Martin's Quilt

It's about time I get caught up here - like that's ever going to happen.  I never could write regularly.  Do you remember getting a diary for Christmas - the one with the tiny gold key?  I remember thinking, "I'll write every day!"  It never happened back then, I usually managed to get a week's worth of entries written before losing interest.  And I'm sure I'll continue to be lagging behind here too.

Anyways, I thought I'd post pictures of the baby quilt I made for my great-nephew, Martin. 

He's a real cutie! (I made the bib too).

I promised it to his parents at his baby shower in January 2011.  I managed to get it done for his first birthday this year in March!

I saw the pattern at my local quilt store, Mt. Pleasant Quilting, and thought I could figure it out myself.  It is, after all, just squares and rectangles.  I wish I had written down who designed so that I could give them credit!  I searched my stash for brightly colored juvenile prints (as opposed to pastels which the parents didn't want), and found some really fun ones.  Of course, I had to make a shopping trip because I didn't have enough variety (I can come up with any excuse).  The border fabric is all ants and the backing is cars and trucks - perfect for a little boy!

my husband said we need an exterminator

On some of the squares I used the "stack the deck" method of piecing.  It was really easy.  Stack 5 squares; cut them randomly; shift 1 piece, 2 pieces, 3 pieces, 4 pieces, from the top to the bottom of each stack; sew them back together; and trim.

I put my new found free motion quilting skills to good use and quilted loop-de-loops in all of the sashing.  I left the squares plain.

Martin seemed to really enjoy his quilt. He, and it disappeared later that evening.  His mom said he was cuddled up under the quilt, fast asleep, upstairs!

Martin and his Uncle Fred

I love it when my quilts are so appreciated.

Until next time,

Kathy