Monday 19 August 2013

Planes, Bikes and Cars Quilt

A friend and colleague of mine is expecting his first child soon.  When asked if he and his wife had any requests for the baby's quilt, he told me, quite seriously, that he likes planes and his wife likes trains.  Um, right. Anyway, the plane idea stuck, but I wasn't quite sure how to go about it since the aeroplane themed quilt patterns I'd found weren't really doing it for me.  Then I dropped into a local quilt store to buy thread, and lo and behold they had just gotten the perfect aeroplane print Echino fabric in.  I picked up the car print at the same time and I already had the bike print (also Echino), so after that all I needed to do was add lots of different blues and greens from my stash.

Planes, Cars and Bikes Quilt

I fussy cut the centres and then pieced each log cabin block with logs of slightly different widths, dispensing with the usual light/dark convention to get a really scrappy look.  These were really speedy to make up - I had all the blocks together in about half a day (and happily I have a lot of the strips I used to make the log cabins left over so I think I'll make some more soon).

Planes, Bikes and Cars Quilt 

The back is very simply strip pieced, mostly using fabrics from the quilt top.  I deliberately chose slightly softer colours to give the back a more peaceful vibe than the front.

Planes, Cars and Bikes Quilt 

I quilted this quilt in an all over square spiral pattern.  It looks kind of complicated to do but it really is not.  I used my mother's Bernina Aurora 440QE with the Bernina Stitch Regulator for the quilting. It was a bit strange since I am used to free motion quilting without a stitch regulator, but the back is much neater than I can usually get it and I don't have the little thread bobbles I tend to get when I stop.  I think it also helped me keep control of my quilting so it didn't get ridiculously dense.

The parents-to-be have a totally adorable (and very naughty) miniature dachshund.  I think this little fabric dachshund makes just the cutest quilt label ever! It was also much easier to write neatly on the upholstery weight fabric I used - it didn't move around under my pen as much as quilting cotton.

Planes, Cars and Bikes Quilt

I'm so pleased with how this quilt has come out and I can't wait to give it to this little family.  I think the discovery that making quilt labels can be a lot of fun will encourage me to label more of my quilts (because I always think I should and then don't get around to it!). Do you label your quilts?

Quilt Stats
Pattern: Make it up as you go along scrappy log cabins
Finished Size: Approximately 36" by 42"
Fabric: Assorted designer quilting fabrics including Echino, Tula Pink, Kaffe Fassett, Lizzy House, Michael Miller and Carolyn Friedlander
Backing: Various
Binding: Kaffe Fassett Shot Cotton (makes incredibly soft binding)
Pieced by: Me, on my domestic sewing machine
Quilted by: Me, on my mother's domestic sewing machine, using a stitch regulator.

Linking up with:

Fresh Poppy Design  Better Off Thread  My Quilt Infatuation
 
and with Finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts.

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36 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG! I love it! love everything, the colors, the fabric choice... everything is simply amazing! congrats!

Anonymous said...

Nice rich colors! And adorable fussy centers.

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation said...

This is such a great baby quilt with colors or theme that will not soon be outgrown. I love it!!

:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Jessica said...

Everything about your quilt is adorable, right down to the label :) Beautiful! There's something so awesome about make-it-up-as-you-go quilts!

Michelle@factotum-of-arts.com said...

I love the colors. Wonderful finish.

Tamie said...

I love this quilt. It's perfect!

nicole said...

Positively perfect in every way!
I'm the same with labeling, i always say that i'll label this one... and never do. To date i have labeled one quilt, the first one i ever made! I guess things went downhill from there eh?!

Lisa said...

The dachshund is a freaking AWESOME label idea. OMG so in love with it. A gorgeous quilt - the log cabins are so much colour perfect fun!

DeborahGun said...

Such a great quilt - not too babyish so it will last a long time :-)

Salsy said...

Such a great job Adrianne. So nice to do a small quilt...and fun and youthful too.

Hilary said...

This turned out adorable.

Cari said...

So sweet! I would be happy to get a quilt like this as an adult! The quilting is perfect for this and looks fantastic. And you've inspired me to think more about creative quilt labeling, especially for gifts. I haven't labeled any of my quilts yet.

Cari said...

So sweet! I would be happy to get a quilt like this as an adult! The quilting is perfect for this and looks fantastic. And you've inspired me to think more about creative quilt labeling, especially for gifts. I haven't labeled any of my quilts yet.

Erica said...

I love that label! What a cute idea. I'm terrible and never label my quilts because I'm too lazy to get labels made, but this is a great way to bypass that. The quilt is adorable too!

Susan said...

What a perfectly wonderful quilt! And what a cute label! Fantastic as always Adrianne!

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

Gorgeous! I have the same machine as your mum, and I adore it. I think BSR makes a massive difference to my quilting - your square spirals look amazing!

Annabella said...

I'm still chuckling about what your colleague said...the quilt is gorgeous and your quilting is amazing :)

Marie said...

What a fantastic and lovely baby quilt, it's a perfect birth gift.
To answer your question, I always add pieced or appliquéed labels to my quilts. As I hand quilt I have time enough "to dream" about how I'll do my labelling !
Have a good day Adrianne

mtnquiltr said...

What a bright and interesting baby quilt, I love everything about it! I label all my quilts, I make labels on Spoonflower. Then I have no excuse for leaving it off!

Leanne said...

I love log cabin quilts like this, you have picked lovely colours and the fussy cut centres are so cute.

Janet @ Simply Pieced said...

This is such a great transportation quilt for a little boy...very fun.

bee said...

what a gorgeous baby quilt! I label all of my quilts- some are pieced into the backing pre-basting and some are hand stitched onto the finished quilt.

I print out what i want it to say and then tape that paper to my window (since I don't have a lightbox) and tape my label fabric over that so my writing is super neat!

Unknown said...

What a charming pattern! My readers at FaveQuilts would love it.

Kathryn

Kirsten said...

Fabulous quilt - really love the improv blocks with the Echino fabrics.

Cille said...

What a great and fun quilt. Lots of fantastic details... I adore the dog on the back. Fantastic :)

Kelsey said...

Love the quilting and the label! That dog is awesome!!!

Carla said...

LOVE this. How darling and that label is perfect

Camilla said...

Cute! Love the label. I've been trying to label mine too. I think you should put your whole name. When you're famous (if you're not already) and this baby's grandchildren get the quilt, they might want to know who made it!

Teresa @ Aurea's Kitchen said...

That quilt is lovely¡ I love the mix of green, blues and yellow. I only label one quilt, because it was a gift, and I always said to me: I have to label, but never did. Maybe next quilt.

sarah elizabeth :: {no} hats said...

This is so sweet! And those yellows just glow perfectly against the greens and blues! Lucky lucky babe :)

Amanda said...

Love the dachshund label. What a great idea! I am actually try to get a quilt label made for a project now. I do label all of my quilts but it's more of an issue of how many weeks pass before I get around to doing so.

Amanda said...

Love the dachshund label. What a great idea! I am actually try to get a quilt label made for a project now. I do label all of my quilts but it's more of an issue of how many weeks pass before I get around to doing so.

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation said...

I love the label on this quilt too! Thanks for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Beth said...

What a wonderful baby quilt. I love the quilting design as well! Great finish!

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

This is fantastic! I am a teacher and I work at three different schools, so needless to say I make lots of baby quilts for gifts. I can't wait to find some fabric to make one of these myself. Thanks for,sharing!

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