9.16.2008

Jenny's quilt

OK, the baby quilt.

My friend Jenny had just painted her guest bedroom coral and then she found out she was pregnant. And didn't want to repaint so the baby's room will have coral walls. Blue or pink is so traditional, but I love people who do the unexpected when it comes to decorating! And I had (I thought) the perfect thing to make a baby quilt with—a vintage baby sheet with ducks. I'd begun the embroidery last year and the feet were coral and a perfect match. But, then she found out it was going to be a boy. And suddenly the ducks didn't seem very "boy". Hmm, what to do?

IMG_3843
A partially completed block.

So, we looked through all my embroidery projects and found a set of quilt blocks with animals. That didn't help much with the coral but it was a start. We couldn't find anything suitable in my stash of fabrics (everything with coral was too flowery) but the very next day I received the Hancocks of Paducah catalog in my mailbox and I found the perfect coral striped fabric. It also has pale green, light blue, turquoise, and brown—since many of the animals will be brown, that works well. I also ordered a green fabric with white dots as the secondary fabric. That's backordered but I suspect it's not going to match very well. But I have an alternative—Michael Miller's Dumb Dots in brown. She tells me that the furniture will be dark wood so I think this will look better.

IMG_3836
The fabric and some of the embroidery colors.

Except for the second fabric choice, things were coming together. At least enough that I could start the embroidery. I'm sticking with realistic colors for the animals, the leaves will be green to match one of the stripes, and the flowers (there are just a few) will be done in coral. I got to use a little blue for the water the hippo is sitting in, but there won't be much opportunity to use that color again. I'm saving the words for last and will do them in coral or turquoise (or perhaps a combination) to work in a bit more color.

IMG_3841
Another partially completed block—the only block with water.

I have a long way to go but I'm trying to get an hour or so of embroidery done every day and it's coming along. This is the part that will take the longest. I don't anticipate problems with the fabric piecing but I haven't decided how I'll quilt it yet. I'd like to do it with brown top-stitching, or by adding flat brown buttons in the corners (although that's probably a no-no for a baby quilt). If I run out of time, I'll hand-tie it. I have until Christmas, which seems like a long time. But I'm still wondering how it got to be halfway through September already?

IMG_3839
I'm working on the leopard spots now.

I'll update on my progress as I go along.

13 comments:

Harley Dee said...

I am in love with this quilt already :) Just wanted to ask if the animal patterns are vintage, or if you purchased them recently? They're adorable!

janet said...

The quilt blocks are vintage (1950s, I think) and I bought them earlier this year on Ebay. But, for anyone who doesn't know this, I sell digital tracings of some of my original stamped for embroidery linens. These animal blocks are ones that I have available and you can find them here:

http://www.primrosedesign.com/VP127.html

Sara said...

Arrived here from rosylittlethings and have to say - that the little leopard is absolutely the most adorable vintage embroidery I've seen!

Anne K. said...

Oh, these are so, so adorable. So whimsical. So colorful. So wonderful. Did I mention adorable, too? Oh, I did... :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow, I love it already, especially that fox!

ashley said...

aloha! i just came across your blog as i was looking for some material to help me- i am teaching some friends how to embroider tonight! i just wanted to comment and let you know what a great blog you have and that i am so happy i found your stitch school posts! they have been helpful for me to look over and will help me teach them for sure! and i will send them all here when they need help!
thanks again!

DeeAnn said...

It's so pretty. I love the animals especially the hippo & leopard. I can't wait to see the finish piece.

Sioux B said...

The fox in the first photo is such a jaunty little fellow! This will be an absolutely darling baby quilt! The striped fabric is a great choice, and I can't wait to see the dots with it. The baby won't really notice of course, but everyone else will.

The vintage patterns you've collected take me on a very nostalgic jorney; I remember seeing pre-stamped linens at my neighborhood Newberry's store (now a long-defunct chain, at least in Southern California). Thanks for publishing your passion!

Brook said...

this is sooo cute! I can't wait to see it finished!

Anonymous said...

How darling your blocks are! Just perfect for a boy - don't you love stitching baby quilts? I do.
Merry

Rebecca said...

what a fabulous gift. i'm sure Jenny will treasure this darling quilt. cannot wait to see it when it's done.

Anitha Jayaraj said...

cute baby animals. I am eagerly waiting to see the finished quilt.

anitha

Jenny said...

First - your embroidery work is fabulous! Secondly - I'm lovin' that striped fabric! Those colors together - Uh, LOVE THEM! I can't wait to see the finished quilt. Please keep us "posted" (sorry, couldn't help it!) with its progress. :-)