Monday, March 23, 2009

Showered with Love


Mystery project unveiled.

Shower attended.


Gift gladly accepted.


There is nothing like deciding in the midnight hour that you want to make a quilt for a baby shower gift. Then you decide, hey why don't I take pictures of how I made it and quilted it. ugh. I'm so far invested now, there's no turning back.


There are plenty of ways out there to make a coin quilt. Take your pic of tutorials on the web. This isn't a tutorial on how to make the top as much as it is a simple way to machine quilt if you've never tried that before.
We're going to sew it and quilt it at the same time.
Here's the basic look.
Materials for 39" x 43"
Scraps for 'coins
1 yard of border fabric
Piece of batting: 43" x 46"
1 1/2 yard backing
1/2 yard binding

I wanted to use up a bunch of scraps in a fairly random way.
I cut them all into 5" x .....whatever. Usually they were 5" x 3", or 5" x 4" etc. Once I had all my little 'coins' cut into 5" widths, I started to sew them together into approximately 12+" sections. I did this so that didn't have to pre-plan the placement yet. Once I have 12 sections, I lay them out in 4 strips with 3 sections in each and flip them upside down and around until I'm happy with the placement of color. Sew the sections together to equal 4 long strips that should measure more than 36 1/2" .
Press the seams all in one direction.
Trim each strip to equal 36 1/2". I like to fold my strip in half, lengthwise, and press the fold. **
Now I will trim it at 18 1/4 ". (that's half of 36 1/2")

Trim all 4 strips, they should all measure 36 1/2 " when unfolded.


The following works mathematically, but you will always want to check your measurements first and adjust if needed.


With Border fabric cut:

3 ~ 5" strips ( 5" x 42" of width of fabric) INSIDE BORDER
Sub cut these 3 strips to measure 36 1/2 " (5" x 36 1/2 ")
**following the method shown above
4 ~ 4" strips (4" x 42" of width of fabric) OUTSIDE BORDER
Sub cut 2 of these strips to measure 36 1/2 " (4" x 36 1/2")
**following the method shown above

Sub cut the other 2 to measure 39" (4" x 39")
Now we're going to prepare the 'quilting part' next.


And I just want to document that I pieced my batt together, which I HATE to do, thank you very much. But someone has to be thrify around here.

Lay out your backing (wrong side UP).
Center your batting on top.
Selvedge edge is on the left.
We're working across from selvedge to selvedge.

Take a FOUR inch x 36 1/2 " strip and center it vertically (right side facing up) on the left hand edge.

You want to have approx 4-5" inches on each end. This is where your top and bottom borders will go eventually.


Lay one of your scrappy strips on top, right sides together.

Pin through all three layers, on the right side.
If you cut your border lengths as shown above at the **,
then you will have a crease mark in both your scrappy strip and border strip.
Line up those crease marks and pin. I pin a lot because it's apt to shift as you sew through all 3 layers.
Okay, the picture below doesn't show a lot of pins yet.
I learned the hard way.

Before you sew, make sure your bobbin thread will match your backing. Everything you sew will show. I backstitched at the very beginning and end of each strip. Sew a 1/4 ".
(on the back )

Once you've sewn that together, press open. Press out flat and crisp. This is the pattern you will follow with the rest of the quilt.
For the next 3 border strips, be sure to use the 5" width.



Place the 5" border strip on the scrappy strip, right sides together.
Pin and sew.

Tip: I like to fold up all of the excess fabric so it goes through the machine easier.

and on it goes, working across....







Now, you could add your top and bottom border and call it done or.......I decided to add some wonky, slanted, ziggity, zagging down the scrappy strips. Again, when you start to stitch, do a little backstitch first, and remember every stitch will show on the back.

Measure across the top and bottom. It should measure 39".


Sew a 4" x 39" strip to the top and one to the bottom in the same fashion as you did the side borders.

