Paper-dolls on a Quilt

Wow! Just realized that I never shared this post once I gave the quilt away! I made this quilt when I was making quite a few other baby quilts for friends (link to all posts about baby quilts), but then I saved it while waiting for someone to have a baby girl :)

A friend of mine finally had one this past summer, and this quilt made the journey to New Mexico. As it turns out, that friend actually moved to my town just four months later, right after Christmas - I am loving having my friend and her family so close!!!

The quilt was made with panels of paper dolls - I don't have any information about it, as it was a gift when we were still living in Montana. I made the corner blocks from some 30s reproduction squares that I had in my stash. The yellow was also in my stash, along with the backing fabric. Since I didn't want to machine quilt through the paper doll blocks, I did some straight line quilting around the blocks and then used embroidery thread for inside the blocks.

There is nothing like quick baby quilts for stash busting! (My goodness, she was so little... but I guess these were taken two years ago!)

Two Baby Quilts Finished! {February Goal Success}

My February Goal is complete :)

I finished two baby quilts this month. One top was already ready for the quilting/binding process, but I ended up making another top for the 2nd quilt (even though I have several tops ready to go - I really wanted a boyish I-Spy quilt, which I didn't have on hand already!).

Here is the quilt that already had the top and binding ready. All I had to do was baste, quilt and bind. Both quilts were basted and quilted at my parents' house when we were there the first weekend of February. Mom's workhorse of a Viking sewing machine has a much better walking foot than my machine, so I know I can trust hers to work well (and quickly!) for me! 

The top fabric came from Fat Quarter Shop several years ago when I realized I didn't have many fabrics on hand that would work for boyish quilts. This is the second and final quilt made from this line. You may still see a few matching squares here and there in I-Spy quilts, though! 

The backing came from a destash purchase a year or two ago. Both quilts are quilted with straight, diagonal lines... simple yet effective!

 "Oh the Places You'll Go!" Perfect for a little baby boy!

And here is the I-Spy quilt! This baby boy has an older brother who may need some entertaining while Mom is busy with the new baby... so really, this quilt is for both the baby and the brother! 

This backing also came from an Instagram destash back when destashing over social media was just taking off. I haven't looked on the destash hashtag in a long time! But, what I did buy back then has surely come in handy :)

I hope the two babies feel loved and prayed for when they are cuddled with (or crawling over) these quilts!

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Pattern Testing a Dress for E     (Finished! - link and link)
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew) - up next are the birthday and Easter dresses, but I have a bit of time before they are needed :)
• Baby Quilt for a friend ~ the top is finished, now to baste, quilt and bind - completed!
• Baste a baby quilt for another friend... then quilt and bind - completed!
• Onesies! - 3 finished (link and link), several more to go... the pregnant friend list just keeps growing!

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 5 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding 
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc
• A new table runner from a mini charm pack won from a giveaway recently

February Goal

A friend is having a baby this month... time for another baby quilt!

While I have several tops all made up, I wanted a special I-Spy quilt for this baby. I like the idea that the quilt can help entertain the toddler big brother a little during nursing and rocking sessions :)

My goal is to finish this by the end of the month! I also hope to have one onesie made to send with it... wish me luck!

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Pattern Testing a Dress for E 
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew) - up next are the birthday and Easter dresses, but I have a bit of time before they are needed :)
• Baby Quilt for a friend ~ the top is finished, now to baste, quilt and bind
• Baste a baby quilt for another friend... then quilt and bind
• Onesies! 

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding - will need 2 done in February (see above)
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc
  
  

School Days for a Baby

I finished this quilt up last winter... and I was happy to find the perfect recipient! 

A friend of mine is being induced this morning (please send up a few prayers for her strength and patience!), and her baby shower was just a few weeks ago.

She is a school teacher and she loves Laura Ingalls Wilder... this School Days fabric by Moda was just a perfect combination of pioneer education :)

The backing is a solid navy combined with another vintagey-children print (sorry I'm not sure the name/designer/manufacturer). Quilting was a simple grid of 1/4" away from each seam. It washed up well!! 

The mommy-to-be said the fabrics match her living room perfectly, so I hope Baby Addy gets to have lots of floor time on it :) 

James' Baby Quilt

I couldn't just make quilts for friends, right? James needed one of his own :)

Fabric: Sasparilla by October Afternoon for Riley Blake Fabrics (I used a different line from October Afternoon for one of Ev's quilt, so this just felt right!).

