Baby Alternating Blocks

Squeezing in Baby Alternating Blocks on the last day of the month!

This is the other baby quilt made from the same blocks as Baby Tango, but a different pattern from 75 Fun Fat Quarter Quilts. (affiliate link)

Just so many choices!

Baby Alternating Blocks (what a title!) was also quilted with Glide Baby Blue thread, but with the pantograph called Bayside. 

This is also a new pattern for me, and I like this one too. Looks almost like Baptist Fan, but is much more fluid. Another to use again!

More soft flannel on the back.

And this one also got the same random color binding, working perfectly with the piecing.

Guess that's all that I accomplished from the May Book of the Month selection, 75 Fun Fat Quarter Quilts (affiliate link). I found the book's instructions easy to follow, and loved all the choices of quilts with each block presented. Wish I had more time to make a few more. 

Happy Quilting!

Baby Tango

Another baby quilt to show off - Baby Tango,

a very small version of the Tango pattern 

from 75 Fun Fat Quarter Quilts. (affiliate link)

The base block gives rise to 7 quilt patterns in this book, which means it's quite the versatile block. I happened to make too many blocks, cutting strips so as to have variety. I could have easily done a four by four layout, but didn't want a baby quilt over 48". Thus, a three by three layout with 3 1/2" borders, so it finishes around 42". That's a good baby quilt size - just right for tummy time!

For this pattern, a variety of prints works well. I needed some boy quilts, and found 30's prints in primary colors in my stash. Add in Kona Snow, and there's a quilt!

For the quilting, I used Glide Baby Blue thread along with the pantograph call Bluster. It's the first time I've used Bluster and I really like it! Gives the quilt a nice soft look with all the puffy crescents.

And of course, my trademark flannel on the back.

I didn't want white binding on this, and tried really hard to use up the rest of the fabric. Opting for random color placement, I think it turned out just perfect! Here's the quilt again so you don't have to scroll to the top just to view the binding.

I got really lucky that none of the seams ended up in the corners, supposedly a no-no. Actually, I think the reason is that there's just too much fabric in the corner to make a nice fold. Otherwise, I don't know why it's frowned upon.

And don't think the excess blocks are going to waste. I've put together one of the other patterns, Alternating Blocks, also in a baby size. That gets on the frame soon, hopefully to be finished next week.

Until then, have a great weekend!

Tiny Bits in Red

Done is the last of the three baby quilts, this one called Tiny Bits in Red.

Another quilt pattern from Perfect Quilts from Precut Fabrics, (affiliate link)

'Tiny Bits' was another fast, easy quilt to put together with 5 inch squares.

Though I left off the top and bottom borders, it still turned out great! That's what happens when one runs out of squares.

This one was also quilted with the Easy Peasy panto,

with red Glide thread. I liked the polka dot flannel from Aunt Bea in Mauve so much that I used it here also.

The recipients of these quilts are some lucky babies!

Now, as for the other fabric pull I had started,

unfortunately, got put away. I wasn't happy with what I'd pulled, so decided to clean up the room and move on. Someday it will happen. I'm sure this happens to everyone, right?

Aunt Bea in Mauve

Here's the sister to Aunt Bea in Blue, Aunt Bea in Mauve.

Another from the Aunt Bea pattern found in Perfect Quilts from Precut Fabrics, (affiliate link) this one has a tiny floral background and mauve squares.

Though nice enough, I still like Aunt Bea in Blue better. There's something about the freshness of the lighter background. But hey, at least I used up the fabric from my stash, and I'm sure any baby would love this!

This one has the panto Easy Peasy on it, in mauve Glide thread. Shows up nicely on the polka dot backing.

Easy Peasy is another favorite panto - it nests nicely between rows, has both a feather and a floral look without going overboard, and looks nice on just about anything.

Two baby quilts down, one to go!
Happy Quilting!

Aunt Bea in Blue

Finished up one of the baby quilts made two weeks ago.

Based on the pattern 'Aunt Bea',

from my April Book of the Month selection, Perfect Quilts from Precut Fabrics, (affiliate link)

 

I'm calling this one 'Aunt Bea in Blue', since it has a sister done in mauve.

I really like this pattern (I made two!), as this was a fun, easy quilt to put together, perfect for 5 inch squares, or even 10 inch squares or 2 1/2" scraps. The blocks go together quickly, and in no time, there's a top done!

For this one, I choose a white background with blue clouds and silver stars. The 5 inch squares were a brighter blue, with some turquoise mixed in.

To top it off, I found a star panto, that with a bit of modification, perfectly mimicked the background. It's easier to see on the back.

I really like how this one turned out - just a fresh, cheery little quilt! Now it's on to quilt his sister, Aunt Bea in Mauve.

Have a great day quilting!

Confluence

Time to share a secret - I'm published! My quilt, Confluence, 

made in October of 2014, can now be revealed!

Made for RaNae Merrill's new book, Sideways Spiral Quilts, (affiliate link)

I'm proud to have another quilt published with this author. My first one, Flutter by the Garden, 

is a mandala quilt made for RaNae's Magnificent Spiral Mandala Quilts, (affiliate link)

and can be found on page 64 of that book. Made in 2009, it was inspired by the incredibly large Painted Lady butterfly migration that spring. Unfortunately, I haven't seen that many butterflies since. But on this quilt, there are six yellow/orange butterflies, along with several 3-D ones going across the quilt.

As for her new book, I haven't seen a full copy yet, but I'm sure it's full of detailed instructions for making sideways spirals. RaNae is wonderful at explaining different quilting techniques, and really gives a quilter a solid foundation for making their own creations.

And that's what we did for this book. We were given guidelines, a few templates, and ideas for using them, then set free to create our own Sideways Spiral quilts. Mine was inspired by a stained glass window I had seen. Here's a few closeups. Straight line quilting in a lilac background,

and tiny McTavishing in the center's background.

I'm proud to have been included in yet another fabulous book - thank you RaNae! Be sure to check out a copy, as plenty of inspiration abounds to make your own Sideways Spiral quilt!

Happy Quilting!

Book of the Month May 2016

Time for another Book of the Month selection! 

This month, I'm featuring 75 Fun Fat-Quarter Quilts, (affiliate link) containing 13 quilts with multiple variations. Totally fun due to all the options! It's going to be hard to choose, but I'm looking forward to getting started. Come join me!