My quilt guild sponsors a program called Kitsap Cuddles. Members donate baby quilts that are given to at risk babies and toddlers at our local hospital. Last year 172 quilts were created. This cute little blankie (38″ x 38″, 12″ blocks, 1″ sashing) goes into the program tonight.
I fell in love with all these fabrics. They just screamed baby quilt when I saw them. And I’ve seen them all over. Amy made a purse with the red houses (Alexander Henry print). Chris made a gorgeous baby quilt with the ribbon fabric (American Jane by Moda). Joanna made this spectacular Zakka inspired quilt. I know I’ve seen both at Hillary’s pad too (translation: I can’t locate the exact posts where I saw them).
New for me on this quilt’s construction:
I did my usual double-fold french binding but I sewed it on by machine rather than by hand. I figured out how to do a decent corner by the last one. Folding and pinning in place before the presser foot gets anywhere near it and having the fold go the opposite direction than it would if I was hand sewing made a big difference.
I quilted the 12″ blocks using free motion around a freezer paper template. I removed basting pins and ironed on the template block by block. The pattern I created was just perfect for this technique. I easily went wider than the freezer paper and the final result still looked great even though it wasn’t precisely the same on each block.
I sewed my label on by machine prior to quilting. Saved me some work on the back end.
I get goosebumps thinking about a little baby wrapped up in all this love!
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I’ve had it with my Kubrick WordPress theme. He’s been compressing my photos (resulting in quality degradation) for some time now. I stayed with it for so long out of laziness. Well, no more! I’m switching to K2. There are few kinks I need to work through. Yahoo has WordPress 2.0.2 installed and I’d really like 2.1. Upgrade myself? I’m thinking about it. My blog may be offline at times or look a little jumbled until I get it all working. Not sure I have it in me to set up a local verison, test everything and then move it to a server. I plan to just work off the server. Living dangerously again. Any words of warning?
Wow, what a treat for a lil’ babe. Beautiful quilt.
Very cute! I love the fabrics and the floral quilting that you did.
The quilt is gorgeous! Beautiful fabric combinations and amazing craftsmanship!
Fun quilt! I have no words of wisdon regarding a Wp upgrade, but I know that my older version plus my friend’s newer version is causing a few problems as he’s trying to apply his new theme (for me) to my current blog. Go for it though — I bet it will work just fine
I love love love this as it would look nice in my baby’s nursery but I’m so glad it will be going to a baby who needs it. I have to get some of that house fabric.
My youngest son spent 22 days in the NICU and had 2 intestinal surgeries during his first month of life. The quilts they used in his isolette were the warmest, cheeriest spirit boosting things… and I was always greatful for them over the rather thin white and striped blankets they normally use. I was so greatful people had taken the time to make them, and we were sent home with our favorite (we got to choose) and we have it today to remind us how strong we were during that tough time. Our son is a tough and bright 6 year old today… with a love for a small bright blanket made with love and good wishes.
Thanks for contributing to such a project – it makes a world of difference!
just wonderful, and a fantastic cause as well
Love the quilt Kathy! Love the fabrics and the quilting and all of it! I also machine stitched my new grand neices binding because babies don’t need hand sewing and multiple washes!
What a nice quilt. It deepens my newly found love for the colour yellow. You’ve combined the fabrics beautifully! Great quilting, too.
What an awesome quilt. Some lucky baby is sure to feel the love that went into making this!
I think your quilt is going to the most perfect destination, it will be so loved I’m sure. Your color combinations are soothing but stimulating at the same time. Beautiful work
lucy
Oh, Kathy! It is so beautiful! What a treasure! And I love the template you quilted on it. What a wonderful idea!
Love those prints together. Very retro chic. I’m sure a worried mother will be overjoyed and comforted by it. Just finished a couple of Project Linus quilts myself so I know exactly the feeling you’re talking about. Now I’m inspired by yours to do a quilt with sashing.
Kathy, it’s amazing. Some lucky baby’s going to be feeling the love….
Oooh, you just made my day! I’ve got some quilts to make for our guild’s charity collections and this sounds perfect! I love the machine quilting idea too. What a great idea. By the way, I just ordered the rubbing plates and paintsticks- more fun is on the way!
This quilt is amazing, love those fabrics !
Great quilt! love the backing and binding fabrics!!
Kathy, it’s just beautiful! The freezer paper flowers make all the difference on the big blocks.
That quilt is beautiful and the babe who lies on it will feel wrapped in love!!!
Okay, I’m in love! That quilt is awesome and the template you made is really cool.
It’s absolutely beautiful. Thanks for showing how you did the flower quilting… I’ve loved that house fabric as well (I’ve been seeing it everywhere except in my own little home, sadly!), and I absolutely love your combination of fabrics. Amazing.
Kathy, I just love your baby quilt. Thanks for all the inspiration. I’m just finishing my first quilt and the American Jane print figures prominently. I can’t wait to buy a new machine and get on with more quilting.
I just love your quilt and really like how your quilted it. I love that ribbon fabric and I am about to make a dust ruffle for a crib at my house out of it.
That is just fantastic and I have those two main fabrics, too.
It’s marvelous.
so beautiful! lucky baby that can cuddle up in it!
i love how you took the flower theme from the fabric over to your quilting motifs!
Oh. So. Beautiful.
Such a great fabric combo! Lucky baby to cuddle in this and cling to it as it grows up.
Kathy, your quilt is beautiful! And your freezer paper technique to do the free motion quilting is just genious. I hate marking patterns, but I think I would be able to do that too. I’m a new (not even a week old) blogger, but I have been reading your blog for a while now and am always so impressed by what I see!
I don’t know where to start! Such a cute cute quilt. What a lucky baby. The fabric you used to back it is my current obsession; I think I need it in every color. And freezer paper patterns for quilting? Thank you!! I love freezer paper as it is, and am very limited in my quilting abilities, so this will open up a world of possibilities.
Oh so pretty. What a great quilt. Thanks for the idea. I am thinking my girlscout troop should do something like this in our area.
Beautiful baby quilt and another great idea for freezer paper! As for switching to another version of your blog … my advice would be to make a back-up of everything before you do it. Just in case. I’m sure it’ll work fine, but believe me, the last thing you want to do is wonder where all your fabulous archived posts went. Looking forward to the new theme. (I did a new one the other day too .. it’s fun, sort of like doing a blog makeover.)
what a beautiful, and of course beautifully made, quilt. you did the project proud, i am sure.
What a lovely quilt! Do you re-use the same paper flower or do you make new ones for each square (I’m new to quilting).
My little boy (3 years old now) had 4 heart surgeries before the age of 3 including 2 open-heart procedures. We received blankets each trip to the hospital and they were so meaningful at the time we received them and lovely keepsakes. Yours is extraordinarily pretty! Thanks for contributing to such a kind project. BTW, my boy is doing great!
Your quilt is stunning! I love the fabrics so much.
Wow! I love this quilt, great choice of fabrics and I love the flower quilting. Beautiful and inspiring!
This is such a beautiful quilt. I had to show my husband and he doesn’t generally care about this sort of thing but he said it was beautiful, too.
[...] Baby Quilt with free motion freezer paper template (pink chalk studio) [...]
[...] Free Motion Quilt using Freezer Paper (pink chalk studio) [...]
Hi kathy, I live in Silverdale and would be very interested in donating to the local charity. Can you please give me some more info on Kitsap Cuddles.
Thanks I love your shop and tutorials. I have been sewing apparel for over 35 years, but am fairly new to qulting and machine embroidery (and Kitsap County)only about 5 years experience.