The Wonky Donkey Quilt

December's Island Batik ambassador challenge was "Whimsical and Wonky."

The challenge took much more brainstorming than most months! "Whimsical" isn't exactly my style, so I focused on "wonky." After looking at lots and lots (and lots!) of improv style quilts, I just couldn't get inspired. I took a step back and tried to think outside the box about the challenge.

As a mom of three young boys, the only thing my brain can think of when I hear the word "wonky" is the very popular children's book, The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith. I knew I would have to make a donkey quilt!

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Have you heard of the Wonky Donkey book? The book became uber popular after this video of a Scottish grandma reading the book to her four-month-old grandson went viral.

I sketched several donkey designs before deciding to go with one that did not have any characteristics from the book. (In the book, the donkey only has one eye and three legs.) This was so I could make other donkey quilts from the same pattern (like a Christmas donkey quilt!).

(UPDATE: Looking for the pattern? It's in my Etsy shop!)

For the donkeys, I chose some colorful Paisley Dot fabrics that Island Batik sent me as part of the ambassador program. I decided to use the Island Batik solid black for the background.

Part of the challenge is to only use the fabrics you have on hand. I really wanted to make the quilt larger, but I didn't have enough fabric! But six donkeys made a great baby quilt or lap quilt size.

I pin basted the quilt with Warm & Natural batting and a bright pink Island Batik fabric for the back.

I free motion quilted it on my domestic machine. I thought the loops in Aurifil 50wt #2479 Medium Orchid looked a bit like lassos!

For binding, I did something I very rarely do - scrappy!

My boys love this one! (Although I did get questioned about the missing features!)

I actually made this quilt at the beginning of the month, and I couldn't get the idea of a Christmas donkey quilt out of my head! (Thanks to the song Dominick the Donkey!) I finished a Christmas version in time for us to enjoy it too! But I'll save that one for another post!

I would like to write a pattern for this one. In fact, I've started, but my plate was too full this month and it's not finished yet. Would you be interested in a pattern for the donkey quilt? Be sure to leave a comment (with your email address if you might be a no-reply commenter), and I'll let you know as soon as the pattern is ready!

UPDATE: The pattern is now available in my Etsy shop here! 

There's only one more challenge left for this year's Island Batik ambassadors!

Linking up with Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts, Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts, TGIFF at Anja Quilts, Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting, Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney.

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