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Dots and thoughts

February 25, 2008

I made my nephew a quilt. He's due to be born sometime tomorrow and I can't wait to meet him! I've made him a lot of things lately, but I saved the quilt for last, mostly because I had trouble deciding what it should look like. The original idea had inlaid circles, and I was bound, set and determined to make them happen. Then I didn't get started on this until the day before my sister-in-law's baby shower. I quickly decided that simple appliqué would be just fine.

I cut circles from many of the fabrics I used for the other items I made for him. I used yogurt containers and lids as templates. I arranged them on a piece of tea and grape juice dyed flannel, pinned and zig-zag stitched them into place. I didn't even bother with adhesive of any sort.

I've been fascinated by copious quilting for a long time. I love the texture that quilting gives to a simple piece of fabric. We went to an Amish furniture store last week; one of the quilts they had on a display bed was heavily, yet simply, quilted. I was reminded of how much quilting can make or break a piece, and I was inspired to use a cornelli lace pattern on this quilt.

I really wanted to create a lot of texture and bring out the appliquéd dots at the same time. I started by quilting a circle around each dot, then I dropped my feed dogs and free handed the lace around the encircled dots.

At one point my bobbin ran out and I had to climb the basement stairs to get a new spool of thread out of my purse, so I brought it up to show hubby half quilted. He commented that the quilting was "Haring-esque". I can definitely see that, but I as was working I couldn't stop thinking about how I felt that Dr. Suess would have loved cornelli lace, especially combined with polka-dots. It's just so whimsical, which is part of what makes it "Haring-esque" as well.

I'm really happy with how this one turned out. I backed it with green and white striped flannel and bound it with the method I posted about here.

Turned out fantastic! I bought the circle cutter accessory for my machine for just this purpose a few years back and have yet to use it. You've inspired me to get busy!

Another beautiful quilt! Your eye for color and texture always amazes me and I love to see your finished objects.

This is so adorable!

What a wonderful gift! Beautiful :)

Love it! Polka dots are my favorite!

I love the dotty quilt! (And the baby is pretty sweet too.)

How are your legs?