October 27, 2010

A Walk through Swirls

Yesterday while digging through my fabric to find an answer to "Anything you need from fabric.com that's under $10?"  I pulled out some of my blue fabrics and stuck them on top of the Denim Patchwork Baby Quilt that I finished quilting Monday.  Two of the blues seemed like they might do the trick so I set them on top of the quilt and walked away.  In the end of course one fabric one and the other fabric got put away for next time.

Here are my results.  I really struggled with how to quilt this.  For whatever reason I was actually afraid!  The backing flannel is as soft as the hair on a baby's head and I truly thought that if I quilted on something so soft and cuddly it would loose something.  Well let me tell you that was wrong!  Thankfully right?
All of your kind comments about my freemotion quilting the other day had me thinking about how I could apply that quilting to the patchwork.  Then it hit me the swirls and before I could blink I was quilting swirls all over it.  The needle was perfect, the thread was lovely, and then entire thing flew into and out of my sewing machine much like a dream (except for more bobbin refills than I can count!).    Unlike some quilts with flannel backing; I made certain to use a batting on this one and it paid off because my swirls really pop giving form and definition to that oh so soft quilt.
The patches are all from dd's baby clothes.  Dresses, rompers, sleepers you name it and the result is so cuddly.  Now I nearly forgot to mention, when I make quilts from baby clothes I love to clip out the little pockets and such and use them in the quilt too.  So in the top middle of the back is a little pink fleece pocket just right for a teething ring or a special treasure.  Go ahead click the picture above, you'll see.  I sew these in using small stitched and sewing over it multiple times.  The result is a pocket that is truly one with the quilt.

The quilt is about 46"x42" give or take a little bit as I don't recall right this minute exactly what I measured it to be yesterday.  So it didn't turn out as one of those bubble puffy quilts and I'm so glad it didn't.  I really think this way created a more cuddly quilt.

8 comments:

Heather Landry said...

Oh wow Liz! The swirls add so much to the quilt. This is just gorgeous! I love the idea of the little pocket!

Vicki said...

Great job. The blue binding works with all the various colours in the quilt and I love the swirl quilting pattern. It really sets the quilt off nicely. I'm surprised that Tiny or Sunny weren't cuddling on it :-).

Lynn said...

I know what you mean about being afraid to quilt a quilt. The hardest thing is trying to decide what to quilt. You did a fabulous job! Now, why doesn't someone invent an "endless" bobbin? That darn bobbin runs out way too quickly and always at the worst spot!

Gina said...

Gorgeous.
I love the quilting. It's strange how the quilt 'tells' you how it wanted to be quilted

Love and hugs Gina xxx

QuiltSue said...

Swirls were just perfect for this quilt. The backing fabric has little tendrils on it that tie in with the quilting pattern - very clever.

Nat Palaskas said...

That blue and white baby quilt looks stunning. The swirls are actually go great with the top. You know I love blue and white ha! Hugs Nat

stitchinpenny said...

I love this quilt. It is so detailed. You did a grreat job.

quilthexle said...

Wonderful quilt - hard to imagine sewing a 100" star ... you did a great job!