Children's Delight Quilt Complete
It feels a little bit like cheating when I post about a completed quilt, since I didn't do the quilting or the binding (and I really need to learn how to do the bindings, because having someone else do that for me is kind of expensive). But a finished project is a finished project -- and, by the time you see this post, the small recipient of this quilt will be getting starting the process of adjusting to the outside world.
This quilt is for a special family baby. While I was working on it -- most of it was completed during Zosia's nap times -- I spent a lot of time thinking about Z and her arrival. Sewing and pressing seams gave me a lot of time to appreciate her babyhood and I tried to make sure that those happy motherly feelings got sewn into this quilt.
I selected a bubble/overlapping circle motif for the quilting -- with all the circular motion in the fabrics it seemed like just the right complement. When I saw the final result, I knew it was the right choice. It softened up some of the all over the place motion in the focus fabric and created a wonderful three-dimensionality to the quilt.
The quilt is backed in orange Minkee -- I loved the happy oranges in the quilt and couldn't resist giving the quilt a plush orange backing. Ms. Z loves anything with the Minkee texture, so I figured it might go over well with another baby, too.
Just to see how the quilt plays with the under 12 month set, I brought Z near it. She immediately reached out and touched the quilt, running her hand across the top to feel the texture. She lifted her hand and did it again, almost as if she was petting it. Hopefully the new baby will enjoy touching it, too.
This quilt is for a special family baby. While I was working on it -- most of it was completed during Zosia's nap times -- I spent a lot of time thinking about Z and her arrival. Sewing and pressing seams gave me a lot of time to appreciate her babyhood and I tried to make sure that those happy motherly feelings got sewn into this quilt.
I selected a bubble/overlapping circle motif for the quilting -- with all the circular motion in the fabrics it seemed like just the right complement. When I saw the final result, I knew it was the right choice. It softened up some of the all over the place motion in the focus fabric and created a wonderful three-dimensionality to the quilt. The quilt is backed in orange Minkee -- I loved the happy oranges in the quilt and couldn't resist giving the quilt a plush orange backing. Ms. Z loves anything with the Minkee texture, so I figured it might go over well with another baby, too. Just to see how the quilt plays with the under 12 month set, I brought Z near it. She immediately reached out and touched the quilt, running her hand across the top to feel the texture. She lifted her hand and did it again, almost as if she was petting it. Hopefully the new baby will enjoy touching it, too.
I have to admit that I am a little nervous about giving this quilt away. It's only my second fully completed quilt (Z's quilt was my first), and there's definitely a little piece of me in it. Maybe it sounds odd to say this, but even though I have yet to meet this baby, I feel like the creation of this quilt has also created a special place it my heart for this child. This quilt is my way of making a commitment to being a positive force in this child's life.
Welcome, baby, welcome! May your life be full of rainbows and sunshine and awe of all the wonderful things that are a part of growing up in this world. Your ciocia loves you very much!
It's really lovely, Theresa ... the minky fabric was a great choice. Your niece/nephew (did I get the translation of "ciocia" right?) will treasure it.
Beautiful Quilt! It's amazing how they come together in the end, isn't it? What a lucky baby to recieve something that you put so much time and effort into!
I started a quilt class a few weeks ago and we're doing the children's delight as well - so I'm excited to see how mine turns out!
So gorgeous, and I'm so jealous -- I have exactly one strip of one quilt completed, and that's it!
Love love love it!
It came out beautifully! I love the circular quilting, it was the perfect choice.
Making bindings isn't that hard, especially if you start with a small quilt. It can take a long time though, although that may just be because I've done mine by hand.
Can't wait to see your next project come togehter!
That quilt is gorgeous, and it will make a treasured gift and heirloom for the family of the recipient.
I can't use a sewing machine and don't like sewing by hand, but I've made a few small quilts. Bindings are really not hard to do. My kids' baby blankets are quilts I made, and after eight and ten years, respectively, I've replaced an awful lot of bindings. You can make bias binding out of one of the quilt fabrics in less than half an hour and attach it by hand pretty easily.
(BTW, you probably want to delete that Russian comment; it's a solicitation for p0rn films.)
Beautiful quilt! The way I do bindings is I cut 2" strips, iron them in half lengthwise, and sew the raw edges to the raw edge of the quilt. Then you fold the folded edge over to the back and handstitch it in place. Do this for two opposite sides, and then repeat on the other sides (don't cut the strips until you've sewn the raw edges). That's how my quilting teacher taught us. As for the last raw edges, I think I just fudged them under when I sewed it down, or you can do extra fudging to make them mitered on the back.
I love seeing other people's finished projects - it makes me feel better about my own unfinished ones.
I have the same feeling for quilts as for tattoos, most of them I do not like at all but then there are some truly breathtaking ones that makes me want to get one. Your quilt is one of those! I have enjoyed seeing it come together and love how you combine the colours, especially since it is a palette I would never have come up with myself. I think you already have some kind of signature in your sewing work and I'm sure the quilt will be much treasured!
Lovely quilt! Where do you get them bound and quilted? I've thought of doing it myself, but not sure I have the right equipment.
I started quilting about the same time as you did. I couldn't remember what my teacher told me about the binding, so I went to my local library and found some really nice DVD's that I checked out and watched over and over again until I figured out what to do. Two DVD's are with Nancy Zieman on quilting, The Quilters Edge, and Very Easy Vintage Quilts and also one from Eleanor Burns called the Machine Quilting Primer. There were others at the library, as well as two shelves of Quilting books. Also quiltville.com has a nice tutorial to print off and keep at hand as a reference to remind you how to pleat the corners. Hope this may help you to try binding yourself. Make a potholder out of a quilt square just for the practice. You can always go back to the quilt shop for help with your project. I always do.
Gorgeous quilt! Lucky baby - both for the quilt and to have you in its life.
Excellent color choices! I'd pet it too.