Mary - Uncovering an Old Block Design for a New Baby

Mary

48” x 48”

The matriarch of a close but spread out family. Cousins looking out for each other, uncles closer to brothers, babies of all ages. She did not live to see it all, but she knew what she set in motion. She created a life, a space, a family, that welcomed everyone. Her small frame held a big heart.

On of my husband’s cousins had her third baby last summer. I knew I would be gifting a quilt so was exploring my options of already made or at least pieced projects in the stash. But when the little guy arrived none of them felt quite right. With his name starting with the letter T, I decided to lean in to that and pulled a quilt block and book from the archives.

Back when Modern Quilting became something we capitalized, I contributed to a book called Modern Blocks: 99 Quilt Blocks from Your Favourite Designers. The block was called To a T, because it was essentially a giant capital T. But put together gave you some cool secondary designs. I made up a big quilt, that, after some snuggles at home, sent it off to a kid’s cancer camp. It was a lot of fun to play with it again.

I dug into my fabric - both scraps and stash - to make an eclectic but soft version of it. I’ve got some fabrics in there that must be at least 15 years old, and some much more recent. I love mixing it up and pairing things in unexpected ways. Like classic large florals with modern geometrics. Keeps it interesting and not flat.

I dug into my fabric - both scraps and stash - to make an eclectic but soft version of it. I’ve got some fabrics in there that must be at least 15 years old, and some much more recent. I love mixing it up and pairing things in unexpected ways. Like classic large florals with modern geometrics. Keeps it interesting and not flat. I finished it with a simple loopy quilting in cream. Nothing fancy, but enough to give it great texture for snuggling.

The binding? Well, she’s a bit extra. Mary did love some statement jewelry at times. Instead of just simple big stitch finishing I opted for Xs, but alternated colours. It’s a lot easier to do than you might think and really doesn’t take much longer than normal hand finishing. I used Valdani 8W for the stitching. The solid fabric for the binding it out of my norm, but it was what I had in the stash that worked well.

The baby in question - Taz - was born in July and it wasn’t until winter started that I got myself organized to make the quilt. Then I moved pretty quickly to finish it. After that I procrastinated for months on sending it to them. I just really hate going to the post office. These pictures were taken in January! Finally, Taz’s Mama sent me a kind text asking if I would make a quilt for Taz, as I had for their other two. Wasn’t she in luck? I washed the quilt, wrapped it safely, and sent it out a few days later. Who am I to turn down a sweet request for something I had already done?!?!

Oh, and the namesake for the quilt? Baby Taz’s great grandmother, Mary Ross.

Lynn - Building a Quilt from Someone Else's Blocks

Lynn

75” x 75”

A gregarious creature. With a smile and a laugh that made everyone feel welcome. Loving mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend. She gave and gave and gave. She also started and started and started. Never met a craft she didn’t like! Loyal, kind, generous, and funny.

Lynn was a real women, a bright soul in the lives of our extended family. Sadly, she passed away this spring. She was my MIL’s best friend, my husband’s ‘aunt’, our friends’ mom. We all really miss her.

At the funeral in May I met her younger brother for the first time. Another larger than life soul! He messaged me a few weeks after the funeral asking me a huge favour. You see, he had these blocks, quilt blocks, that Lynn had sewn together. Really, it was the start of a quilt intended as a wedding present 25 years ago. She never finished it. Would I finish it for him?

This is what I was sent. That’s some late 90s glory right there! I had a handful of almost finished blocks (missing the corner quarter circle), some sewn elements, some cut pieces, and extra fabric. No pattern, no note, no original plan for the blocks. Lance - Lynn’s brother - gave me free rein. He really just wanted something that he and his wife could snuggle with, made from the blocks Lynn started.

I played with a number of layouts to begin with. I tried to imagine what Lynn might have been planning. I took stock of what I had. It was clear I was going to need more fabric, first off. There was plenty of that dusty rose background, but not enough of the arc fabric to make many more blocks. So I added some colour - more greens, teal, and mustard - to modernize and round out the printed pieces of the arcs. This also enabled me to make more arcs. I was then able to use the cut background pieces and cut even more to play with. And rather than try to match the curve cut in the corners, I used a triangle piece to change up the block a little.

It probably isn’t a thing like Lynn intended, but I do know she would appreciate it. She was always very supportive of me and my quilting. And she did have an appreciation for modern.

