I've made this pattern several times now (here, here, and here). The last time I made it, it took just three hours from beginning to final stitch! This helped me to know how to plan how much time I'd need to make it. I ordered fabric online early in the week, and planned to make the quilt Friday night. I had to leave early Saturday morning for the baby shower!
I ordered two packs of 2 1/2" mini charm squares of the fabric line Mighty Machines by Lydia Nelson by Moda Fabrics as well as one yard of the truck print from the same line. (I ordered mine on Etsy from this shop, but the mini charms are also available from Fat Quarter Shop.)
I taped the one-yard piece of truck fabric right side down to the floor, laid a piece of Warm & Natural batting on top, then put a one-yard piece of Moda Bella White right side up on top.
Using my favorite air erasable pen and my acrylic ruler, I drew a grid on the fabric so the 2 1/2" squares would be spaced 2" apart. The quilt would use 56 mini charms.
My four and six year old helped lay out the charms, then I used a regular school glue stick to glue each one in place.
I pin basted the quilt sandwich and checked the time. It hadn't even been one hour yet.
At 10:00pm Friday night (after the kids went to bed), I picked 50wt Aurifil #2610 Light Blue Grey (the one pictured on the right in the photo below) for the quilting.
Using my walking foot, I stitched straight lines from one side of the quilt to the other, 1/4" inside the edges of the mini charms.
After stitching all the lines in one direction, I turned the quilt and stitched all the lines perpendicular to the first ones.
While trimming the edges and excess batting, one miscut meant I had to cut a bit more away than I planned. I'm sure the baby will never even notice!
I machine stitched on the binding - made with Moda Bella solid in aqua.
The final stitch was just after 11:30pm - meaning the whole quilt took well under three hours of work!
I even stayed up a bit longer to wash it.
I threw in two Color Catchers and it came out without any bleeding at all. Then I put it in the dryer and went to bed.
As we loaded up the car the next morning, I grabbed the quilt and a pair of scissors. Then I trimmed away the extra threads as we drove to the baby shower!
The mama to be was thrilled with the quilt!
Then I borrowed it back for a few minutes after the baby shower to take some pictures of it to share with you!
The quilt really has a fantastic soft and vintage feel after washing. The frayed edges of the squares are soft and sure to be loved by the new baby boy very soon.
Do you have a go-to pattern that you've used more than once? This one is at the top of my list!
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Amazing! You are a genius - having the boys help. I can't believe you washed it too! Such a great gift and from the heart, even if speedy!
ReplyDeleteI have been making tummy-time quilts...5 made, 2 gifted and one backing waiting for me to piece the top! I use 5" squares of fabric and I use cotton fabric squares around the perimeter. The inside, I alternate every 2-3 cotton squares with washable fabric that has different textures. I learned that those textured fabrics can't go together because they all stretch and I'm spoiled by the cotton that doesn't do much of that! I also sew ribbons with different textures between some of the cotton squares - loops that start out 2.75". No batting, just cuddle/Minky that has some texture for the backing, SID and pull the backing around to the front for the binding. 6x6 is the perfect size for a tummy time quilt as well as for tossing over the baby in the car seat - block the sun or keep them warm. The textures should help to keep them occupied.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a great baby quilt -- and it coordinates nicely with mama's dress, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tutorial, including the time frame to complete. Well done!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. Who says making a quilt has to take three years?
ReplyDeleteWell done. Nice to have such a quick finish.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful quilt, and a great last-minute gift. I suspect it would take me a couple of extra hours, but still.
ReplyDelete