(Please note that affiliate links have been used in this post.)
This quilt was a rather quick finish, and the design is very simple. Yet again, I’ve concluded that I enjoy simple, straight, and classic lines with an overall scrappy combination of fabrics.
This quilt has a wide variety of fabrics in blues, pinks, yellows, and whites. This palette of color is safe for me, and a favorite of mine.
The squares are six inches. These are larger than I usually cut, but I wanted to capture the scene with the girls under the tree. Lots of fussy cutting here! You’ll also see some four patch blocks with 3 1/4 inch squares. You can find more details on the construction of this quilt top here.
This is the first time I’ve ever backed a quilt made with cotton fabric with a vintage sheet. I get a bit nervous whenever I combine different mediums of fabric, but my fear is slowly waning. There were no surprises using this sheet as the backing. It worked wonderfully, and I’m enjoying the combination of textures and prints.
It’s a vintage sheet in excellent condition with no tears or stains. I starched and ironed the sheet prior to basting the quilt. I had a bit of trouble with some ripples while trying to baste, but it didn’t turn into a problem during quilting. There were very few puckers to speak of at intersecting quilting lines.
I used the same process as I used here to baste this quilt. I bought this adorable strawberry vintage sheet from A Little Shabby Shack quite a while ago.
For the binding, I used a Sevenberry Petite Basics in light blue. I usually cut 2 1/2 inch strips, and typically when gifting a quilt like this one, I machine stitch the binding. I want the quilt to be as durable as possible. I always use Cluck Cluck Sew’s tutorial for machine binding a quilt.
Like usual, I quilted a bit over a quarter of an inch away from my seams. I always use a walking foot to quilt. I use my seams as a guide and almost always use a simple criss cross pattern. For the first time ever, I added a diagonal going one way. I do not lean toward dense quilting (this is not even close to dense quilting), but like I mentioned above, I wanted to ensure durability in this quilt and added the diagonal. I have some other quilts at home with very little quilting, and I love the soft texture they’ve gained over time.
I started off this year with the goal of finishing up all my works in progress. I have a number of quilts left unfinished right now, but I veered a bit from my original path when I found the Serendipity line of fabrics by Minki Kim. The fabrics were too perfect for a family we know.
I’ve mentioned before on here that I don’t gift too many quilts. Gifting quilts is sometimes risky business. They take a LOT of time to make. Quilting and sewing is almost always a joyful and delightful time, but yes, quilts take a lot of time to create. What’s hardest, though, is not really knowing whether my quilts are wanted or enjoyed. You know what I mean?
It’s hard to know what others like and enjoy and I’ve found myself returning to baby registries and buying off Amazon instead of making quilts and blankets I just hope are enjoyed and kept.
With that being said, this quilt is a gift. 🙂
We have some good friends that are well deserving of a heartfelt and sincere gift. Friendships in life come and go, don’t they? Seasons change and communities change and we change and that’s all okay. Sometimes it’s best, though, to give a gift before a new season comes and goes. When others pour their lives into your’s and your kids’ lives, sometimes gifting a quilt seems appropriate.
As it may seem appropriate, this quilt is going to a family with three young girls. I hope it is loved and used and cuddled and taken on picnics.
The Serendipity line is getting harder to find but still available at a few fabric shops. Many of the other fabrics are a bit old, but here is a brief list of some of the fabrics and their names.
Green frogs – Kinder by Heather Ross
Pink stripes (dark) – Sevenberry Stripes, Petite Basics
Pink stripes (light) – Sevenberry Stripes, Petite Basics
Strawberries with blue background – Serendipity by Minki Kim
Strawberries with white background – Serendipity by Minki Kim
Girls picnicing in blue – Serendipity by Minki Kim
Girls picnicing in pink – Serendipity by Minki Kim
Girls picnicing in white – Serendipity by Minki Kim
Yellow flowers on white background – Little Dolly by Elea Lutz
Pink apples – Kinder by Heather Ross
Blue eyelashes – Luna by Dear Stella Designs
Pink Tulips – Foxglove by Aneela Hoey
Ledgers – Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander
Hexagons – Bee Backgrounds by Lori Holt
Cursive writing – Penmanship, Bee Backgrounds by Lori Holt
Light blue striped binding – Sevenberry Basics in light blue
Hopefully that’s a bit helpful for those of you who share my tastes in low volume fabrics.
