Friday 10 January 2014

Super simple baby quilt two - finished

I started my plan to do 10 super simple baby quilts last year with my Briar Rose charm pack quilt. It is now sitting tucked away in the quilt cabinet waiting for either: a) a little girl to come along; or b) a baby quilt companion to hang out with. Well - there is no baby girl, but it now has a friend.

Enter super simple baby quilt two.  6 x 11 plain blocks (that's 66 blocks, folks - heh) of low volume fabric from my stash, for a gender neutral baby quilt.  I have been meaning to use my collection of Gumnut Babies forever, and am so pleased with how this has turned out.  It is 36" x 44" finished, which is good for a wee baby bassinet, floor rug or pram blanket.  I would probably add a row each way if it was for a toddler though, to be a good cot size.

Super simple baby quilt two - the full garden shot

Wouldn't you like this for your new baby?


Super simple baby quilt two - the cropped garden shot

The blocks are 6.5" x 4.5" each unfinished.  Rather than piecing them individually, I cut 4.5" strips from the full width of fabric, and sewed three or four strips together before cutting into 6.5" pieces.

Hello little gumnut babies

I like how these simple blocks are big enough to show off a fabric, without being too overwhelming and fussy.

Ta-dah - blocks pieced together quickly

One of the true pleasures of small and quick quilts is that they fit on the kitchen table when it is basting time.  No sore back and knees.  No dragging furniture around to make room on the floor.  Bliss.

20 minutes later, we were good to quilt.

The big experiment for me on this quilt was the quilting.  One of the express purposes for making these quilts is to practice FMQ.  I just hate being bad at stuff and quilting is one of those things that you cannot perfect just by being careful.  No - you just have to practice, practice, practice.  Megan has a plan to sort out her FMQ which has motivated me even more to get on with it.  So I found a swirly design I liked the look of, did a trial strip and then had a go.  It's fair to say, I felt like it ruined a perfectly pretty quilt top.  Hubby, on the other hand, thought I was being a drama queen (me? never!) and said that it looked fine.  It looks nothing like the perfect example I found on Pinterest, but here it is.

swirly bits - those poor gumnuts look terrified.

I swirled on alternating rows, and did some straight lines in between.  The next morning, it all seemed better after some sleep.  I've now decided it's quite cute.  How many times have you heard me say that?

I backed it with a vintage style school days print from Spotlight (yay Boxing Day sales) and bound it with my go-to chocolate stripe binding.  Now it needs a baby home to go to - fortunately Hubby has a friend who may have news on that front shortly.  Fingers crossed!

The back.  Is your life complete now you have seen this?

So - I'll be adding this to my super simple baby quilts page.

We really need new carpet.  Just saying.

I have even made a little button so you can link back to check for quick baby quilt gift ideas.  Feel free to grab it for your side bar or link-up page.


Shush I'm Quilting


And because this is a finish, I'm linking up to Crazy Mom's, TGIFF over at Quilt Matters and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Have a good weekend my crafty friends!

21 comments:

Susie said...

It's pretty and you are right it does showcase the gorgeous fabric beautifully.

deebriese said...

It is so pretty. I am so going to get back to my fmq. I gave it up I have been trying for years but being a perfectionist~! UGG
Thanks for the inspiration.

Heather said...

Good on you for getting stuck into fmq - it always looks better than you think it did once it has been washed too.

Megan said...

I think you quilt like a pro, so either you are good at trick photography, or in actual fact you are a card-carrying perfectionist. I think your 'swirls' look very nice and the whole quilt is very very cute. Don't go back to work ok - I like the lots of eye candy you provide :-)

Leonie said...

Well done you! and that quilting! You are a machine! yay for simple easy and satisfying :)

Unknown said...

Fabulous Liz ...loving those gumnut babies. Just gorgeous!

DeborahGun said...

I love this quilt Liz. The quilting looks fantastic and the fabrics just make it stunning. Is that Snugglepot and Cuddlepie? Amazing!

Anonymous said...

Love this fabric! I bought some after Christmas when it was 40% off :D Not sure what I want to do with it, but I live your simple blocks!

Teri said...

Love the simplicity of this quilt. It is perfect for the low volue novelty prints.

Anonymous said...

It's perfect. What's not to love?

M-R Charbonneau said...

It's adorable! I love the quilting -- it's amazing what sleep can do for perspective! Your binding give the perfect pop too! Thanks for linking up to TGIFF!

Audrey said...

I love the fabrics you used.

Tilkunviilaaja said...

Your swirly quilting is perfectly nice! It definitely does not ruin the quilt. It is just a trick of your eye when you have been looking at the quilting from up close. The quilt is super cute all around! Well done you!

AmandaK@whatthebobbin said...

Love those cute prints! The fairies are ahhroable. What a fun quilt!

~Diana said...

Sew simple, and yet I adore it! Well done!

Jessica Hadden said...

So sweet!

Sara said...

Swirly quilting is so much enjoyment isn't it?! Beautiful finish!

Anonymous said...

Very pretty! Great job on the FMQ -- I need to practice more as well. I'm sure your swirls are much better than mine would ever be

hydeeannsews said...

ahw, those gumnuts are darling! i like the pattern for all the reasons you listed: simple and big enough squares to showcase without overwhelming.

we are thinking alike this weekend. I'm working on a super simple baby quilt of my own AND i experimented with my fmq on it, with similar feelings you described.

feel free to use my pattern some time or just feature my quilt. ha!=) that's the kind of friend i am.

Julie said...

Cute and fun quilting!

Sarah said...

I hate being bad at stuff too. I did some swirls for the first time just before Christmas. Yours look pretty good! I'd be happy with them.