Do you ever find that coming up with a pattern is the hardest part of quilting?
It sure was with this one! I couldn’t decide what pattern to do and kept wavering. Really, the assignment was simple – a baby girl quilt. I began collecting pink fabrics. Now I know that some of you won’t be surprised but I found that it actually complicated the process. I had too many fabrics and not all worked together. As usual with this process, some favorites didn’t get in here, but that’s okay, they will get used another time. Let’s take a look at how the particulars about how quilt was made and quilted.
Making the quilt
Over the past few month, especially on the shop hop, I collected pink fat quarters and a few other interesting fabrics – lobsters, hedgehogs, etc. Since I also don’t know the family’s preferences, I wasn’t sure what to include, In the end, I selected a sweet baby pattern.
This pattern is called “Back Home” from GE Designs and is found in her book, Master Your Stripology Rulers (from Amazon* or Fat Quarter Shop*). There was a prepublication order and it was ready tor pick up when I was in MN, with some of my long distance sewing sisters. It really is for a table topper, but a little border made it perfect for this baby quilt. It also made me use the new ruler and try a new way of making flying geese – a bonus for me.
Her technique for flying geese has you make 4 at a time. I had no trouble losing points with this method, a real bonus. Gudrun uses the Stripology Mini Squared Ruler CGRGE3 (from Amazon* or Fat Quarter Shop*) and I liked it very much. There are fake ones, so you want to be sure you get the Creative Grids Ruler!
Now, if you don’t have it, you may want to add these tools to your wish list. I definitely can see using this technique again. The book has a chart for 1″ x 2″ finished Flying Geese to 3″ x 6″ Flying Geese (increasing the width by 1/2″ for each unit). I was able to batch sew and batch cut; the top/bottom of a group of geese, and then all the sides. This seemed to be efficient to me, something that making flying geese never feels like it is. It took more time thinking about making it than actually making this little topper. The quilt was composed of 4 large sets of FG and 3 small flying geese and some fillers to make the 4 squares.
I also like this alternate layout…just a little different. You might see this some time, as I feel that this is a nice way to use leftovers; of course I would need a backing that works.
Quilting the Quilt
The little darling’s name is Iris, so as I looked for quilting designs I was drawn to this design in ProStitcher called “Flower Square Continuous”. Not a great name, and to tell you the truth, I almost skipped over it because of the name. I took a chance and dit a few repeats and really loved the way it was going to look on the quilt.
This pattern gives a lot of dimension and also keeping the rows closer creates another pattern. The other nice thing about the quilt and the quilting pattern is there is no up or down to either; the quilt can wear evenly.
This is one of my favorite things, to see the quilted quilt hanging off the frame!
I loved this colorful backing. It has plenty of movement in it and it will be fun for the baby to look at this side too. It is from Wilmington Print, Essentials Bubble Up, Lavender. I love the way it looks and gives lots of movement to the back, too.
Pink Peaks
40″ x 40″
Pattern: Back Home, GE Designs
Pantograph: Flower Square Continuous, Prostitcher
Threads: Piecing: Aurifil Dove Grey
Quilting: Fantistico Pixie Dust #5170 and So Fine Lilac #440
Batting: Hobbs Heirloom 80/20
Coming Up on My Blog
Thanksgiving preparation will mostly keep me away from sewing this coming week, but before we leave I will have a little time and may get a few more items together for a Holiday Fair where I will be vending. Fingers crossed!
Blueberry Napkins
Diatom
Ultimate Travel Bag
SeaGlass Joy QAL
Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd
Linky Parties
From Bolt to Beauty
Favorite Monthly Finish
Fabric Stash
A little out with this sweet baby quilt and more to come this month (I hope)!
Fabric in this month: 0 yards
Fabric out this month 4 yards
Fabric in this year: 89.25 yards
Fabric out this year: 105.25 yards
NET Fabric: -20 yards
Kathleen a great little girl quilt. I’ll have to check out that ruler, since FG are not my favorite to make.
LOVE the flying geese design, I even like the alternate design. Your pinks work so well together, the backing is perfect, and your quilting looks amazing.
that is a nice quilting pattern for sure!
What a darling quilt! I love the quilting design. Nice finish!
I love that you made Back Home into a baby quilt, Kathleen!!! Super cute in pink and with the floral quilting for Iris!!! That backing is yummy, too!
What a sweet baby quilt! Simple design (though not in execution…flying geese can be a challenge) looks terrific! I think you did great in your fabric editing. :)
I like it all, the pinks and that backing, the quilting pattern. What a nice giftie!
LeeAnna
Snap! for another baby girl quilt, and in pinks with a flower quilting design too! I hear lots of good things the stripology ruler, but it is not in my toolbox… Yet. I love how this one turned out and oh that backing!
Beautiful baby quilt! I love the bright pinks and the overall quilting pattern looks perfect on it. Thanks for sharing your great idea!
I love how perfectly you were able to space the quilting pattern across the quilt top. It looks great and what a fun backing!
I’ve never sewed a GE Designs pattern, but I hear only good things from quilters who do. I love how all the geese nest together nicely in this design — it must be satisfying to step back and admire all those points!
What a beautiful baby quilt! I adore Flying Geese, so this pattern needs to come to me!
That turned out great. THose rulers look very interesting – thanks for sharing about them