So when I found out my cousin was expecting twins I knew I'd have the chance to make at least two baby quilts this year. At the end of January she gave birth to two adorable boys and so I immediately started trying to decide on a pattern - I wanted something that was fun, not babyish and relatively simple (as I'd be making it twice).
I have been eager to make something from Beyond Neutrals by John Q Adams (Quilt Dad) ever since I bought it last year and this seemed a good opportunity. I decided to use the top left 4 x 4 block section of Pacific Crest (the quilt featured on the cover of the book).
I shopped my stash and following a colour consultation with my Mum by Skype, settled on a colour scheme of navy, jade/turquoise and orange with a sort of royal blue for background.
I decided that I would do one quilt as per the pattern and then for the second I'd make a mirror image, so that they would be similar but individual, just like Aidan & Charlie.
I backed them with a blue minky/plush fabric as my kids love minky and think that all quilts should have it. Luckily Plush Addict stock a great range and offer a colour matching service so my backing and blue solid were a great match, which I like when I back with minky as I bind by folding over the backing.
They ended up being quilted very simply with diagonal lines in the direction of the Vs - not my original plan but I was struggling with horrendous tension problems with my machine (thankfully now fixed) so it was the best compromise.
Then last month we discovered that one of my husband's university friends had just had a little girl. Whilst we haven't seen her or her husband that much recently, they are good friends and so a quilt was in order.
I had bought Hazel Hedgehog II by Elizabeth Hartman (Oh Fransson) planning to make a large cushion cover but I was so inspired by all the fabulous Hazels made during the Hazel Hedgehog QAL run by Angie of Gnome Angel that I decided to made a rainbow Hazel.
I love it and will definitely be making more Hazel's in the future. It was backed with a lovely Riley Blake flannel and quilted with a cross hatch.
All the quilts have arrived at their destinations and will hopefully be used and snuggled for years to come.
I'm feeling pretty chuffed to have finished 4 quilts already this year (still haven't photographed my son's new quilt as he is sleeping with it every night).
And I am now in the exciting position of having no sewing commitments/bee blocks etc for the next couple of months. Shall I - a) use the time wisely to finish up some of the UFOs that are taking over one cupboard or b) start something new - guess which one I'm leaning towards!!
Happy sewing
Sarah
