...gifts for big sisters

Being a big sister to not one, but two I can say that it is no walk in the park.

So for a.new big sister, some gifts. The kid in me thinks these will be fun to play with, the adult, that they'll keep the new big sister busy while Mum attends to the new little one.

For happy changing time, some dolly nappies. These ones are inspired by those from the swaddled baby love pattern in Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings. I added a 1/2" seam allowance to these using this method cut two from the fleece and one from quilt batting from the unaltered pattern piece. Sewn and turned they have some real bulk like a real happy. A fancy stitch along the top of the back to simulate elastic, some velcro tabs and done!

And what dolly baby could do without a swaddle blanket? This one from the same pattern, including the swaddle pocket to help little hands swaddlr dolly. You ask me though a doll is a lot easier to swaddle than a real live squirmy baby.

And for trips out, a dolly bjorn from Little Things to Sew from Oliver + S. I used some navy cotton duck for durability and do as to huge some dirt but made a feature of the edge stitching and buttons. And I just love the little pocket on the front. I changed around the cutting placement a little to get the little colour strip at the top.

And finally, for a big sister bedroom, some new curtains.

A doll quilt...done.

I started this quilt early in the swap period. Just as well too because although it is only a small quilt, at about 20" square it has taken me a long time. A lot longer than I thought it would that is for sure.


But I am really happy with how it has turned out....and I hope my partner is too when it arrives on his or her doorstep.


It started with this design idea.

And tracing and resizing and drawing some templates


I paper pieced and trimmed the 'petals'.

And appliqued them down. I really wanted to piece them but I just was not confident in getting the petals to meet neatly in the middle and I really wanted them to.

The backing stumped me for awhile, I considered an AMH print but couldn't find any of the designs locally in the quilting weight and didn't think the voile would be strong enough. In the end I pieced a contrast back and actually really like the striking contrast to the print, and the front.

The quilting was one of the things that took me longer than expected. There are 16 petals in this quilt and 7 triangles in each petal. If you are better at maths than me you will know right away that that is 112 triangles that were quilted in one of 7 different coloured threads.

I broke 2 needles in the fist 6 petals quilting these. I usually use a chenille needle and No. 8 perle cotton when quilting. This one was done in proper hand quilting tread and with a betweens needle - apparently they don't bend as much as the chenille.

I also really love the way the quilting stitches show up on the back.

In the end I bound it with some voile - and only because I didn't think the quilt would face a lot of punishment and it was the best colour I had to do it. I'd never use it for a 'to be used' quilt. It beautiful and soft but just doesn't seem that strong.

The label was printed on fabric paper and included the flickr group logo.

Now it is labelled, packaged with some small extras and on the way to a new home.

Stats
Fabric:    Anna Maria Horner Voile (mostly Good Folks)
               Kona Ash
              Kona Coal
Binding: Anna Maris Horner Voile - Pastry Stripe -Blue

Size: 20"x20"

Construction: The triangles to form the petals and the backing was machine pieced as well as the front of the binding. Petals were hand appliqued with a needle turn method. Quilting was by hand.

Label: Printed on fabric and appliqued on. Image taken from the Flickr group button designed by Badskirt.

Moving forward in the Doll Quilt

I have made some progress on the Doll Quilt for the swap.

I finished sewing the applique petals on during the week and am generally happy with their placement. There is one that is a little off but I tried to improve it an actually made it worse so I decided to leave it there.

This morning I pieced the back. I have gone with a background Kona Coal and some of the AMH prints for the strips. I really think the darker colour sets of the lighter prints and adds a contrast to the front.

And then basted the sandwich. Can you tell I really didn't want this to move? When quilted it will be trimmed square to just outside the circles.

And I've made a start on the quilting.