Four Bears

I enjoy using scraps, making smallish quilts and particularly making quilts for new babies. So my latest finish ticks all my boxes. I have made one of these before and since its made from 2 and half inch strips, it goes together quite quickly. The fun comes in the quilting.

I managed to get a photo just as the sunlight was beginning to fade so there is a little shadowing but it also shows up the quilting quite well - just a fun loopy feather type shape that adds texture but leaves the quilt feeling nice and cuddly soft.

The gender of the baby was not known when I made the quilt, I thought it was quite nice that the first time parents wanted a surprise, so didn't find out what they were having (since knowing seems to be the norm). I found out last night that they've had a little girl, so these reddish/pink bears will be just fine - not that it would have mattered for a boy either since the bears are mostly brownish and really do we care about colours for babies?

The quilt finishes around 46" square and I had a lovely buttermilk yellow for the backing which was the right size - another win. So here it is:

Kind of looks more beige here, but trust me it's a lovely creamy yellow. I had enough of the brown from the top right bear for the binding, so this was all from my stash. 

All I need to do now is add the label and it will be on its way to the family by the end of the week. 

Now, back to all these 2 and half inch squares:

Keeps me busy and out of trouble!

Until next time,

Lynn

Nearly there

I am heartened to see that others have many 'to do' or in progress quilts. It makes me feel a whole lot better about mine, since I'm pretty sure the number is still a single figure (though I haven't actually listed them for a while so I can stay in ignorance about them).
This is one I've been working on for a few months in between others. I could hardly believe when I looked at the photo, how my Jack Russel cross dog, Abby, had snuck herself in posing and all! What is it with quilts and animals? In the photo her eye looks a little odd, so I checked it out, but it must have just been the light or something as she's fine.

Also visible in the top left corner of the quilt is the typical empty spool of thread - yes, ran out with just 3 lines of the sashing to go. 

Here's the back which is a very calming cream, with all that riot of colour going on at the front I thought perhaps a quiet calm spot on the back might be the best idea. 

You can see I had begun those lines either side of the sashing and only got round once then one side the second line. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to go and visit my local quilt shop and try to avoid the temptations of fabric. 

It's fun to use up scraps and squares can go together quite quickly. One of the fabrics in here I realised was left over from backing a quilt I made in 2001. Never throw any fabric away is my motto - it always comes in useful some time. 

Here's a close up of one of the blocks. 

Well it's nearly there - just finish that sashing, put on some binding and its done. I think this may end up with my friend who passes quilts on to an organization placing foster children. Its nice and bright, so should suit the purpose well. 

Now, on to that reducing list, the never ending conundrum, which one to tackle next?

Quilt Stats:

Size: 63" x 53"

Wadding: Legacy 60/40 Cotton/Polyester blend

Thread: Bobbin Superior; Top a variegated embroidery cotton.

Until next time,

Lynn

Stippled Stars

I've been working for a little while now on these scrappy centred star blocks. They are fun to create, make a bit of a dent in the scrap stash, but I think I'll have to make several more before my box of scraps (plus the other small containers, zip lock bags etc) decrease substantially.

They are 10inch finished blocks so adding the sashings and borders it's a 55inch square - a lap quilt size.
I like the fact that some of my novelty fabrics have a chance to appear there, so a sheep and some spiders!

When it came to quilting I thought I'd give the star pattern a try - a simple corner to corner in the centre of the block first of all, then heading to a dot I marked with fading pen, just one inch from the centre which creates that slightly diagonal line around the centre star. It's a bit clearer on the blue star so you get the idea. 

The backing is a great pattern that picks up the quilting really well, so the recipient can always just turn the quilt over when they get tired of the stars. 

This makes one less on the original list of a dozen I created in May this year, so I'm down to 8 to go now. Two are flimsies, one I've begun quilting and 4 are 'in progress' and the eighth one is still 2 charm packs and additional fabric with the idea brewing in my mind. I know I'll get to it eventually and that's incentive to keep going on these UFOs. 

I'm linking up with Quilt Story; Freshly Pieced and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.