Shiloh's Quilt

I learned about six months ago I'd be getting a new niece, but I didn't start working on her quilt until after finishing late Christmas presents. Once I devoted some time to it, Shiloh's quilt was finished in practically no time.

I'd picked up a Frolic layer cake by Me and My Sister when they went on clearance. I pulled out a pair of Kona orchid pinks from my Owl Be Striped leftovers for sashing and binding. While deciding which blocks would go into the quilt, I fell absolutely in love with the ladybug prints, so splurged on a full yard (at full price) for the backing.


After putting the blocks together in two nights, I discovered one yard was not quite enough for the backing. I expected that, though. I've been having fun trying to make the quilt backs creative. I pulled out the yard of blue Hi De Ho (also Me and My Sister) butterflies I bought back when I started collecting blue butterfly prints and cut a five-inch strip to insert in the backing. I'd already cut some jelly roll strips from the yard because I'm planning a blue butterfly jelly roll project down the road, so the butterfly fabric wasn't quilt wide enough for the quilt backing.

But I'd counted on that, too. I pulled out my collection of Me and My Sister charm squares (of which I now have everything I want but Giggles, Ticklish and Twirl) and used one Hi De Ho butterfly print to make up the difference.


Initially I'd planned to quilt a basic crosshatch like I've been doing, but as I got to the quilting portion of the project, I realized I don't have to go warp speed anymore, now that the 15 quilts for 15 kiddos are done. So then I thought I'd try hearts in each block. Once I sat down to the sewing machine, flowers called out to me, so that's what I did.


The flowers aren't perfect; it's very difficult to work a big design larger than about four inches) through the very tiny throat of the inexpensive little Brother machine. But I feel like I'm gaining confidence and building skill each time I try working outside my comfort zone. Hopefully my free-motion skills will get better with each quilt I finish.


I couldn't find thread to match the lighter pink I used for the sashing, but I had a spool that perfectly matched what I planned to use for the binding, so I used that. After the first couple of flowers, I wasn't sure I liked the darker pink on the light-colored blocks, but the finished quilt really grew on me. I hope Shiloh (who still hasn't made her grand entrance yet) and her family will love it!


Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts, Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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