First off, no notices that I’ve been bumped up the list for that workshop. Still keepin’ the fingers crossed!
Now on to some sewing! (You might need to sit down. I know how shocking this is!)
I have finally completed quilt #11! Technically, this quilt is called “Bouncing Baby [last name of recipients]“, but I didn’t want to reveal their last name. So, I’m calling it Bouncing Baby Blanket for blogging purposes. The stars aligned on this one because 1) I had been wanting to try the Drunkard’s Path blocks for *ages*, 2) there was a class on piecing circles that I signed up for that turned out to be on the Drunkard’s Path blocks, 3) I was looking around for a good project to test out my new hand quilting skills, and 4) I found out this friend of mine was pregnant! So, a hand-quilted Drunkard’s Path variation it is!
I used a combination of reproduction prints and actual vintage fabrics for the blocks on the front of this. All the prints in these two blocks are vintage, I believe (except maybe that bottom right one in the blue block? So hard to remember…)
I am totally diggin’ the princess and her castle!
The final size of this is 42″ x 42″. I’m really pleased with how the hand quilting turned out. Compared to all the dense machine quilting I’ve been doing, the hand quilting makes for a much snugglier, softer quilt. Perfect for a baby!
I estimated that the quilting on this little quilt probably took me 40-50 hours. Holy cow! That’s a lot of Dr. Who from the Netflix Watch Instantly queue!
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that the last gift I gave this person (and it was a nice gift too!), was gifted in a recycled Ann Taylor Loft bag without so much as a bow or a tag or a piece of tissue paper. So I had to rectify that this time.
I made a drawstring bag to wrap the quilt in. Look! It’s my favorite polka dot fabric that goes with everything!!!! (I swear — I nearly bound the quilt in it!) This is actually a pattern for a “shoe bag” — for putting your shoes in when you pack them in your luggage so you don’t get dirt on your clothes — from the book Simple Sewing with a French Twist. Very quick and cute, as you can see!
And as a bonus, it’s completely reusable, either as a gift bag for someone else, or for shoes, or kids toys, or dog toys, or picnic gear, or whatever!
It feels so awesome to finally have this done after starting on it in mid-March. The baby has not yet been born, and I haven’t even received an invitation to a shower for which I was trying madly to complete this. Sweet!
Next up: surprise gifts for some friends, and then I swear I’m going to quilt that Love Beads quilt for the guest room! (Unless, of course, the summer heat rolls in. In which case there is almost no way I will be quilting here in the land of no central air!)
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What a darling quilt, and you did a wonderful job on the quilting. The circle quilting pattern goes so well with your Drunkard’s Path set. Also, I love the idea of making a bag for the quilt — I am going to steal this idea for the two baby quilts I will be making over the summer. Thanks for the inspiration!
The quilt is very pretty
Oh my… lucky, lucky baby!!! The quilt is so fun and happy, and the hand quilting just rocks! I love the little bag you made for it too… very nifty idea!
I have been totally waiting for this …. to see the whole thing!
Effing Brilliant! I’m in awe!
How cute is that?
I’m totally making one! maybe next year… maybe sooner for a swap …
man, this is the reason I can’t ever get caught up…
I am gonna do this is soo wonderful.
Im still waiting to finish hand quilting Quilt #1…so Im looking for inspiration. Great idea on the Dr Who
Lucky friend you have!
the quilt is lovely and i love the quilting pattern you chose. kudos!!!
The quilt is beautiful! And the bag is a wonderful idea….I’m going to have to steal that idea as well.
I love that you hand quilted it, lucky baby!
Fantastic and FUN quilt! The handquilting is wonderful!! Don’t you love to Watch Instantly?? We’re excited that Shelley Duvall’s Fairy Tale Theater was just added.
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Wow, this is gorgeous! I love the drunkard’s path pattern, but haven’t seen it in these great colors. And your hand quilting looks lovely too. You should be so proud of this one! Love the idea of the drawstring bag too. What fun!
Beautiful quilt! Actually the fabric bag is the perfect way to wrap baby quilts in. Years down the road, when the quilt is worn to pieces because it’s been loved/washed/loved more times than you can count, the quilt can then live in the bag.
What a great quilt! Your friend will like it. I love the circles. I need to get brave and try to learn sewing circles soon.
Beautiful! so much love stitched into it too – very sweet!
This is so pretty! I love the mix of new vintage with old vintage fabrics. Your quilting is so pretty too with the circles mimicking the overall design. Beautiful job!
It’s just spectacular! I can’t write more now, I’ve got to scroll back up and look at it again. LOVE IT.
I love the hand quilting. It really sets off the pattern of the quilt.
This is fabulous! I made a drunkard’s path block for a quilting bee and have been thinking about doing an entire quilt – I think this has convinced me. I love the drawstring bag idea too.
I just love this quilt!
I’m loving the gift bag too… I wonder how many I could make between now and Christmas…
I am working on finishing my very first quilt. I found you on Flickr when I was looking for inspiration on future quilts. I am having so much fun. It’s addicting.
Your quilt is so beautiful! I am in awe of all that hand quilting. It is so so different looking that the machine quilted quilts I’ve seen. It looks snugglier if that’s possible. I would like to try it sometime. Thanks for the inspiration!!
-PS, I may have to start collecting a few vintage fabrics now!
What a fantastic quilt!!! I just found you by googling liberated wedding ring quilt…I haven’t found anything like that yet, but all the other things here are just FABULOUS! A drunkard’s path AND hand quilting, what a lucky friend! I will be back!