The Hasty Quilter » baby

Little baby blue

Alyson — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:12:03 +0000

Check it out! Number and 1 and number 2 of my nanoSEWmo projects!

The pattern for this baby quilt and pillow is a Wonky Rail Fence, using the Stack-and-Whack method. The backing material is a solid light blue that I had on hand. I also used a white/blue ombre rayon thread for quilting. It adds some extra sparkle to the quilt, I think. The pillow has a simple ruffle around the edge and an envelope style back.

To be honest, I’ve had this quilt top on hand for a while waiting for the right time, the right baby and the right skill set. My free motion skills are definitely improving. It’s tough to keep your loop-de-loops even, let me tell you. But it is so worth the effort. The look on the Mommy-to-be’s face made it so.

Congratulations Diana, Stephen & your little Rock Star Monkey! I can’t wait to meet him.

Monster Work in Progress

Alyson — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:18:53 +0000

Another To-Do list project: Monster Baby Quilt! No, not an extra large baby quilt, a baby quilt with monsters! I bought these monster “patches” from Jennifer of the Cotton Monster at Crafty Bastards last year. I originally intended to make a new quilt for Caleb, but I can barely get that boy to sleep under a sheet these days, let alone a quilt. I have about a bazillion friends who are pregnant or who have had babies recently, so Monster Baby Quilts just made sense…especially since Crafty Bastards is coming up again soon (October 1st) and I can’t bring myself to shop if I haven’t used what I bought last year! (OK, that’s a lie, I absolutely COULD bring myself to shop, but it wouldn’t be very “responsible” or “adult” of me. *natch*)

The blocks have been randomly pieced around each monster patch – there will be enough for 2 baby quilts when I’m done. This kind of piecing goes quickly until the end when you start measuring & trimming. For me, it also produces a lot of waste, there are lots of little edges that need to be trimmed and they pile up. Still, I love the look.

Yesterday there was S.E.X.

Alyson — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:24:41 +0000

Minds out of the gutter, please. We’re talking “Stash Enhancement eXpedition”, thankyouverymuch.

A close friend of mine found an local interior decorator who was moving offices/going out of business/changing things up (we’re not quite clear exactly what the situation is) and was invited to take a look at the stuff that the interior decorator was getting rid of. She was astonished to find that ”stuff” included ROOMS full of fabric: samples, yardage, upholstery, silk, cottons…

My friend kindly invited me to join her yesterday for some free S.E.X. (if she knew that that is what it is called, I think she would unfriend me immediately) and I happily agreed, though I have to admit I was a touch skeptical. We arrived, and the decorator informed us that we were last on her priority list, first being her staff, second being charity and third, us. This was FINE WITH ME.

The fabric selection was astounding. Being a quilter, I could happily take even the small sample-sized fabric squares. By the time I left, I had 3 trash bags FULL of fabric & even a number of beautiful trims, and they STILL hadn’t finished clearing out the back room. Of course, it turns out that the fabrics I really wanted were in the back of the back room. My wonderfully, amazingly, awesomely fantastic friend volunteered to go back today and pack up even more fabric for me, along with some pillow forms and other wonderful things.

Last night I cut open my garbage bags and sat in my living room sorting fabric. Quilters cottons, tiny pieces, medium pieces, yardage, shears, other, and trims. I have ideas for about 50% of it.

Keep your eyes out for some fabulous carpet bags and vintage style baby quilts to appear in my etsy shop soon!