One of the best parts about having a blog (even when you yourself are something of a delinquent blogger) is that every so often, you will be trying to remember how you solved some problem in the past, and you can ASK the INTERNET what you did, and the internet will KNOW, because you TOLD it. This is what happened to me recently while finishing up a quilt, and I was led down a rabbit hole reading about my own past crafting projects. I was reminded of how many of you lovely ladies encouraged me to persevere and/or give up on this truly desperately ridiculous quilt, and I so appreciated the encouragement in both directions that I feel compelled to update you with the results.
After cutting my project up into little bits and sewing it back together again a few times, I ended up with a quilt top that was actually sort of not too terribly un-cute. By that point I was so dreadfully tired of thinking about it that I folded it up, shoved it onto my works-in-progress shelf, and ignored it for six months or so. Then, last fall, when I was in the midst of some life-changingly magical tidying, off to the thrift store it went, in hopes that it sparked joy in some other poor crafting fool. I have no regrets on this point whatsoever.
These are different quilts. Joy-sparking quilts. Sweet little baby quilts for darling little babies.
This first one was for our godson Freddie, though of course since I'm a delinquent, he didn't get his baby quilt until several months after his little brother was born. Luckily he's still too young to notice.
I did buy the fabric while I was still under my self-imposed fabric-buying ban, but who could resist those FOXES? I had to do it. With a simple little bow tie block on the front, it made for a happy little quilt for a happy little guy.
I quilted with my now go-to of pearl cotton thread outlining the blocks and the bow ties. (Are they still bow ties in this simplified version? I'm not quite sure that they qualify, but that's what I've been calling them.)
This one was my dear friend's baby girl, and apparently it takes five babies for Auntie Rosie to get her act together enough to send a quilt, because I don't think I ever manged to do it for Ciara's four older brothers and sisters, whom I also love. But clever Ciara happened to be born when I was in the midst of a crafting spree, and she happened to be a girl, which coordinated nicely with my stash.
I had the darling fabric already — my mother had given it to me, actually, and I pulled it out several times for various projects, but never could bring myself to cut it up. I finally realized that I needed to make it into a little wholecloth quilt.
Instead of using bias binding on this one, I just sandwiched it, turned it inside out, and topstitched. The quilting is very simple, as you can see, and a little random, but it just seemed like it suited.
Now that I've had a few babies myself, I realize that I end up with lots of photos of them lying on their blankets. When they're little and immobile, I spread it out and plop them down for tummy time or hanging out (or, what we refer to as “hypnotizing the baby,” aka, lying them down under a ceiling fan). Then, since I suddenly am not holding the baby anymore, I grab a camera and start taking photos. For this reason, I do try to make sure I have a lot of white on at least one side of my quilts, the idea being that it helps reflect lots of light for optimal cuteness capturing.
At this point, I wish I had some optimally cute photos of the quilts in action! Alas.
Barbara says
I just finished two baby quilts, one white on both sides with colored circles quilted all over. I wonder where you get your colored pearl cotton thread? On the last quilt (with the colored circles) I ended up using quilting thread and it behaved terribly — love the pearl cotton.
Rosie says
Barbara, I just get it at Joann’s – it’s with the embroidery thread!
Joanie says
These are so lovely!
Any way you could show a close up of the thread for us who don’t know what you’re talking about? 🙂 is it on a spool?
Jenny says
Very nice quilts. Your fabric choices are always so cute!
diane says
These are both lovely, and you were so right not to chop up either the foxes or the other fabric into pieces! Your quilting stitches are near perfect, as well – love how well the pearl cotton shows up.
Cristina says
Very cute! Do you have s magic trick for quilting straight lines across the back like that? I’m pretty sure mine would be a wonky mess 🙂
Rosie says
My magic trick is that I drew lines. 🙂 I actually usually try to keep my quilting to patterns that don’t require marking, but this time I did use a fabric pencil that washes out to mark one line in each bunch. The others are close enough to the first one to freehand and stay parallel. One of the best parts of this kind of quilting is that any minor wonkiness is absorbed into the overall “charming handstitched” vibe, and it all looks good in the end. If you inspected mine closely it wouldn’t look quite so precise. 🙂
Abby says
Fifth babies need someone to celebrate them with quilts!
Tara says
My daughter has a dress made of that fox fabric and we get SO many compliments on it! Great choice!
Barbara says
Lovely quilts! What’s the fabric the second quilt is backed with?
Thanks!
Rosie says
I’m sorry, I have no idea what it’s called or who made it. My mom got it for me at a quilt shop several years ago and I didn’t make note of any maker on the selvedge when I was using it. 🙁
Dixie says
Rosie, I’ve never thought about the photography aspect of using white in a baby quilt. What a good point. I recently made a baby quilt that has a ton of white in it and I was a bit worried about stains (even as I tried to remind myself that baby spit-up washes out really well), and now I feel better. Plus, one of the great things about quilts is that there are two sides! Your two baby quilt are just charming and I’m sure they’ll be well-loved.
Marianne says
Great quilts! Do you put batting between the layers? They look so light, just wondering. That would make for one less step for me if this is allowed!
Leila says
Marianne, you don’t have to — no batting = a sweet and quick baby receiving blanket that can be one of the most useful items, as it’s light and can be grabbed to cover you while nursing or to wrap the baby up quick. Here’s one I made: http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2009/08/quick-homemade-baby-gift-frugal-and/
Jennie says
I am very much loving that plain white top with the colored quilted lines. So simple and yet so lovely!