One thing Lance did ask for was a heart. The blocks did not really lend themselves to that layout, but I added in this applique heart - in silver for the 25th wedding anniversary - as a special surprise. The machine quilting also included hearts in the loop-de-loops.

Sometimes the shadows just hit right.

After I sent the quilt to Lance and his wife they responded so kindly. They found even more symbolism in the layout I landed on. I had no idea, but it meant something to them and that’s what matters. I feel very lucky to have shared in this experience with Lynn. She truly was a wonderful woman. The people in our lives live on in our stories of them, this time she is also living on in a shared creation.

But before I go, I need to share one more picture. Lynn and her family were farmers. Dairy farmers, until a few years ago. In all the time I’ve known my husband we’ve taken any and all chances to visit them. He grew up going to their farm (albeit in another spot) and we’ve now taken our kids there a handful of times. It is absolutely beautiful country where they live and I like to think this one of the views that she took with her.

Quilted Baba Update

Confession: I had a hard time working on this project over the last year. The reasons are many and varied.

First, moving to the studio a year ago meant my Morning Make routine was upended. I only do handwork or writing at home now, for Morning Make. Then, when I arrive at the studio things aren’t always so smooth. At the beginning, my son was coming with me so he could do school online. I didn’t feel comfortable having the machine going while he was doing school so he had a fighting chance at concentration. Then, because the studio is attached to our company offices, I was often pulled into work work stuff. In the end, I struggled to find the dedicated time to work on these blocks.

Second, this is boring and repetitive sewing. Tiny Xs, squared up to 1.5” x 1.5”. There are 100 in each block and the whole quilt requires 81 blocks. A girl can only do so much before it drives her to madness. And, let’s be honest, it’s a short drive these days as I struggle through perimenopause.

All that being said, I have no doubt that I will finish the quilt. It's too important to me not to.

In the last month I’ve pulled it back out. My son is finally back in school full time, so that barrier is removed. I also have my own means of transportation again, which means my mornings are no longer heavily influenced by my husband’s schedule. So I can come in when I want and sew before anyone knows I am here, minimizing the company interruptions in the morning. It’s not perfect, but I am getting more consistency.

One stitch at a time, one stitch at a time.

I usually make 10-20 little squares each day. Then it takes a few hours to put an entire block together, mostly because of all the pressing! One day, when I know I have the time, I will try to make a block from start to finish and time myself. If only to satisfy my curiosity.

The truth is, there is no need to put pressure on myself. This was never going to be a fast project, there is way too much piecing for that to happen! This is about persistence, not patience.

Flora - A Baby Doll quilt from Park blocks

Flora

36” x 36”

She’s a sweetheart. Flora loves all things nature, especially plants and birds. But she will also stop to rescue a bug. Even the caterpillars because, while kind of gross, she knows they will turn into something beautiful. So drink the nectar, watch the sunlight move through the trees, and count birds eating mountain ash berries outside your window, Flora will be right there along with you.

Earlier this year I finally gifted an overdue wedding present to my husband’s cousin and her wife. Around the same time their son was enjoying the new baby doll that Santa brought him. Knowing I hd a few extra blocks around, I turned them into a coordinating quilt. Now he can snuggle with his baby just like his Mamas snuggle with him.

There were already 3 blocks started (and none finished). They combined my old Tag Fabric and some prints from Heather Givans’ Succulents collection. Went into the vaults for these! I made the last block with another of Heather’s prints and something else I found in my stash. It was kind of neat to have a theme to the fabrics - all plants. The Park pattern by Carolyn Friedlander is a good opportunity to show off fabrics. On the back I used a Charlie Harper print with birds on it that I know the Mamas would appreciate.

On the original quilt I also quilted a grid. That one was a vertical/horizontal. On this one I went for diagonal. In both cases it should be sturdy enough with the hand applique. Both quilts are going to get some good snuggles.

To finish the quilt I had just enough of the green fabric from the original quilt to also bind this one. It’s another way to tie the two of them together.

Flora is already in her new home, already in use with that loved baby doll. She’s big enough for snuggling under right now. At one point in life I made a few dozen doll quilts and there were tiny. Just big enough to cover a doll or stuffie. While they are loved and used this way, I like the idea of making them a bit bigger so kiddo and doll can be snuggled together. It works while the kiddo is little, at least.