Christening Quilt --- Need advise --input

[Eileen K.]

I am going to make a quilt for my baby grandson's christening. I plan to make the quiilt from the silk fabric left over from my daughter's wedding dress. I have 2 yards left over but originally planned to use it to make a first communion dress for a future grand daughter... but I do not think there is enough left over. The fabric is heavy and kind of stiff.



I envision one of these two plans:

An applique cross on a plain background on a large piece of fabric. .... WHOLE CLOTH STYLE... white on white applique... silk ribbon flowersand emboidery to decorate the cross.


OR

I also thought of buying new background fabric and using the left over smaller pieces I saved to make pieced blocks or applique.

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My question is what type of background fabric should I buy.... Satin (polyester)
or heirloom cotton batiste?? ?
or even more silk..... ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS OR IDEAS???

I want something that will hold up for generations.... Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I have to drive down about 70 miles to go to buy the fabric this weekend .... IF I GO WITH THE NEW FABRIC. I would probably mix the background fabric into the blocks.

[Eileen K.]

If it were me I would use the satin as the background fabric and buy another white fabric - maybe something also with a bit of shimmer - to do the applique. The reason I say this is satin ravels so easily that I imagine using it to make appliqued peices might be difficult. I love the idea though, and I am sure it will be an absolutely beautiful quilt.

[Eileen K.]

I was not very clear in the discription of the wedding dress material. It was 100% silk taffata... very heavy and rather stiff. It would probably applique beatifully as it does not seem to ravel at all.

[Eileen K.]

I know practically NOTHING about heirloom fabrics or satins et.al. but I did have 2 favorite receiving blankets for my twins which we used at their christening (as well as all summer) they were a very lightweight cotton... almost a batiste maybe?... very plain (light blue) w/ a tiny lace edging and their names embroidered on the corner. Sorry I'm not remembering your grandson's age, but if this is an infant baptism, something very plain might be perfect-- it lets HIM be the star of the show
But in order to use the satin, maybe just a border, as a heavier fabric would give a lightweight fabric some "body". If it's a heavy taffeta, then piecing it in any way might make it TOO heavy?
Just a thought... Florence

[Eileen K.]

I think batist will be too thin. It's great for a blouse or dress that's only occasionally worn, but for a blanket, I'd go with the satin. Batist is even thinner than a thin muslin. I can't immagine making a blanket out of it and expecting it to hold applique, not to mention wrapping it around a baby!
I like the ribbon embroidery idea on something shiney! Nancy inNY

[Eileen K.]

The desision is made... my daughter and I came up with a simple but I think elegant design...I have been researching Christian / Catolic symbolism on line and with my new brother in law who is a deacon.

I am going to take the remaining 2 yard silk taffata from her wedding dress and use that for the top of the quilt. I will make a cross in the same white silk fabric. I have drafted templets using pictures I reasearched on line of Catholic Crosses. I am going to emboider three shafts of wheat on it to symbolise new growth, the Trinity and family tradition of farming.

I am going to machine quilt it using an asymettical cross hatch pattern that is symolic of me..... I will probabably use emblelishments of silk threads and ribbons I have from past projects and other hobbies.

This will be an interesting journey... I will let you all know how it goes and will post pictures at the end of the project.



Anna

[Gloria H.]

Sounds like it will be beautiful, Anna. Can't wait to see the results posted. Gloria