Blanket Deprivation

Ok, so clearly I must have been perpetually cold as a child as I seriously cannot get enough of new and special BLANKETS. Love to make them (especially this kind!), buy them, receive them, give them. One can never have too many blankets.

As you know from this post I’ve been working on quilts for my girls for Christmas presents. I’m not a fantastic sewer by any means so I’ve needed to slow this process down to snail pace so I can allow myself proper time to learn and practice various different quilting methods that work for me.

First up, I wanted to test out a traditional quilt block technique called the Log Cabin Block. It’s addicting. I could keep these blocks going and going and going… but since this was just a little sample play mat for Grace I decided to keep it pretty small and just focus on the basics.

Rita from RPQ gives the best tutorial on making this type of block– plus her quilts are beyond fabulous so any excuse you have to look at her work is well worth your time.

I extended the pattern of the block outward for many more rows.  I found that having lots and lots of long strips already cut (width wise) made this process a whole lot easier. And, once again, I used ONLY scraps- nothing purchased new for this quilt.  Quite honestly, using scraps is much easier for me. I’ve tried to purchase new fabric but I simply cannot make a decision for the life of me. Once you get into the world of fabric (especially online) you will drown forever in a sea of beautiful textiles and never be able to settle on anything particular. You’ll get a general feeling of failure to launch.  Then no one will get any blanket-presents. And then you will be personally responsible for sadness in the world.

So just use your dang scraps, ok?

I have not yet perfected machine quilt binding but I still think this little play quilt is charming and Grace looks darling on it if I do say so myself (I do).

This next quilt is ready to go await the arrival of a special little baby joining my extended family in a few months.  I’ve been waiting and waiting for a good idea to come after ordering the chevron fabric scraps a few months ago and finally decided on a pattern.  Each hexagon was appliqued onto a square of backing fabric by sewing a simple zig zag stitch- no interfacing or spray adhesive or anything like that was necessary. I simply eye-balled the center of my squares, pinned on the hexagon, and stitched away.  *Make sure to pull your end threads through to the back for a nice neat look.*

After much hesitation, I decided on NO BINDING for this sweet little quilt. That’s the hardest step for me and while I don’t mind botched up binding on a homey quilt for my family, I do mind it on a gift for someone else. So, Rita strikes again with this tutorial that explains how to make a beautifully finished quilt without any sort of binding whatsoever.

I like that it kept the edge simple and flat and didn’t require me making any further color decisions which would have held me up God knows how much longer. When it comes to fabric- I can’t commit!

Anyway, there are more of these in my future. Dontcha just love ’em?

P.S. If you ever would like a custom quilt made please ask! I plan to add a few to my Etsy Shop soon because I need to STOP making any more blankets for my own house and start making them only for other people. Ha!  If ever anyone finds us all passed out it shall be from extra blanket induced heat stroke.

Air conditioning anyone?