Now, you can be done with the quilting at this stage if you like. I almost considered it. I was going to put some cute little cotton ties, strategically placed and call it good. It would have been darling. But alas, I was lazy and wasn't sure where my needle was so I went with loopy-looing the border fabric. It was free motion quilting on my sewing machine. It was nice to do this way because I NEVER baste anything when I free motion and I usually have bloopers all over the back that I have to take out. So, this way, it was all nice and smooth on the back and I just had to mosey around the scrappy stripps.

This is my favorite girl.
I think she knows something I know.
Why else would she be winking at me.
And I LOVE pigtails.
p.s. the backing fabric is Alexander Henry 2005 "Let's Play House"
i don't believe it's in print anymore. :( but I could be wrong. :)
Bind: Cut 5 ~ 2 1/2 " strips from binding fabric.
I was a little nervous that it was a little too busy and maybe 'mom' wouldn't appreciate the 'crazy wonkiness' of it all. You know, maybe she was more into sweet and delicate baby than happy and peppy baby.

I also threw some of her wedding fabrics in there.
I think 'mom' liked it.

I made this cute little birdy rattle.
I love her.
Little bluebird girl.
And check out that tail feather!



Lots of pictures of her.
I really love her.
I'm sad she's gone.
Maybe I need one or 10. 

Join us at  one of our Quilt Retreats!! 
http://www.crafttaffy.com/2015-retreat.html

40 comments:

  1. I loved your tut....and it was amazing how easy that was...so it looked. I will have to try it. Thanks so much and I am sure the mom just loved it, the fabrics were wonderful.

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  2. That is so neat, stitch and flip. Thanks for sharing the idea, it's great for if I ever have to make something in a hurry and you've used some lovely fabrics.

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  3. Dez.. I love this tutorial. So easy! I am going to print it out.. and if I make one.. I'll blog it and give you a link. Thanks!!

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  4. Thanks so much for this great idea and all the time it took to share it with us. The quilt is just adorable!
    ~Karen~

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  5. Thank you SO MUCH for this tutorial! I'm new to quilting, and the basting is my least favorite part so far. I'm so excited to find a technique that might make it a lot easier! I've got a quilt in progress right now (just a simple "happy blocks" design), and I'm going to try this out on it. Thanks again!

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  6. Lucky Mom and baby for the awesome quilt and birdie rattle. But, LUCKY ME for you sharing the method. I have everything here to make one for my great niece Jordyn and I will start as soon as I return from my quilt retreat. THANK YOU!!

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  7. Oh how I love that quilt! I got lost halfway while reading that...but I'm a visual person so I probably need to try it as I read it. I am really wishing I could quilt now, but am thinking I need a walking foot or something to quilt it when I'm done. One of these days, I'm going to make one just because you ladies have inspired me. oh yeah, I'm still hand binding that darn table runner....

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  8. Fabulous! A great way to quilt a small quilt. Thanks so much for this.

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  9. So so so cute Des! You are so talented!

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  10. Thanks so much for sharing this great quilt with us...one of the cutest baby quilts I've ever seen...the lucky little tot certainly is showered with love!!! I'm also wondering if the backing fabric is something that is still available...I Love it!

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  11. so cute!!! I love all the colors!! What is the backing fabric, too cute! I too piece my battings, it is a challenge to see how much of my batting stash I can use on a project!

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  12. Such a great quilt! I can't decide which I like more: the quilt, or your use of the word "wonkiness".
    Either way, you are so talented! :)

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  13. That is beautiful Des! You're the best! Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a good day!

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  14. Oh my goodness - that is so cool!

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  15. This is so adorable and thanks for the tut!! I did the same thing but it was a babydoll quilt for my neices bday. Never again will I do any LAST MINUTE projects!