I think the backing is an Alexander Henry print... another Instagram purchase from last year. I haven't checked out #thegreatfabricdestash in awhile... I should take a glimpse again soon, just to see if there's anything good ;)

 I love this size quilt (6x8 5" squares with a 4" border), as it fits perfectly over the infant carseat. We'll get a lot of use out of it... it seems that the second child gets lugged around a lot more than the first. E loves going on outings, so James gets to come, too!

Another Eye-Spy Quilt

A third college roommate/teammate recently had her first little one (a boy!). 

In case you lost track, out of a tight-knit group of 7 college friends, four of us had babies within a month of each other - we did not plan this! Out of us 7, there are now 7 future jackrabbits ;)

This baby's gender was revealed earlier in the pregnancy, but I still decided to go with an I-Spy quilt. They are just too fun to create, plus they really do "grow" with the baby even up into the toddler years. I love giving baby presents that are useable for a long time!

The mother grew up on a farm, so I just had to use this perfect panel for the backing! I found it on Instagram's #thegreatfabricdestash last spring. I still have another panel to use on a future project.

A Pacific Northwest Baby Quilt

This baby quilt was also sent off a few weeks ago... after the birth of a little boy (gender was a surprise) to another of my college teammate/roommates. They live in the Pacific Northwest, so I thought it was the perfect time to cut into a plaid and stripes fat quarter bundle that I've had since 2012. I bought it at the Prickly Pear Quilting Shop in Helena, MT. It was a super cute little shop and I was happy to find a bundle of these plaids...

I had the border fabric on hand as well, so all I had to purchase was the backing (the binding was cut from the fat quarter bundle). Simple cross-hatching quilting was all this quilt needed. I loved how crinkly it was after I washed and dried it!!

In addition to the quilt, I also sent off this little wall plaque that I made. I used a scrap piece of wood from our reclaimed barnwood stash and painted an evergreen on it (after asking the mommy-to-be what would be a good, simple addition to their nursery). I braided some jute twine for hanging the plaque on the wall.

Three Peas in a Pod Baby Quilt

This baby quilt was sent off to a little lady born a few weeks ago (her mom was one of my teammates and roommates in college). The gender was a surprise, so I decided on doing an eye-spy quilt... the border and part of the backing has veggie fabrics that include "three peas in a pod" which is one of the ways that the happy parents announced the pregnancy :)

Simple construction and binding: 5" charms in a 6x8 layout and a 4" border... cross-hatching for the quilting and scrappy green binding for the finishing touches.

The backing, binding and a close-up of the peas in a pod!

Four Bindings Complete {March ALYOF Finish}

I wasn't sure if I'd make it this month, but here they are... four baby quilts have finished bindings!

Goal Post Here

Number 84 in Linky Party 

Sure, the binding was already attached to the fronts of the quilt. All I had to do was put my feet up and finish hand-sewing the binding to the backs of the quilts. Sounds simple right? It should have been done in the first week of March! Yet, I fought a sinus infection for the entire first week. Looking back, I'm so thankful that I did get down to work during the 2nd and 3rd weeks. I even found out that I can finish the hand-sewing in one day (but don't expect any thing else to get done during my "free times" on those days!!). I'm thankful I finished them when I did, though, because I ended up fighting a stomach virus during the fourth week of March. Ugh. Let's just say I'm looking forward to saying good-bye to March!!! 

I'll show you more pictures of the individual quilts as I send them out to their recipients :)

WIP Wednesday {ALYOF: March Goal}

March ALYOF Goal: Finish hand-sewing the binding to the back of these four baby quilts. 

Two of these baby quilts are reserved for March due-dates, while another is reserved for an April baby. The last one will just hang out in my "gift box" until just the right little lady arrives! I better get started though... it's a binding party type of month!

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Current WIP List...

• 4 baby quilts needing binding (current goal)
• 1 lap quilt needing quilting then binding (on the back burner)
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding (on the back burner)
• 1 pillow top needing a border then quilting and then needing a back (on the back burner)

Goodness, I don't remember the last time that WIP list was so short! 

Sure, my to-sew list is still quite long, but at least most of the items on that list haven't been started, so they don't belong on the WIP list... yet ;)

WIP Wednesday and February Goal {ALYOF}

ALYOF February Goal: Finish two Easter/Spring dresses for E! I have a little bit of a start on them, but I still have quite a bit to do on them. The scraps from sewing the patchwork skirt are to be made into a pillow cover and a purse. That fabric was recently won in a giveaway, and I found matching fabrics for the bodice, sash and skirt band. The other dress is from stash fabrics. Both patterns are free from The Cottage Mama. 

