilt! I so agree with your sentiment: “I think that this flurry of creative energy must be part of my postpartum routine — once my baby hits a certain age, I start to believe that I really can keep our daily family life going on a basic level, and realize that I also need to make some time to make something beautiful.”
^^ This is totally me too. First: have a baby. Life is chaos. Eventually life begins to settle down and I start to feel like I can handle the daily necessities again. Then I get the urge (and it is urgent!) to create something beautiful. And then I have another baby. haha!
Victoria says
“I start to believe that I really can keep our daily family life going on a basic level, and realize that I also need to make some time to make something beautiful. Do you experience this, too?”
Yes!
I needed inspiration and encouragement for my first ever quilt, so I decided to visit LMLD and you ladies don’t ever disappoint! I remembered you and your mother talking about hand embroidering your quilts with colorful thread and big stitches and wanted to look at it again. It’s so pretty and homey looking. I love your “path of least resistance” idea. I realized last night that I probably have enough fabric in my stash to make a whole quilt without buying a thing (except perhaps a new rotary cutter…mine is not so hot), which will only cost me about $10. Isn’t that how quilting got started anyway? Ladies re-purposing leftover pieces of fabric and the good parts of old clothes? Wish me luck!