A Tale of Two Baby Quilts

I've been getting the best baby quilts in for quilting lately!  My customers are giving me so many ideas that I'm stowing away for the next time I need a quick baby shower gift.  Check out this first quilt from my client Julie:

36 x 45 Baby Quilt with Rapunzel B2B Quilting Design

Isn't it fabulous?!  The hearts, stem and leaves were fused and machine appliquéd to a single width of background fabric.  It's simple, but so effective, don't you think?  We chose the Rapunzel quilting design to echo the shape of the leaves and carry the movement of the appliqué design across the rest of the quilt.

Quilting Detail.  Glide Thread in Cotton Candy + Quilters Dream Bamboo Batting

I used a pink thread, Glide in Cotton Candy, because I wanted the quilting to blend into the appliqué fabrics and stand out more in the background.  The quilting is fairly dense, but this quilt is still going to be soft and snuggly thanks to the lack of any stiff or bulky seams and the fabulous bamboo/silk/cotton Quilter's Dream Bamboo batting.  I know you guys like to see before and after photos...

...So here you go!  I loaded this quilt sideways on my frame for two reasons: Fewer delays for stopping to advance the quilt, but also because I felt like this particular quilting design would look better stitched sideways on this particular quilt.  Loading the quilt sideways enabled me to have the design swirling from top to bottom rather than from side to side.

The "Before" Shot: Quilt Top Prior to Quilting, Loaded Sideways

I am so in love with how this one turned out and I'm sure I'll be using this Rapunzel design again in the future.

Pink Thread Disappears Into Appliqué Fabrics, More Visible on Background

The second baby quilt I'm sharing with you today was made by my client Lauren using primarily scraps that she had in her stash.  It's a wonderful mix of textures for a little one to explore, with woven quilting cottons, soft and fuzzy flannels, and even Minky plush fabric pieced into the quilt top.

Flirty Bubbles E2E

Lauren chose the Flirty Bubbles quilting design for her baby quilt because the crescent shapes in the quilting design reminded her of the orange slices in one of her fabric prints.  I used Glide thread in Pink Lemonade to ensure that the quilting thread didn't upstage the piecing or the fabric prints, and the batting is Quilter's Dream Bamboo.  

48 x 71 Mixed Fabric Baby Quilt with Flirty Bubbles E2E

Here's the "Before" photo of Lauren's quilt top prior to quilting.  I just love the cheerful colors and mix of textures -- can't you just imagine some little baby rubbing his or her nose around in the flannel and Minky squares?  

"Before" Photo of Quilt Top Prior to Quilting

What's YOUR go-to pattern for baby quilts, if you have one?  Let me know in the comments -- or just hit "Reply" if you're reading this in your email.

PSST!!  I'd Love to Quilt for YOU!

By the way, if you or any of your quilty friends has a quilt top or two that needs quilting, I'd be delighted to quilt for you!  I won't be accepting any more custom quilts in 2021, but I do have a couple spots still available for edge-to-edge quilting for holiday gifting.  Click here to find out how to book your quilt with me.

I'm linking up today's post with the following linky parties:

WEDNESDAY

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

THURSDAY

Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation  

FRIDAY

Whoop Whoop Fridays at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Off the Wall Friday at Nina Marie Sayre

 TGIFF Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday, rotates, schedule found here: TGIF Friday