Baby Log Cabin Quilt Top INSTRUCTIONS

Children and grandchildren are now back to their own places. My home is now clean and tidy again, and here I am quilting and knitting again. As you can see on the picture, the weather here in Athens is very cold, we have snow for the second time since Christmas and it's the perfect weather for home activities. I enjoyed displaying my quilt on the snow to take a beautiful picture!

This quilt top was done in a week-end time. It is so easy and quick to sew Log cabin blocks following the method shown in MY TUTORIAL!

Each finished block measures 10.5"x10.5"(26.67cm x 26.67cm).

The top measures 38.5"x 50.5" (98cm x 128.27cm).

To make this top I cut strips of 2"width, as I go along, not making any calculations either on the length or on how much fabric I need (too bad... or lazy in maths!).

I chose fabrics from the line Rapture (Subtle Joy Palette) of Pat Bravo for Art Gallery.

Gypsy Four patch Quilt Borders

These days I am still adding borders to enlarge my Gypsy Four Patch quilt top to fit my  bed.

Unfortunately I had no fabric enough to cut stripes properly : following the prints of the fabrics. 

Well... let's say it is boheme style! 

You can see this quilt top before borders were added here.

Gypsy Four Patch Top Extension

Spring arrived already! The almond tree in the garden is full of lovely flowers and the bees are flying all around making an engine's noise! The weather was so good last week that my children and grandson went to the beach and although the sea was cold they even went to swim! 

With spring comes again the will of sewing fresh color fabrics. Searching among my UFOs I found my Gypsy Four Patch top. It was exactly the kind of colors corresponding to my mood. 

I don't often make borders to my quilts, but as regards this one, I thought it looked somewhat unfinished and useless as it was not big enough for a double size bed and too big for a sofa throw.

So I decided to enlarge it in order to fit exactly to my bed. I began to choose fabrics and to cut a first band. Then I will cut rectangles and squares of matching fabrics to complete the top.

For the backing I think of using these lovely Joel Dewberry fabrics.

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"

Basting Tutorial

The first thing when you prepare basting is to cut the backing and the batting at least 4 inches larger and 4 inches longer than the top.

Draw a mark on the middle of your table.

Fold your backing in two lengthwise, wrong side against wrong side.

Line it up with the mark.

Open and fix it with a tape.

Do the same with your batting. Then fold your top in two lengthwise, right side against right side and line it up.

This is what you obtain.

These are the tools you need for basting your three layers.

Before stitching, put some pins to maintain the three layers together.

The spoon will help you to lift and grasp your needle effortless without moving the quilt.

Start from the middle of the quilt and stitch diagonal lines with big stitches.

The quilt is now ready to be fixed on the hoop for hand quilting.

Stencil

Top and backing are ready, it's time now to prepare the hand quilting pattern.

I am glad that, searching among all my stencils, I found the perfect one to fit in the plain squares.

To draw the lines on the fabric, I am not using anymore the blue washable marker, too expensive and getting dry too fast. I am very satisfied with the charcoal pencil 2B that is almost invisible once stitched above, and completely invisible after the first washing.

Next step basting... in my next post.

Sewing Sewing Sewing...

all day long!

I added three more rows to my double Four Patch top, which means 30 blocks. To complete it I need another 20 blocks... I think I rather have a break from this and start a new baby quilt for my three months old grandson : first priority, isn't it? As I showed in this post, my daughter chose various shades of grey for this quilt and I suppose it will be a pleasure for me to use soft neutral hues, after all those colorful fabrics lately... relaxing!

Rail Fence UFO

I wonder why, some years ago I had a red and black period! Obviously it was not at all my style and I  quickly gave up this project. Until last week that my niece came to visit me. She is going to get married next June and I proposed to make her a quilt. Her lounge is decorated with grey tunes and a little red. As she told me she would like a quilt in those shades, I remembered this UFO, and when I showed her this project she loved it... so let's go on with my Rail Fence quilt!

Double Four Patch

In my previous post I showed you a baby crib bumper, and promised a tutorial. However, in the meantime I received a mail informing me that there is a potential danger in using crib bumpers. After checking and reading this link I decided not to write the tutorial I had prepared. My next tutorial will be for a pinwheel baby quilt... hoping there is not any danger in using baby quilts!

In the meantime, as a new year starts, I decided to have a look at my UFOs stored in transparent boxes, and to move forward... rather to try...  There is this Double Four Patch top abandoned half way (what a pity) for more urgent baby quilts sewing! I would like to finish it as it is one of my favorites. I used Civil War prints with some wonderful colors, such as the blue and the purple ones. The problem is how to go on with it when babies are being born one after the other in my family and friends and I always have a new baby quilt to sew...