My plate is very full at the moment. In between prepping for classes, teaching classes, crafting birthday presents, and doing various and sundry other things not quilt-related, I’ve been working on this sweet baby quilt, made mostly from Into the Deep, Patty Sloniger’s new line of fabrics for Michael Miller:
The blocks finish at 9″ so at this point the top measured 45½” square. I felt it needed a light colored containment border to offset the intense turquoise in the sea waves blocks, and I wanted the border to be green to further highlight the green blocks containing those dapper little seahorses sporting bowties:
I added a 1″ border of a pale green Fairy Frost (also by Michael Miller), then dived into my stash (sorry, couldn’t resist) for this P&B blender, which reminds me of seaweed:
Do you ever audition a fabric you think is perfect but then are surprised to find it isn’t? That was my experience here. The seaweed fabric looked too dark and heavy, and I didn’t much care for the three other options I tried:
Actually, the seahorse fabric might have worked but I would have wanted to fussy cut it and I didn’t have enough.
Then it dawned on me: this quilt top is just fine with its narrow 1″ border!
It will finish at 47″, already on the large side for a baby quilt. I have just enough Fairy Frost left to bind the quilt.
Now all I need to do is piece the back. I’m going to use this wonderful fabric from the same fabric line:
No doubt about it: this is the perfect backing fabric.
Your swimming stroke must be very good, as there’s lots of progress upstream.
Ha!
Wow! The back of this quilt, though not pieced, rivals the front. You have succeeded in making a truly reversible quilt, i.e. hard for Mommy to decide which side to showcase!!
Thanks for the notes in regards to making this quilt. Like the comments about auditioning fabric for the borders. I experiment with different fabrics for the borders and binding. Sometimes a different colorway brings out the best in the quilt. Absolutely love the backing. Is it available?
Carol, I bought the last of the bolt at my local quilt shop but I know you can find it on line. I just checked the website for Hawthorne Threads, and as of this moment there are 27 yards available! Here is the selvage info:
Into the Deep by Patty Sloniger for Michael Miller Fabrics Patt# PS7111.
The color is “lagoon.”
Here is the link to Hawthorne Threads:
http://www.hawthornethreads.com/fabric/designer/patty_sloniger/into_the_deep
Kudos to you for showing restraint and not rushing out to buy a “special” fabric for another border. Love everything about this sweet quilt. Continue diving in and using from your stash.
What a fun backing fabric!
I agree with Charlie – you are making great progress swimming upstream! This has to be at least baby quilt #3 to tick off your list.
Beautiful results! And the pattern looks super easy, and super fast to put together, but it charms with your fabric selections for sure! I may have missed an earlier comment about the pattern – did you come up with your own measurements? I am thinking I could make a cool race car theme blanket this summer when the Disney Cars theme fabric comes out. I have a neighbor that would really like it. Thanks for sharing!!
Jen, I used the pattern “Just Can’t Cut It” by All Washed Up Quilts but resized the blocks from 12″ to 9″ because I liked the smaller scale better for a baby quilt.
Totally cute!