This quilt serves as a good reminder to continue finishing projects. It felt pretty good today to get that binding stitched on. Am I the only one with a few too many quilts in process?
Glad to find another quilter who has the same philosophy as I do – avoid over-complicating it and live with the imperfections. I also don’t care much for over-quilted items – they end up being far too stiff instead of wrinkly and cosy the way I like them. I love these low-volume quilts – my newest craze. I’ve grown a little bit tired of mad colours and complex patterns – even though I admire designers who produce these amazing items.
Yes! I love that…’avoid over-complicating it and live with the imperfections.’
I am absolutely delighted that I have come to this page. You have the same idea of making a quilt as I do. I have not yet made one, I really want to. But up to now any of the quilt patterns or blogs that I have seen are making me think that this is such a strict craft. With people using so many items that need to be bought, before you can even consider what you want to make. I love your ” real ” outlook. Surely if I make something, then that should fill me with a happy feeling. But most of the sites I have seen fill me with worry. So I am going to make sure that I save your site, and all of your brilliant, down to earth ideas. Thank you 😊
So glad you have found some encouragement here, Sandra. 🙂
What a delightful quilt! The simplicity of it makes it a beautiful labor of love! Thanks for your honesty about finishing your projects! I’ve decided 2020 is my year to finish up projects I’ve started. Thanks for your encouragement!
Hi Helen! I still have some projects unfinished, but I am getting better about finishing before moving on! And finishing a project is so SATISFYING! I’m glad you’ve decided this is your year to finish up all the projects. 🙂
So pretty! I love the backing also! What an extra special gift! I’m sure it will be very well loved.
Thanks Heidi. I hope it’s loved to years and years to come. 🙂
This is one of the most beautiful quilts I’ve ever seen. It makes my heart happy just looking at it. Everytime I go to our local thrift store I’m always looking for vintage sheets for my quilting. I have a stack of them. Time to pull them out! Thank you for the inspiration.
Thanks so much for the encouragement Missy! I love that you collect vintage sheets…such beautiful treasures!
I love the way you explain this. The quilt is gorgeous with my loving every fabric. Thank you for sharing your methods.
Thank you Merrita!
OMG! I love LoVe LOVE this quilt! It looks soft, warm and inviting! Something to pass down from generation to generation. Silly question but is there a possibility of buying a quilt identical to the one shown above? You do amazing work! 🙂
Hi Carol…you are so sweet! Maybe you’ll find some inspiration from this quilt and make one. 😉 It’s not a silly question, but I know I can’t sew another one of these right now. This one was definitely a fun one to sew though! I do have a pillow cover just like it ready to be listed in my Etsy shop. Let me know if that is of interest to you, and I can send you a picture of the quilted pillow cover.
I love this quilt! It is beautiful, soft and feminine 🧡
I to am starting to be very cautious about gifting quilts. It has to be someone very special that I know will love and appreciate it. Lately I’ve turned my attention to making baby quilts for charity using my stash.
Hi Marcia, thanks for your encouragement! Yes, I most enjoy giving quilts to those who I know will love and appreciate it too. What a great idea…to send some quilts for charity!
LOVE! this quilt and yes I completely know what you mean by gifting quilts being risky! I’m torn on that topic all the time!
Thanks Di! 🙂 I love gifting quilts when I know the recipient will enjoy them.
This is absolutely beautiful.I do make quilts as gifts but only for very special people, you are absolutely right that it is a huge investment of time and money to make a quilt so I am very picky about who i make them for. x
🙂 Thanks Kay! I’m glad I’m not the only one cautious about gifting quilts. I love making them, but yes indeed, they take a lot of time.