Baby Quilt background fabrics

[Jules M.]

I make baby quilts for my great-nieces & nephews. I gather fabrics from stash or purchase and all but once have done pieced blocks. What do you like to use for a background fabric in this situation?

Cream or white seems logical but I hesitate to use those light colors on a quilt that will be a floor mat or snugglie and used by a toddler.

Or do you not think about that and use it anyway?

Just curious.... and I'm only behind on one great-niece born May 10, 2015. It is a gift, they can't complain, right? I have 10 great-n & ns so far with one more in the oven. :cheer: No spouses for my kids and no grandkids... in anything near the far future.

[Jules M.]

I've made a few baby quilts so far (well, I'm starting only my 3rd....).

The first was a lavender print with dark purple diamonds as the feature; no cream or white (but wasn't pieced blocks exactly, either...).

The next was a baby lone star, with the star in bright pinks, the surrounding circle in dark blue & white, and the background triangles in a white fabric printed with multi-colored ribbons (which picked up the blue and pinks).

The current one is butterflies in squares (panel/printed fabric) that will be framed in dark purple batik and with light purple/lavender batik as the border/main background color. The center square will be the same ribbon fabric (I think?) with an applique initial out of the darker purple.

So.....all that to say, I tend to use whatever background color makes sense for the quilt/other fabrics. I might would use a pale pink or a pale blue instead of a cream/white, if I knew the gender already, and if that worked with the other fabrics. But, I just send along color catchers and washing instructions, and don't fret too much over "will this color get dingy" as I assume they'll wash it.

FWIW, I have a couch quilt with cream, and it's the first one I made/finished and only in a very few places is it showing the dinginess of being in use for all this time (it is washed regularly). Another has white but is only 2 yrs old, and again, no sign of staying dirty. Not that we have babies crawling around spitting up on them, but kids, dogs, etc.....in other words, the good quilting cottons you use will wash well and not get that same dingy as a white t-shirt or socks or whatever, if that makes sense.

[Marion D.]

i have made:
blue and purple stars on white
red squares on cream
yellow or orange stars on dark green and dark blue
Penguins on white....

Then I stopped being normal.

[Jules M.]

Ok... good! Thanks.... I think I just needed a smack against the side of my head to not fret over it! :cheer: :silly:

This next one needs white, I don't like the white on white fabrics w/ the paint layer, so will just browse online for something I like. My LQS stores are far so online is easiest for me. No arrows, please! :side:

[Jules M.]

Here are the fabrics --- I ordered them on 3/8 and they arrived across the US on 3/11!! I was thrilled!





I will do a bias binding from the stripe. Plus I ordered a ton extra as our guild program 2 weeks ago had on using stripes in blocks and it was super fun to see! Because I need more ideas....

[wendy w.]

Yum!

I use white in baby quilts, never thought about staining. They are to be used so washed often and I wouldn't want the mother thinking it more important to keep them nice. I was happy to see one on Facebook wrapping up sleepy bods on a flight

[wendy w.]

Joyce - great fabric choices!

I'm in Wendy's camp baby quilts are to be used and abused!

Barb :-)

[Pamela N.]

Joyce I love your fabrics ! I've made lots of baby quilts for my Grandchildren and friends, on reflection most of the baby quilts I made (and make) contain white. I'm in Wendy's camp too.
Warm wishes Pam (in Scotland)

[Geneva C.]

Joyce, I believe Luann started a forum topic for us to show our baby quilts. You could check on those.

And I agree with everyone. Baby quilts are to be loved to death. I once told a new mom who I had given a baby quilt to "it's a great compliment to me when you come back in a few years with a tattered and loved quilt I made asking for a new one. However, if I find the quilt on the garage floor as a rag or being used as a paint drop cloth...no more quilts for you!"

I've made baby quilts with all sorts of backgrounds. Make what looks good. The rest will all come together.

Have fun!

Geneva

[ANNE E.]

I don't think it matters what colours you use as long as they aren't yukky.
The baby won't mind ....it just wants something warm and snuggly to lay on or to be wrapped in.
Mind you I have never made one.
Anne

[Linda J.]

Hi Joyce,
I have made many, many baby quilts. I use a coordinating fabric from the front sometimes. But most of the time, I use a minky type fabric. Minky is so soft and easy to work with. Babies of all ages love it. Try it on one of your quilts. I comes in 60 inch wide , so it fits with most small quilts. Just be aware, that it has a one way stretch in it.
Linda