2nd finish of 2012

It has taken me a while to blog about this.  

Truth is that the little boy that I made it for has been enjoying it now for over a week...at least I hope he's been enjoying it :)

His mom was really kind and appreciative when I presented them to her.

Her enthusiasm and support made this project really fun...and rewarding.

I had never done anything like this before and was so honored that she trusted me with all of her children's baby clothes.  

As I was cutting into the sweet little things, I kept thinking to myself, "Ruth, this better frickin' work cuz all her memorabilia is now ruined".

But thank goodness it all worked...beautifully.

Now I only wish that I had kept my eldest daughter's clothes so I could make one for her!

First Finish of 2012

Remember those memory quilts I was commissioned to make?  

The ones that were made out of baby clothes?

They're finished!!!

And I'm ready to show you the first one...Zaid's.

I think when I last showed you these quilts, they were just quilt tops...

since then, my quilter Pam Cole quilted each of the quilts in a fantastic swirl pattern.

Zaid's mother had given me a few of the receiving blankets that she had gotten from the hospital when he was born.  

They ended up making perfect binding for the quilts...

Lots of hand stitches secured the binding in place...

And voila, Zaid's quilt was finished!  

(Pam makes each quilt so personal...I love this extra step that she does)

Stay tuned for his brother Zeen's quilt, I'll be showing that later this week!

2nd baby clothes quilt top reveal...

The second quilt top made from baby clothes is complete!  

*Now remember, this is only the top layer of the quilt...there still needs to be the batting layer, the backing layer, and all the beautiful quilting stitches done*

But check out all of these cute squares made from little onsies, sleepers, and itty bitty shirts and pants:

I appliqued the boy's initials on some of the white flannel squares, just like I had done on his brother's.  This way he'll always know which quilt is his.

There are lots of little details that I love...tiny pockets, fuzzy velour, and sweet embellishments...

Imagine each little boy snuggled underneath their quilt...wrapped in their mother's love.

~These make me truly happyfull~

2nd baby clothes quilt. progress.

Cutting into the sweet sleepers, little shirts, and onsies is a little painful but seeing all of the squares of fabric afterwards makes it all better.

There seems to always be one that becomes a favorite...

This quilt will also be done in a simple patchwork design, 

the clothing squares alternating with white flannel squares.  

It all just makes me smile...it's overwhelmingly precious.

Quilt top reveal...

The first of the two "Baby Clothes" quilt tops is finished.  

I hesitate to show you photos because a quilt top is only really half, or maybe a third of a quilt...it certainly doesn't tell the whole story or compare to the finished product.

But this one is just too fun not to show...

I used snuggly white flannel between the colorful blocks so the quilt will be extra nice to curl up with.

I chose to applique the boy's initials on some of the white squares using smaller scraps of fabric...this way he'll definitely know which quilt is his!

It's windy and cool today in Minnesota so these were the best photos I could get...

just wait til the whole thing is done...this baby is going to be precious.

*squeal*

What I've been working on. Progress.

I've made some progress on the quilt that I'm making out of baby clothes.  Wanna see?

After A LOT of research on how to best stabilize all of the knit fabrics, I decided to use a fusible sheerweight interfacing.  Here's how I did it...

*Keep in mind that I have decided that the finished quilt blocks will be 8 inches square, 

so I will be cutting 

8 1/2" squares to accommodate for seam allowance*

After carefully seam-ripping each onsie/shirt/sleeper (in this case a shirt) apart, I placed it right side down on my ironing board and ironed it flat.  Then I placed a 9" square (approximate) of the fusible interfacing, bumpy side down, on the shirt.

I affixed the interfacing to the shirt using a wet pressing cloth and a hot, steamy iron (FYI, fusible interfacing comes with great instructions).

Then I flipped the shirt over and using my 8 1/2" square ruler cut out a perfect, stabilized square.

Here's an action shot...

Now, that stack of baby clothes = 44 squares!

Here is one of my favorites:

What's next?  Cutting out the 44 squares of white flannel that will go in between these beauties!

What I've been working on

Have you been wondering where the crafty posts had gone?  

I kind of was too. 

Actually, I've been working on something that I needed permission to show you...and the permission giver had been out of town.

But permission has now been granted and I'm gonna start showing...

I have been hired to make TWO twin sized quilts (yay)...but get this, they're going to be made out of baby clothes!  Is this a phenomenal idea or what?  This incredible mom saved her two sons' baby clothes and is trusting me to turn them into quilts.  

This last week has been "fabric prep" week.  I've been seam ripping all of the adorable little onsies and sleepers in an attempt to maximize fabric.  And researching the best way to stabilize all these soft cuddly knits.

I've loved touching and examining each and every one of these garments.  I've daydreamed about my client holding, rocking, and feeding her little boy...getting to know and falling in love with this new little person.

It's made me think a lot about my own babies and those years of rocking chairs, instinctive bouncing, and middle of the night meals. 

I've been given full creative freedom with these quilts...but I'm going to keep things simple.  The clothes are the main attraction.  

I'm thinking a patchwork design using 8" finished squares.

Stay tuned...

Across the Sea Quilt Along...the fabric

I signed up for my first ever quilt along, it's called the Across the Sea Modern Quilt Along (there is a button on the right hand side of my blog that will give you more details if you're interested).  

Some of my favorite bloggers are hosting...

http://fairyfacedesigns.blogspot.com/ and

http://ellisonlane.blogspot.com/

With their guidance I'll be making this (front view):

(back view):

Corey's colleague's wife is having their third baby girl in September...I'm going to be making it for her.

This is the fabric that I've chosen to use: 

It's the Cape Ann collection from Oliver + S for Moda

The little sketchy flat drawings of Oliver + S patterns are my favorite.

It's an eight week quilt along, starting next week and ending the week of October 3rd.  

Stay tuned for my progress!