Finished the Argyle Baby Quilt!!

[E.M. T.]

The idea for this quilt came from a pair of socks and the Baby Quilt contest this past Feb/March when Alex's grandbaby was due. I had to wait for the intended recipient to find out if she was having a boy or a girl, and then redesigned the quilt to suit her color choices instead of mine, and then slowly pieced the first 80% by hand and finished the rest of the piecing & the quilting by machine once back from my recent US trip, but it is DONE!!!


This is my 2nd quilt top to finish, and my FIRST start-to-finish that was done all by myself, no outside help at all. I am so proud!!! Imperfections and all, LOL!

I only ran out of bobbin thread once, thanks to the reminder here to keep an eye on it. And I only ran out of top thread once (while in process, I mean; I went through several small spools of thread!), but luckily that was just as I finished, whew!!!

I did diagonal quilting, following the outer edge of the large purple diamonds in each direction and then kept that spacing over the whole quilt. Then I went back with peach, following the criss-cross trim and kept *that* spacing over the whole quilt. This gave it all-over diagonal quilting that is roughly 2.5" apart.

I also did free-motion quilting inside the large diamonds; I made some scrolly hearts, facing each other, inside each section of diamond so that it echos the shape. These turned out so-so, but mostly okay. Good enough to still send the gift.



Then I used satin ribbon/binding to finish it, and added a custom label on the back -- I have a friend who does embroidery so I had her create a label for me.

I'm excited it's done and ready to move on to the next project now! I have a comic strip quilt to finish for my son, and my Brazil quilt for Betty Jo's Architectural Challenge, plus a Christmas tree skirt.....

One Question ---- best way to package a quilt for shipping????? Since I didn't finish before the US trip, we want to mail it to her. Roll it? Fold it? What's the best way to do that?

And -- many continued thanks for the encouragement over the past months while I was working on this!

[Lynn K.]

It looks great and I'm always so impressed with how much I learn with even a simple project!

Hoping you will have time to quilt with your busy life as a homeschooler of 3 boys!

Lynn

[Lotti D.]

Turned out great - well done - you have reason to be proud of yourself!
As for packaging... If it were for show, rolling would probably be best, but since this quilt will be used and loved, it will be washed again and again, so you won't have to worry about it being folded for shipping... I would place it inside a large plastic bag inside the cardboard box (make sure you have another layer of cardboard on top and bottom where the folds join, to be safe in case someone decides to open the box using a knife - it's not just the recipients that open the boxes, but anywhere en route it might get opened for postal or customs inspection!). The plastic bag will safeguard against any accidents en route with rain, liquid spills from other packages, etc...
That baby will love this quilt to bits!

[wendy w.]

Hasn't it turned out well. Smashing I love the fabric you've used.

[Renata L.]

Really love the way your baby quilt turned out! What's your next project?

[Renata L.]

Thanks, everyone!

Lotti, thank you! Great ideas for shipping. yes, it will be used and washed and used and washed....will fold, protect in plastic and with extra cardboard. Brilliant! So glad I asked here!

Renata, up next is to finish a quilt I'm working on for my oldest son -- it's a black/white/red quilt to showcase a comic strip that he draws. There are 3 sections -- a black section, a white section, and a combo section in the middle. The black section and white section are done (oversized rail fence blocks that I did by hand) and I'm cutting out the pieces for the middle which is a twisted square/framed block (in EQ 7 it is called Twist 22). Then I have a border to do for it as well.....

Between working on it, I will also do a Christmas Tree Skirt; the fabric & pattern were given to me 2 Christmases ago but we haven't stayed home for Christmas since, so I haven't made it yet. We will be home this year for Christmas, so I want to get it made before then.

After that, I'll work on the Brazil/Architecture quilt. I think. As Lynn said, the tricky part is finding time between being a mom, wife and homeschooling. But I've moved a small table to the living room for my sewing machine so that I can sew while still around the family; that helps a great deal!

[Renata L.]

Oh what a lovely gift! The best kind too - made from the heart!! They will cherish it! You really should be proud, well done!!

[Norma H.]

Heather, your quilt is so sweet. It will be loved I'm sure.
I think you got the best tips for sending it off from Lotti

[Rita C.]

Well done Heather, it turned out perfectly, and what a lovely gift. I think there will be no stopping you now. Are you enjoying your new sewing machine?

[Rita C.]

You have all the reason to be proud of you sweet baby quilt Heather! It's lovely and sure will be treasured for many years to come. I really like the fabrics you used and the little peach flowers that mirror the diamond blocks. you go girl! I'm sure you'll be creating lots of wonderful quilts

[Rita C.]

Rita, I am *loving* my new machine! It's set up on a small table in the living room and my husband even enjoys letting it live there so I don't have to take it down and put it away between projects. I'm so glad we have space for it to be out with us. And the speed...the speed still astounds me! When I got home from the US a month ago, I still had not even finished piecing it; I was 2/3rds of the way done with that. Then in one weekend, in between life (so only maybe 2 hours of work?), I finished piecing it. And then in an hour here, an hour there, it was quilted. Crazy!!!

I'm very excited to think that my "impossibly long" list of future projects might actually not be impossibly long after all (at least, until I begin adding to it....)!

[Rita C.]

The journey begins Heather - enjoy the ride. :lol:

[Renata L.]

You have some pretty exciting projects coming up, Heather! I am so looking forward to seeing them when you have time to document and share your wonderful journey, and of course, when they are done! Enjoy your great sewing machine!

[Lois B.]

Congratulations on a job well done. The quilt is lovely. I am so happy that your love of quilting fits so nicely with your family life. Keep up the good work.

[Lotti D.]

You will be adding on to that list of projects, each quilt you make adds a whole range of new possibilities and ideas... The trick is in deciding on the ones that just have to be... You'll be enjoying yourself for a long long long time. So glad your family has accepted the new family member amongst their midst as well.