Category: Quilting and Sewing

One of my goals for 2012 (and I’ll share the whole list on Sunday) is to spend 10-15 minutes per day sewing.  I figured I might as well start with an unfinished project begun last year.  I made the first five blocks for this quilt along and then felt that I’d chosen the wrong fabric for the quilt, mine having some large scale prints and the collection used by the bloggers being full of small scale prints.

Well, I guess fresh eyes can help.  I feel like I’m selecting the fabrics better this time and I actually like the blocks I’ve done.  Here they are:


I’m loving the gray and aqua in this block.  Like a bit of happiness poking through Utah’s gray skies (which have been much sunnier this winter, but we’re also missing snow).


This last block was funny.  I worried as I was cutting and making it that I would hate it, but it turned out so great that it’s my favorite!  Pleasant surprise.


Those bright blue flying geese make me happy.


One pattern is no longer available and two I’ve opted to skip.  I’m half way there, with eight blocks finished.  I have five more to make and will then choose three favorites to make a second of.

Oh, it is nice to be sewing again!

Jennifer P.S.  I got my sister the Farmer’s Wife book for Christmas and I think we’re going to quilt along together on that one.  We’re both really tempted to sign up for an online sewing class together.  I’ve also got another blogger’s quilt along that I’m planning to start.  But I’ve got to get this one done first.  Should be fun!

I finished this quilt for my niece back in October but forgot to share it.  I found the pictures today.


Most of these fabrics came from my stash.  I used all of the Marabella prints I had because I remembered my sister-in-law loved them and added a bunch of Joel Dewberry prints as well.  Then I just started adding some of this and that until I came up with a mix I liked.


The quilt is simple patchwork with the exception of one pink block the size of four blocks on which I appliqued an “E” and embroidered her name, Elsie.  I’m not the best at this kind of thing but I think it looks ok and I think it’s sturdy enough to survive many trips through the laundry.  What’s the point of a baby quilt you’re afraid to get dirty?


For the backing I pieced more squares and then framed them in white.  You can see that the quilting was done simply, sewing through the center of each square except the big E.  I was worried I’d want more quilting on it when it was done, but it turned out how I wanted it to.


For the binding I used a Joel Dewberry print in a dark pink.  I like the way it frames all the other shades of pink inside the quilt.


This quilt now lives in Mississippi with Elsie and her family.  We love them and miss them.  My two year old calls every baby she sees “Baby Elsie.”   We hope they like it!