Saturday, February 22, 2020

Baby quilts


Happy Saturday! Why yes, this is the fifth day in a row that I've blogged. Thanks for noticing! No, I haven't been finishing quilts every day this week. I just had Deadly Blog Backup Syndrome. Turns out that sewing is more fun than writing about sewing. Who knew?

But you didn't tune in to read about blogging, now did you? Too meta. So let's talk quilts instead! Today's finishes are both for babies, so small and cute is the name of the game. The one at the top of this post is a gift for my niece and her third baby. He's due any day now.


When I asked for the nursery theme, she sent this Spoonflower fabric sample. I went looking for a paper pieced curled up fox, and found this one on Etsy. I really don't like paper piecing, and this darned fox reminded me why!


Fortunately, he turned out ok for such a sneaky guy.


For the trees, I've always wanted to try Bright Birch Trees by Crazy Mom Quilts. Someone did a tutorial on the pattern a while ago, and I had that saved on my computer. Instead of doing bright trees, I stuck with black, white and gray scraps for a more natural look. Well, if you consider little anchors embedded in the bark "natural."


A soothing navy backing with little moons will hopefully help baby to snooze. My niece and her family live in Colorado, so I'm calling this one "Sleepy Fox in the Aspens." (Birches, aspens, they're all skinny stripey trunks, right?) It has arrived safely and is brightening up the nursery now.


I made this second baby quilt during Sandra's Beothuk Star quilt along last summer. In a fit of over achievement, I cut fabric for two of the design. The second set of HSTs sat quietly in a baggie until January of this year. Using the colors from butterflies in the center star, I chose purple, green and orange accent fabrics. 


When all the blocks are premade, a quilt comes together quickly! Swirly quilting makes it soft and snuggly. And at 42" square, a single piece of this fun orange kangaroo design makes a fast backing and easy binding. Coincidentally, the first Beothuk quilt was given to my other niece's baby! This one, however, has been donated to Little Lambs Foundation.

19 comments:

  1. What a precious, sweet quilt, and you did such a nice job paper-piecing. And Sandra's star looks great in those colors!

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  2. I've really enjoyed seeing all the great projects you have been posting recently. The fox quilt is so gorgeous, I just love what you've done with that sneaky fox.

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  3. Gorgeous quilts and so glad you took the time to blog about them so we could see them. Beautiful

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  4. Um yes, I did notice that you started blogging again to beat the band...! (Wink). I love the foxy quilt. One of my all-time favorite makes was my version of the Bright Birch Trees pattern several years ago. Such a good, basic and versatile pattern. Way to go, Louise!!

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  5. I was also pleasantly surprised to see another post so quick! Glad to see it though. You did a great job on that fox quilt. Darling and unique. It will be loved. Great creativity to put those branch blocks in there. I hate paperpiecing too! Fandom in Stitches has some great blocks and QALs but I know better than to even start one. I just enjoy seeing what the others do! LOL

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  6. Adorable baby quilts.Love, love the fox and birch tree quilt.

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  7. I am with you...love the cute fox but hate pp! The trees turned out great and love your colorway.

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  8. Sweet! Both of them!!! Keep on quilting, Louise! Blogging, whenever!!!

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  9. I did notice that you have been busy blogging - and thoroughly enjoying the posts! That little fox is so darned cute. Whenever I paper piece, I always have to get back in the swing of it, so the first few stitches often result in some quality time with my ripper. Glad you stuck with it and that little lovely quilt is now gracing the baby's room. I haven't gotten my Beothuk quilted yet - ack! Your second is lovely, and I'm sure will be the delight of whoever receives it.

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  10. I love that little curled up fox. I have that saved for a future quilt. What a cute addition to a nursery!

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  11. Louise, your creativity know no bounds. I LOVE your foxy quilt with the birches. That is REALLY cute! And how fitting that it is orange month! Thank you for sharing all the places you got your patterns from too. I wouldn't be surprised if I end up needing to make one of these. Too cute!

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  12. Baby Fox and his quilty friend both turned out great!! Thanks for looking to your other Beothuk Star. Amazing how different they are from each other!

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  13. both lovely quilts and well done with the fox. foundation piecing is not my favourite either.....
    Good idea having the stars all cut and ready... then you don't forget what the fabric was for!!
    Hugz

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  14. Bright baby quilts but Mr Foxy is a real joy!!

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  15. Sweet, sweet, sweet! Love your disappearing nine patch creation. I made one similar a few years back for my nieces wedding quilt (oh, gosh, that was eight years ago! Time sure flies!). I substituted 6-1/2 “ pieced blocks for two opposing corners of each nine patch and ended up with a lovely quilt to gift. And that little fox quilt! Just yummy! Job well done!

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  16. These are great. I love your little fox :)

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  17. Love the sleepy fox baby quilt. It's very, very cute.

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  18. That fox! Love how he's nestled in among the birch trees. I know what you mean about sewing being more fun than writing about it :) I am glad you make a little time for sharing your projects though.

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Please feel free to leave a comment and I'll reply as soon as I can.