Then, there are these... 9 baby quilt tops that I finished last month. Four are spoken for as I have several friends who are expecting. The others will be kept on hand for future friends' babies. With our #2 on his way, I know I won't have as much (if any) sewing time and I want to be somewhat prepared!

Do I even dare mention these? Two baby quilts ready to be quilted. One for our Gus-Gus and one to keep on hand! These need to be quilted before I can baste the four quilts needing to be done, as I don't have enough safety pins for all these quilts I need to work on!

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So, I've updated the WIP list that I started last December... lots of fun still to be had :)

(a list that does not include projects that have fabric pulled but haven't been cut into yet!)

1 baby quilt needing binding

2 baby quilts needing quilting then binding

1 lap quilt needing quilting then binding

9 baby quilt tops needing backs (then quilting and binding)

2 cotton Easter/Spring for E that are part-way done (and one matching "purse")

2 knit dresses for E that have been cut but need some sewing done(!)

1 pillow top ready for quilting and then needing a back

Dec Goal Complete {ALYOF}

My December goal was to finish the binding on this baby quilt. I started working on this goal yesterday during E's nap, and then finished it after she went to bed. Yay for quick goals during busy, busy months!

Goal Post Here

Number 49 on the ALYOF Goal Linky

I think the favorite part of the quilting process for E is when I'm done and it's through the wash and it's time for me to clip threads. She then decides that the quilt becomes the perfect dance floor! 

Twirl, Twirl, Twirl.

This quilt is set for donating... along with two other scrappy baby quilts and some school supplies I picked up this fall. School supplies bought in the fall rarely last throughout the school year - especially pencils! So, I hope these help some students start the new year off with the right foot! The quilts will arrive in perfect time for a few more months of cold-cold-cold winter weather... brrr!

WIPs and One Finish

It's about time that I do an updated WIP (Works in Progress) post!

But first, a finish! This was my quickest batch of burp cloths in recent history! A few days ago I realized that I'd be seeing 3-4 friends who are expecting this coming Spring. Well, their baby quilts are definitely not done yet, so I figured I could at least whip up a few burp cloths for a small Christmas present :) 

Here is a WIP that has been a long time coming. I've had the fabric for ages (Dear Mr. Claus), and I finally figured out what to do with them. The lap quilt has been basted and is currently in the "to-quilt" pile. 

Evelyn was in a cuddly mood after her nap, while I was trying to baste this baby quilt (School Days by Moda). This quilt was recently upgraded from the "to-quilt" pile to the "to-bind" pile. That pile resides out by the TV in hopes that one of these nights, I'll actually get ambitious and do some hand-sewing while I'm watching a Christmas movie (especially since my December goal has not left that pile... I should get going on that!).

She seemed to also like the backing to another baby quilt. I did eventually get her to move so I could baste it! She then got out one of her favorite "toys" at my parents' house... an old trike that I refinished in my 4-H days. It spent many-a year in an outbuilding at my grandmother's farm. Mom talked me into refinishing it for her (stripping paint, lots of steel wool sanding, and spray paint). It now is the throne for my American Girl Kirsten doll :)

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So, let's do a list... 

(a list that does not include projects that have fabric pulled but haven't been cut into yet!)

2 baby quilts needing binding

2 baby quilts needing quilting then binding

1 lap quilt needing quilting then binding

2 (or is it 3?!) knit dresses for E that have been cut but need some sewing done(!)

2 baby bags that are in various stages of completion

The best part of having a list like this? 

Knowing that it means that I'm using at least a little of my stash! Little by little!

Bindings and Pop-Eye

This is my last of three donation baby quilts made with some of my scrap fabrics. My ALYOF December goal is to finish hand-sew the binding to the back. 

I hope to get them mailed in the New Year with some school supplies... kids don't just need school supplies in the fall! As a former teacher, I remember my students always needing new pencils and borrowing paper from their peers (or me!).

 

 I showed you this Popeye Skater Dress for E in a previous post, but I figured it would be too big for her to try on. Well, it's not! It fits just right over a black turtleneck. Don't mind her zebra leggings... her black ones were in the dirty clothes basket. She gets so excited when I pull down a dress and ask her if she wants to wear it that day. She loves dressing up!

As you can see our Christmas tree is up... E loves naming the different ornaments ("ball" and "star") and jingling the bells. She should be quite entertaining around all the decorations and presents this year!

Quilt on the Wall {E's Room}

 Evelyn's room is the only room that we have truly made our own... paint and all. 

