The quilt was inspired by this quilt***. It went together fast. And since I can't leave well enough alone, I made a birdie to replace one of the blocks. This was the first time I used white in a quilt. I used to hate white in a quilt, but now I can see the appeal. But then I started thinking "this is for a baby! a baby who is going to poop and spitup on it! and a new mom who might feel bad about that! ack!" So I don't think I will use white again on a baby quilt anytime soon. And since I was in a hurry it isn't quilted as much as I would have liked. I also machine bound the quilt instead of finishing it by hand, again the time issue. I've become pretty good at machine binding, but I still feel like the quilting police are standing over me and shaking their heads. Oh well.
40" x 40"
free pieced
machine pieced, quilted and bound
back
The second baby quilt is for a dear friend of mine. We have been friends since our firstborns were babies. She is having her third boy soon, and I really wanted to make a baby quilt for them. I had a simple idea for the quilt, but I decided to make houses with I spy windows and doors. The idea would have been quicker to make, but the houses were much more fun to make. It's all about me you know.
40" x 40"
free pieced
machine pieced and quilted
hand bound
While I was assembling the top, I had it all layed out on the bed. And I left it unattended. Do you see where this is going? Well, you know who got up there and stirred it all up, then he ripped this block. grrr. I was able to salvage the tree and the roof thankfully.
I quilted this one more and finished the binding by hand. Here is the back. I love this fabric.
(do you spy Penny?)
I have one more baby quilt to make soon. I think I will make another I spy house quilt. But I would like to hear your opinion about two things first.
1. I've made baby quilts at the 36" square size and the 40" square size. Sometimes I think 40" is too big and sometimes I think 36" is too small. What do you think? Don't give me that look. I'm not being anal.
2. Machine finished binding or Hand finished binding? Is one stronger than the other? Does one last longer than the other? Why is there a big to do about it all?
*** Speaking of Film in the Fridge, she had a scrap give away on her blog recently, and I won! woo hoo! aren't they great?!
27 comments:
The quilts are great! I especially like the house quilt. I am glad you were able to salvage the ripped house.
I love your posts. You think like I do. Stunning work, as usual. It's hard to admit being good at something, isn't it? You, my friend, are an artist. Something new for you to admit to!
when it comes to baby quilts, I think the 40x40 is great. bigger is better! And then the baby can grow into it and use it as a blankey and carry it everywhere!
Ohh that dog who shall remain nameless! But you love him/her. So I'll forgive this time and you were able to salvage the destrutcion. You make the nicest quilts! You are my quilty inspiration!
The quilts are super cute. I love the idea of I spy houses. To your questions:
I like the idea of a bit bigger baby quilts, just thinking that it could be used longer. Binding by hand or machine. I don't know which one lasts longer, by hand looks much nicer though.
I won that giveaway too. Yey!!
Oh my, your quilts look so wonderful! My favorite is “I spy” houses; it is an amazing quilt!
Here is my opinion on your questions;
I always go for the larger quilts so the baby can use it longer.
When it comes to binding I like machine binding the best; I feel it is stronger.
Congratulations on your scrap fabric winnings!
I am always inspired by your quilts. I love the "I Spy" houses. I identify with you about your husband. Last fall I called my son and mentioned that I would be willing to make some baby quilts for his wife's friends. He was just like your husband, ho hum! Within seconds my DIL called back and said yes yes yes!! It is nice to get that acknowledgment.
I also feel "bigger is better", and I make them even bigger than 40" square. Maybe 40x48. Just thinking about when the child is more a toddler, and needs MORE to cover up!
I do EVERYTHING with a machine binding, cause I don't care for hand work. It's just DIFFERENT not better or worse than hand binding (but would you really sew both sides by HAND?). And somehow I do think it is stronger. This may be a prejudice.
your quilts are absolute works of art! i love that birdie! :^D)
I like to make baby quilts about 36x42. Sometimes it varies a bit depending on what kind of blocks I'm using.
I love that birdie block, and the I-spy houses are wonderful!
Love your baby quilts! So very sweet--I can't decide if I like birds or houses better. I can guess I can like them equally, no? :-) I'm with the bigger is better crowd. As for machine finished binding, if I could do it and make it look nice, I would. Until then, I stitch it down by hand. So I say go for it by machine!
I also like the bigger baby quilts as babies tend to become little kids very quickly and the quilt can go with them. I also machine bind on kids quilts: my machine makes stronger stitches than I can do by hand.
Love your house I spy quilt: is there a pattern?
The quilts are adorable!!
that baby quilt is adorable...i love the little bird block. It looks fantastic. I wish i knew how to make one.
Both quilts are beautiful!
Great bundle of fabrics there too...you'll have great fun with that.
so jealous of your scraps! I love the house quilt, and that one bird really makes the co-worker quilt.
I do everything by hand, including binding of course, and I never have a problem with the stitches not holding. I just pin the binding on and sew to the left like normal, going through all the thicknesses at once. I used to whipstitch around the egde and catch both sides, but that took too long. Cheers!
PS - I always make my baby quilts too big, so i'm not one to ask about size. I find that people like them smaller.
They both look so great!! My latest baby quilt was 45" square - not helping am I :) I figure it can go to toddlerhood easily at that size. . . I've been scared to do a binding by machine - plus I love sitting on the couch with an almost finished quilt :)
I like the eye spy in the houses, what a great idea!
As for the size of baby quilts, it generally depends on the design I end up going with. But I generally don't make them wider than 42 inches (so I don't have to piece a back). Sometimes they are square, and sometimes I go as long as 52-54 inches. That way they cover a crib mattress. One of the useful things I've found is that baby quilts are quite handy well in to the toddler years if they are on the bigger size. They are good for snuggling under in a bigger bed.
Oh....I just love them both!!!!
there is so much to love in this post! i love the birdie in the first quilt...so so great! i love the inspiration quilt for the first quilt, too. it's one of my favs. the house quilt is so great...and that it's an eye spy one is even better. and the backing is beyond perfect! i don't know what to say about the size issue. i think maybe 38" square would be perfect? (you anal one, you!)
I think the first quilt is really pretty, and although the parents might wait until they are past the poop every 5 min. to use it stage, they will still love it. And I do love the house quilt.
I think the hand binding thing is just "What you should do", but I don't think non-quiltes actually would notice the difference. I think 36x36 is a nice size for a tiny baby or for using in a stroller or car seat, while 40x40 or 40x50 is nice for tummy time and for sleeping with when they're a toddler. My 4 1/2 yr old still likes to bring his baby quilt with him to sleep with when we are away from home, and it still fits him.
To be honest I like both babyquilts a lot and I don't thiik white is too unsuitable... We have washing machines you know ;-). I am not sure about the sizes, it depends too on what your perpuse is for the quilt. But if you want them to use it for the cot and longer then a few month, I would settle for 40 inch square or even bigger (like 40 x 48)
love the bird and the colors in that first quilt -darling. what great houses! love this one too.
The house quilt is great. We're doing a wonky house quilt in one of my virtual quilting bees I'm participating in. And I love the chicken in the top quilt. Great job!
I also love the bird block mixed in with the others in the first quilt :- ) The house quilt is so cute nothing more needs to be said!
It's been interesting to read through the comments. I've made my share of baby quilts too and have often wondered about the size and binding issues. So far the hand-sewn bindings on my granddaughters quilts seem to be holding up just fine. Still can't answer the size question though...
I just LOVE the birds you make. This one is particularly sweet. The houses are fun, too!
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