For Down Under

My good friend Wendy had a baby earlier this month so this quilt is on its way to Oz.

*Slight apologies - this first picture shows the quilt upside down - ooooppps!

I bought the jelly roll for this quilt when I was pregnant with my own Baby Boy. You may remember months and months ago on a rainy afternoon, I vowed to cut and sew a quilt in that finite amount of time between lunch and the school run! I did manage to piece the quilt top, but hormones and exhaustion prevailed and the quilt was never finished. One thing is apparent about me if you read this blog - I always bite off more than I can chew!

The quilt top - inspired in part by this one- was placed in a basket for another day. When I found out Wendy was pregnant I knew there was a reason to complete the quilt and pass it on to a very special little boy.

The quilt is simply backed with a check print, stippled and bound with scrappy binding making use of those leftover jelly roll strips.

The fabric is from the Lily and Will range by Moda - it's perfect for baby blankets as it comes in several pastel colourways.

I've not made any real New Year resolutions, but I'm trying to complete one project before I start another!

Another completed quilt

Yes, this is another completed quilt! It was finished last year and was a combined birthday/christmas present for my lovely mother-in-law, Dolores. It had been a big secret, especially as I bought the fabric whilst staying with the in-laws in August, and it has had to be hidden at various times when they've come visiting!

The fabric is 'Faith' - one of the 'Collections for a Cause' range - by Moda. I loved the warm brown and red colours which were going to compliment the decor in at least one room at the in-laws. She was thrilled with it.

The quilt top is simply made - I used a jelly roll and cut each strip into 8 and a half inch units. These were then sewn into groups of for. Each block was placed at right angles to each other and sewn together. The borders are made using complimentary yardage from the 'faith' range as is the binding. I made the quilt top very quickly back in August - so long ago that I can't actually remember the dimensions of the added sashing! The quilting was a nightmare. Although I'm used to stippling by now, I was hampered by tension and puckering issues :-(. I'm glad it's finished but I regret not using a darker backing fabric (sorry no pics, but it was cream!) and quilting thread. Nevermind - you live and learn!!