In this case, the river is running through the backing for a baby quilt:
My starting point was a length of fabric from Patty Sloniger’s Into the Deep line for Michael Miller Fabrics. I needed to piece the backing to make it wider, and somehow a straight strip of fabric just wasn’t going to cut it. I blame it on those undulating jellyfish. The backing clearly needed something that emulated the motion of their tentacles. I needed to go with the flow, so to speak.
My batik stash yielded a watery print that picked up the blues and greens in the jellyfish fabric. I cut some gentle free motion curves through both layers and then sewed them together. It was easier than I thought, although I did have to pin the concave and convex curves.
Here’s a close-up of those two fabrics:
Don’t they look good together? I suppose that batik is a bit more fern-y than watery, but it still gives the effect I was looking for.
I used several other pieces from “Into the Deep” on the front of the quilt, which you may remember seeing in this post a few weeks ago:
This is the third of five baby quilts on my to-do list this year. Baby Stefan won’t have to wait too much longer for his quilt, and I’ve already started Number 4. Now that’s progress!
Another lucky baby! Love the “wave”!
My favorite is the Jellyfish…love to watch them at the aquarium and there used to be some in a fish tank at the Hotel at Newport. I could spend hours watching them..
Hi my friend,
Another very lucky baby! Going with the curvy inset was brilliant! Have you ever glue basted instead of pinning? Happy sewing!
The batik on the back looks JUST like a shallow stream with water plants in it . . . how perfect and appropriate. I’m a broken record but yup, this is my favorite of all the baby quilts you have ever made!
I agree, the Jellyfish is a winner!!! Love the waves on the back too!
I love the back! The batik is the perfect choice for the effect you were going for. I’d love to see how you did it :D!
Love the backing idea!! I seem to be stalled… too many projects, I don’t know where to start.
Char, I know the feeling! You’ll get your sewing vibe back.