Many families are having babies. Girls and boys. Cute chubby health ones.
Brings me to making baby quilts. My friend Marilyn’s daughter Leslie, is having a little girl some time in April or May. Marilyn has been a Grandma more times than I can remember from her 4 boys. This is the first from her daughter Leslie. Daughter’s always have a special place in mother’s hearts. Maybe it is because we immediately go back to our experiences when we were having babies and the special struggles and challenges that only women can understand. This knowledge brings a different kind of kinship between a mother and a daughter. I wish that specialness for my friend.
Marilyn Dieckhoff
Quilt for Leslie Jones’ new baby girl
New Miss Jones – born 4-19-08
All the more reason to shop for some springy pink fabric to make up a baby quilt. Leslie has picked stars, moons and fairies to decorate the babies room. I found this cute pink flannel for the backing with yellow moons and white stars that will be so soft for the new baby to lay on. As it is Easter time there was cute soft yellow with tulips and a complimentary soft yellow polka dot too. It still have a half a bolt of muslin from Mom’s stash to use as the light fabric. I found an Eleanor Burns pattern from an old TV show I had saved that makes a big old star block. It will be good to try that out for a baby quilt.
I only need four blocks and the pieces are from 6 1/2″ and 7 1/2″ strips cut into squares. The 7 1/2″ is matched with a complimentary fabric, marked on the diagonal, then sewn on each side of the mark. Cut that up on both diagonals, press and you are ready to make up the stars points. Sew alternating colored triangles together and voila – star points. Sew all these pieces together as any normal 9 patch – match each row, sew those together, then match up the rows and sew together with the assembly line sewing method and your done with each block. Cut up some 3″ strips for sashing with a floral 3″x3″ corner stone and top is finished.
Here are the instructions:
9 Patch Star
1) Fabric A – Cut 1 – 61/2″ strip (center fabric)
2) Cut that into 6 1/2″ squares (4 units)
3) Cut that into 8 – 6 1/2 squares,
4) Then cut each one of the 8 pieces on diagonal (16 units)
5) Fabric A, B, C – Cut 2 of each fabric – 7 1/2″ strips (star)
6) Cut that into 7 1/2″ squares
7) Draw a diagonal line corner to corner on fabric C
8) Match up squares Fabric A to C and B to C
Be sure to match fabric A to C in correct pattern for box pattern around center
9) Sew 1/4″on either side of diagonal
10) Cut apart on diagonal and again from corner to corner
11) Press all pieces toward dark
12) Match opposites together matching (or pinning) center so pattern works
13) True up folded unit to 6 1/2″ then press open – Trim off corner points
14) Lay out pieces and sew together 9 patch assembly style
15) Fold row 2 over row 1 – sew right edge
Continue with next block until all row 1 – 2 are sewn together
16) Open and fold row 3 over row 3 – sew right edge.
Sew all 4 blocks as same time.
17) Press seams alternating directions so seam lock together on next step
18) Fold row 1 to 2 and lock and pin seams. Sew 1/4″ seam.
19) Press seams
20) Cut 3″ sashing strips from Fabric C with 3″ corners from Fabric A.
It is cute and big. I think maybe a 5 1/2″ or 4 1/2″ might be better, but with pastels it works really well and the colors are not over powering the pattern.
Star Block
Two years of flannel needed to be pieced on one side to make it big enough. Then tie together with the stuffing and sew the edges and it is ready for Leslie’s new family member.
On to the next. Beth Henry grew up with John from grade school through when they both graduated from high school. She was the first girl he ever kissed in first grade. A little boy sharing a “kitty cat” with the pretty girl with blond hair who lived down the street from him. The teacher of course would have none of that and stopped John’s kissing in his tracks. He probably didn’t share a real good ole’ kiss with anyone until he met Rachel, his lovely wife.
Beth grew up and fell in love with Adam Jones and lived happily ever after. She and Adam have two nice little cute blond haired children and now Harmony, their little girl has joined the family. Seems like a good time to make up another baby quilt for Harmony. Third kids often don’t get the special recognition they need, so quilt for Harmony it is.