A baby gift

I mentioned yesterday that I would have pictures of my latest baby quilt today, and I finished it up last night.  Well, it's still waiting on a label, but I'll quickly handstitch that on.  I wanted to mail it today, but I didn't get a chance to photograph it with any light left last night, so I guess it can hold on for one more day....

So this gift is for a dear friend of mine from high school.  She's now got 3 little ones; 2 boys and a beautiful baby girl.  I asked how she was decorating the nursery and she said she'd wanted to go with a pig theme, but couldn't find anything, so she'd settled for pink and green and was putting in little piggy accents where she could.  The pig theme made me laugh since we both collected pig figurines in school, so I automatically went to Etsy and searched for pig baby items.  Once I saw this hat, I knew it had to be bought.  Usually I think, I could just make that, but my knitting is so slow and I rip out as much as I knit because I don't pay attention, so the do-it-myself factor never came in to play.  I contacted the seller and she knit and shipped me one in 2 days.  2 days!  I couldn't even have cast on and started knitting in 2 days!!  The hat is absolutely precious and I can't wait to see a picture of it on Miss Reese!!

This is the picture from Etsy, but I have no doubt Reese will be just as cute!

  

But then I had to make her something too.  She had mentioned that she was thinking of taking up quilting before she found out she was pregnant with Reese, so a baby quilt would be perfect.  I was looking for inspiration online and found Amanda Jean's quilt on the Moda Bake Shop and knew it would be perfect. I even had a Soiree charm pack sitting around.  Of course, Amanda Jean called for 2 packs, so I decided to switch it up a little and hand-embroider Reese's name in the middle column.  I'm all for trying out new techniques and ideas and I haven't embroidered anything in years!  I got the columns all put together and got some pink perle cotton to embroider with.  I played with fonts on my computer until I found a design I liked and then printed it out.  Then I used my trusty light table, window with sun coming in, to trace the name onto the fabric.  Then I just sat and caught up with Dancing with the Stars while her name came to life!  Sometimes I like handwork, like the binding of quilts, because it helps me to focus on the person I'm giving something to.  Using the machine I think about what I'm doing and what comes next and a million other things, but handwork always makes me concentrate on the project and who it's going to.  I know it sounds silly, but I like to think that I'm adding in love and prayers to the quilt with each stitch I take.



When it came to quilting, I debated a few ideas.  At first I'd planned to stipple the whole thing except for right around her name, but the background fabric was too busy for stippling.  So I decided to just outline everything.  But the thought of outlining all of those little rectangles...so I spur-of-the moment decided to just do vertical lines in the white areas and went for it. I figured I could spend some time with the seam ripper if I didn't like it.  And I do like it.  It's different for me, but sometimes different is good.

So, these pictures are in mid-day sun, and while people tell you that full sun washes you out, it actually darkened the colors for me.  Imagine the backing quite a bit lighter.  I usually always piece the backing, but for this simple quilt, I just laid it down and went for it.  I added the extra coins that I would have usually put on the back to the binding.  I thought it added a whimsical touch.

And there it is...my latest quilt.  A simple, yet loving gift for an old friend and her new little one.  Isn't giving from the heart so gratifying? 



Does anyone else ever fight with Blogger about turning pictures sideways??  Oh, well, at least it's easier to read now...