Eventually you'll get all the details, but for now, I'll show you how I hung a quilt that doesn't have a quilt sleeve.

 

 This is the quilt that my mother-in-law made for Evelyn when she was born. After we painted her room in our new house, I realized how well the quilt matches the color scheme! However, there was the slight problem. This quilt wasn't intended to go on the wall, so Kari didn't sew on a quilt sleeve. I wasn't about to possibly ruin her beautiful work by added a sleeve after the fact, so I came up with a plan.

 

 I spent a long time searching home improvement stores for fancy nails (because really, what kind of mom wants to go traipsing around mutliple stores with a young toddler searching for something that might not be in stock?!). I finally found these on the Lowes website. When they arrived, I realized they weren't exactly what I had in mind, but they do work perfectly! 

I put two regular nails into the wall and tied on a double thickness of a thin twine I had on hand. After attaching the quilt with regular clothespins and seeing that my vision was in fact going to work, I finally nailed in the huge, decorative nails with a rubber mallet.

 

Doesn't it look so great about Evelyn's future bed?? I may eventually paint the clothespins or at least decorate with washi tape, but for now, I'm in love :)

Quickest. Finish. Ever.

About two weeks ago... well, maybe 2 and a half weeks... I received an invitation to my cousin's baby shower. I had always intended on sewing her a baby quilt, but in reality, nothing was planned - I mean, she wasn't due until November; I had plenty of time!

Well, that invite was the kick start I needed! That same day, I went to my charm "scraps" and picked out a mix of charms... 48 charms of colors, texts, patterns and other i-spy items. I even dug in my stash to see if I had anything suitable for the border, backing and binding. All in the same day. That's a lot of planning, ha ;)

No need to run to the store with an over-energetic toddler when you have everything on hand! Score!

Quick quilting of diagonal lines...

... and a pieced backing of tractors and monkeys.

I still can't believe I got it finished in time. Most of it was actually sewn the week before... because 2.5 weeks just isn't exciting enough... why not wait to just have one week?! 

Yeah, I don't understand myself all the time either :)

Happy last few weeks, cousin! 

Boring Goal Completed Post {ALYOF}

My August Goal (link #72 in the link party) was simple... Sew borders onto two baby quilts.

I finished them about halfway through the month!

Time to get them basted and quilted :) along with umpteen hundred other sewing and diy projects! 

Sasparilla Baby Quilt

Last summer I won a gift card to Fabric Fly (through a giveaway on Clover and Violet... I talked about it here before). I had had my eye on Sasparilla by October Afternoon for Riley Blake Fabrics all summer, and I couldn't believe that I was actually going to have some in my possession!! I bought a layer cake with some small bits of yardage, knowing that I could get two baby quilts out of that. I'm saving half of it in case Evelyn ever gets a sibling (her quilt is also by October Afternoon).

However, with the other half, I made this quilt! A little girl is set to arrive sometime in July to a friend of mine (who just happens to be married to Dan's cousin!). Since I didn't have enough 5" charms (cut from the layer cake) to do two of my normal baby quilt patterns, I improvised with this one... 6 rows of 6 charms alternating with 1.5" rows with a 4" border.

The cream on cream floral for the sashing and binding along with both backing fabrics came from the fabrics I received this winter when the family finally went through some of Dan's grandmother's things. I'm so happy that it will go to someone in the family (especially when there's a good chance the little girl will have a middle name that matches her great-grandmother's name!).

For A Baby Shower {Baby I-Spy Quilt}

Other than making a few burp cloths, I'm ready for a baby shower... A good friend who lives several states away is coming home for a baby shower, and I cannot wait to see her in all her baby-bump glory! 

She is excepting a boy in July, so I made a boy-themed I-Spy quilt :)

Really, it's only boy-themed because I didn't add any tiaras or fairies, but I still added one or two pink and purple squares... even a boy needs to know what color pink is!

During the photo shoot, Evelyn was just walking, walking everywhere. She ended up going halfway down this hill before falling :)

 The backing is pieced... some Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric with some rainbow stripes from Dan's grandma's stash. The binding is a different rainbow stripe that also came from Dan's grandma. I already have a Very Hungry Caterpillar book to add to the gift bag, too.

 After I finished taking pictures, we went to check on the yearlings. They were huuuungry!!!

Of course, when we were checking on the cattle, Little E decided to go out in the unplanted corn field by herself. Sigh. We need to teach her direction soon, or else she's going to be one of those kids who walks into a fully-grown field and gets lost... She just loves to explore!