Simple Organic Baby Quilt

As soon as I finished my Double Four Patch top I started a new baby quilt. How pleasant it is to work on a quick and simple project!

Last week my third grandson was born and I am going to visit my son's family in London next November and bring the quilt with me. To start this quilt I have been waiting to learn wether the baby would be a boy or a girl, as I wanted to make one really boyish or girlish. Thus the project had to be very quickly done.

I chose printed organic fabrics with blue and white bears and a dotty blue and white fabric for the backing. The batting is 100% wool.

For the quilting beginners I am preparing a tutorial for this baby quilt from A to Z, with all the measurements.

Double four Patch Top Finished!

So happy I finished my Double Four Patch top yesterday!

There are 100 blocks, that means 2200 squares!

It measures 80"x 80"

Double Four Patch Tutorial

The following pattern is given for a finished 8.00" x 8.00" block

You will need fabrics of three different volumes of colors :

One dark for the small size squares

One light for the small size squares 

One medium for the large and medium size squares

With your medium volume fabric cut a rectangle of 9"x4.50" 

Then cut it in two.

Still with your medium volume fabric, cut a rectangle of 10"x2.5"

Then cut it in 4 squares of 2.5"x2.5" each.

With your dark volume fabric, cut a rectangle of 12"x1.5"

then cut it in 8 squares of 1.5"x1.5" each.

With your light volume fabric, cut a rectangle of 12"x1.5"

then cut it in 8 squares of 1.5"x1.5" each.

Place your squares this way.

Sew the small dark and light squares together, right side against right side.

Press the seams towards the dark squares.

Go on assembling to obtain a 4 Patch block.

Press the seams open.

Sew your 4 patch blocks with the medium size squares.

Sew together as seen above, to obtain a double 4 patch block.

Add to your double 4 Patch block your large size square.

Sew right side against right side.

Assemble the 2 half blocks right side against right side.

Press and trim seams to get a perfect 8.50"x8.50" block.

Baby Knitted Cardigan and Double 4 Patch Progress

 

After I finished my shawl, I started knitting a little cardigan for my grandson. I found the pattern in a vintage catalogue from my mother. I already used several patterns from this catalogue for my own children about 35 years ago. I love to knit cable stitch, it's so easy and gives an impressive result. The yarn is baby alpaga.

Most of the time I knit very early in the morning together with drinking my tea. Then comes coffee time and quilting... well, in between a little housework! 

I am finishing the last six blocks of my Double Four Patch top. After this, I will prepare the tutorial as promised!

Double 4 Patch and Apple Pie

Last Monday, early in the morning, for our first quilting bee meeting after the summer, I thought of making an American Old Fashion apple pie. I found a recipe on Pinterest and adapted it. The crust I did is a classical French "pate brisee". For the filling I followed the recipe, with just a little less sugar. 

I forgot to take a picture of the apple pie just out of the stove. When I remembered it was more than half eaten!

This week I went on with my double 4 patch blocks. I finished 10 more and have another 6 more to sew.

Together I am preparing a tutorial for such a block.

I ordered the batting from USA : Hobbs Heirloom 80/20, as I read from various sites that it is ok for wall hanging quilts. I hope to receive it in two weeks, and be able to give it to be quilted.

Knitted Shawl Instructions

My daughter thought in the end that the shawl was looking better on me than on her... lucky me... I keep it!

As a photographer, she took nice pictures of me wearing it.

After my last post about this shawl, several persons asked me the pattern. As I said, I had no pattern, but I will try to write the instructions on how I knitted it :

You need 8 skeins of 50g each (6 if you don't do the crochet border and the fringes).

I used a mixed merinos cashmere and silk yarn.
Needles US 8 - 5.0 mm

The shawl is knitted from one side to the other in garter stitch.

1. Cast on 2 stitches,
2. Knit in garter stitch,
3. Increase 1 stitch every end of the left side,
4. On the right side always knit straight, taking the first stitch twisted, without knitting it,
5. When you have finished knitting 3 skeins, start to decrease until you reach 2 stitches. Cast off.

If you know to crochet, make the border as you wish, I did it the simplest way, with basic double crochet stitches.

If you wish to make the fringes : cut 146 pieces of wool of 23.5" each, fold them in 2, and then make a knot as shown on the photo : 

I love shawls and have knitted many of them in the past. There are plenty of patterns of the web, but always so complicated that I thought of a way to make one simple, easy, but nevertheless beautiful and cozy. I am so happy with the result that I will make some others. It could be a good idea for a Christmas present... we all like shawls, don't we?

Double Four Patch on the Board Again

Since my last post about this UFO, eight months have already passed... and only four blocks more... a shame! 

My goal for fall was to finish it, so that's what I am trying to do right now. I took all the stuff from its box, hanged the unfinished and crumpled top on the design board, and let's star! 

I have been knitting a lot recently... not very eager to start the UFO's finishing job! But this week-end will be quilting! The weather is not hot anymore... no excuse anymore!