Sunday, November 11, 2007

Patchwork baby quilt



The quilt for my niece is finished! I had a lot of fun taking pictures of the quilt, folding it this way and that, and the sun helped by peeking into the house every now and then. I decided to include a lot of pictures because I couldn't choose just a few favorites.


Quilt front

Quilt back

As you can probably tell, I didn't follow a pattern. I just cut out a bunch of rectangles and started sewing them together. I used a solid tan color for most of the quilt, and added asymmetric patchwork to the front and the back. It's about 36''x48''.


I don't quilt much, but when I do, I am most influenced by the book Denyse Schmidt Quilts, and a few Japanese craft books I have.

I applied the binding as described in DS Quilts. You fold the binding in half, right side out. Line up the raw edge of the binding with the raw edge of the quilt, and machine sew. Then you fold the binding to the other side to cover the raw edge, and sew by hand with a slip stitch.

Many of the prints are from Free Spirit/Denyse Schmidt's lines, Katie Jump Rope and Flea Market Fancy.

I did the machine quilting myself, just simple straight lines. I used yai Ann's tip to get straight lines while quilting - stick painters tape onto the quilt and sew along the tape as a guide.

I used cotton batting, I like it because it's not too thick but it's very warm. I took these pictures after I washed and dried the finished quilt; I love how it shrinks and crinkles up a little bit.



I really enjoyed working on this. I'd love to make a quilt for myself one day, but I have a hard time tearing myself away from apparel sewing!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautifully done!

patsijean said...

Oh, she and her Mama will love it. I don't know if you know this, but you just made your niece her very own "Binkie". She will wear it out. Good job.

Stephanie said...

It's so pretty! I'm like you, I want to make a quilt for myself but there are too many clothes I want to make that get in the way.

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

It is a beautiful quilt and I admire you for taking the time to make it.

Bianca said...

ohhh cute colours..and the way you explained it..it doesn't seem too difficult, I might try one day.

yaiAnn said...

Wonderful! The quilt transformation is probably my favorite part of quilting, from smoooooth to rumply goodness!

Anonymous said...

I'm with you, I love how cotton batting makes it shrivel and shrink just perfectly! I love how your quilt turned out.

Lisette M said...

I always use cotton batting for the same reason you do. Love your quilt!! I am going to check the sources you mentioned.

Melissa said...

Oh how sweet! I have more than enough scraps here, I should make a quilt or two, but I can't pull myself away from making clothes. I'm sure it will be treasured by your neice and her family!

Unknown said...

Oh wow that looks great! Your niece is sure to love it. Your last line made me laugh, I have the opposite problem, I have a hard time tearing myself away from quilting to make apparel!