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  16. Well this is very sweet. Good job des! Really good job. I love your method too. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. Kristine and Sherri: the backing fabric is Alexander Henry's 2005 "Let's Play House" I don't believe it's still in print. Try ebay, perhaps?

    i know. I love it and adore it. I have just a little bit left now. :(

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  18. Wow, wow, wow!!! What a great way to make a quilt, Des! I am just tickled scrappy! Thanks for a great tutorial and what a wonderful gift the little one will can someday proudly say "Auntie Des made that for me"!!
    Cheers!

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  19. Thanks for sharing such a darling quilt!! I love the stitch and flip method. I use it alot!

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  20. oh, what a great tutorial! i'll have to try this method. thanks for sharing!!

    the quilt turned out so cute, and i LOVE the little rattle! too cute for words. :)

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  21. That is sooo cute!! Did I mention that I'm pregnant? No? Must have slipped my mind. What, you don't believe me? Why? You think I'm too old? I'm still in my 40's. It's possible. It could happen. Oh, just never mind. Thanks bunches for the tut!! Guess I'll have to make my own. (Must hurry before I go into labor)

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  22. Great tutorial! I had never seen the quilt as you go method for something like this. Very clever. The little blue bird rattle is adorable. What a treasured gift for the baby.

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  23. If I have another kid will you make me one? Seriously cute - those are your scraps?

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  24. What a fantastic quilt. It 'almost' makes me wish I was still in the baby having stage. Almost. Of course it is a very creative idea. Congrats!

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  25. So pretty! I noticed your comment about blogger numbering their comments. I found this easy way to number the comments in blogger. It worked great!

    http://themomnerd.blogspot.com/2009/02/so-ive-had-three-comments-now-asking-me.html

    =) melanie

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  26. Cute...great tutorial. Love the little bird.

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  27. Oh my goodness this post was such a treat for the eyes! Almost as tasty as that Easter candy I can't seem to keep out of. Almost! What a super duper time saving quilting tip Des. And aren't you the BEST for sharing it. Yes, you ARE!
    I got my charm pack today. THANK YOU BOTH! You're awesome. :-)

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  28. What a neat idea!! Kind of like the yoyo mama quilt but a little more...together?! I think I'm going to try it. I love the fabrics you used and the crazy wonkiness of it. Did you see this done somewhere or come up with it on your own?? Cute rattle too :)

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  29. I came over here to snag the link to your blog to share with someone else...just had to say again I love the happiness of this quilt. That may be one of my top three all time favorite polka dots, too. :-)

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  30. great job! I really like the idea of quilting as you sew.

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  31. I enjoyed this tutorial. I recently made one of those Abby's Treasure Boxes, which was quilted in the same manner and had this aha...I could do this with a quilt moment. Thanks for giving me the visual to go along with. Also, I made a stacked coin baby quilt, but it was from charms and all of the coins were equal. SO, I enjoyed seeing the variation in that, too! MANY THANKS and I love your darling quilt.

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  32. Great tut..
    I love the stitch and flip method..
    I going to have to do a quilt like this now...hey, shouldn't take too long to whip up a quilt...
    thank you so much
    Julia ♥

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  33. The polka dots just made this ADORABLE....reminded me of sherbert icecream cones towering with different flavors!!

    CUTE..CUTE..CUTE..

    HOPE~

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  34. Thank you so much for sharing. This tutorial has taken my fear of quilting away. This will make the process so much easier! Thank you.

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  35. This is so cute. I love that polka dot fabric for the background. I am exploring your blog as I am lying on the couch hoping a bellyache I have will go away. And that backing fabric, too sweet!

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  36. Wonderful!! You should do more. Your candid approach is refreshing and easy to follow.

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  37. so adorable. did you use a software program to lay out the design? It looks like you did via the photo of the layout? if so what do you use? i am looking for a program?
    lesley

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  38. WOW Lovely quilt! thanks for the great tutorial!

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  39. Very cute quilt, love all the polka dot fabrics. Thanks for the tutorial.
    I made a similar quilt and used a walking foot, cut down on the shifting.

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