Something Fishy

auditioning background blocks and sashing

Last August saw the beginning of a quilt for my husband's and my first grandchild, Lucy Maeve, due to arrive March 15.

Not much blogging has been done in the many weeks since this became my main project, as I wanted our daughter-in-law, Shannon, to be at least a little surprised.

This week--after months of sketching, calculating, debating, cutting, piecing, pattern drawing, fusing, appliqueing, embroidering, hair pulling (and occasional cursing), template-making and quilting--Lucy's quilt is finished at last!

Lucy's papa, our son Alex, and her mama, Shannon. (Update: Forgot to say, the blank block at the bottom
is waiting for Lucy's name and birthdate.)

Laid on an an extra-long twin bed.
(There is an identical bed--frame, headboard and footboard--in Lucy's
house. The two beds were built as bunk beds by her great-grandfather
for my husband and his sister when they were little.)

Only the borders were stitched in free motion, unfortunately. With two layers of batting and lots of applique, most of the quilt refused to budge without a dual-feed foot to show it who was boss--which made it pretty challenging when echo-quilting around circular shapes. Thread had to be cut repeatedly. More than 300 knots are buried in the quilt. Is that bad?? I ask because I've never made a bed quilt like this one. My others were straight-stitched with no breaks.





Below are some close-ups (click on a photo if you would like to enlarge it):

The bottom border is supposed to look like scallop shells
sticking out of the sand.

Lucy's mama loves jellyfish, so I couldn't
resist making one the main feature of the quilt.

Leah Day followers might recognize the Bubble Wand stitch on the blue border.
The green border is supposed to be heart-shaped seaweed.

The turtle is the only creature breaking the surface.

Made a template for the waves
in the top border.

It looks like a very joyful quilt to me, so I'm tempted to name it Jellyfish Joy or something equally corny. But then again, I'd rather wait until Lucy is old enough to name it herself or maybe even decide it doesn't need a name. Actually, I can't wait to hear her ideas and opinions on everything!

Here are some photos of the back:

(Back corner flipped over on top of the quilt)

The idea was to have a peaceful side and a busy side, depending on Lucy's mood.











On to another project. If you've seen this blog before, you might remember this vintage knitted sweater pattern in progress from a previous post.

Last week it was finished, along with the matching bonnet. Here's Shannon just after receiving them at her baby shower.

The fastenings, a little hard to see here, are loops and shank buttons.

That was a very fun day, and seeing all the wonderful gifts and supplies brought home the reality that a new member of the family is arriving in just 4 weeks!!!

Before signing off, I'm linking up with some of my favorite quilting blogs--Confessions of a Fabric Addict's Whoop Whoop Friday, Lizzie Lenard's Free Motion Mavericks, (since I did free-motion stitch the borders!) and A Quilting Reader's Garden WIPs Be Gone. Check all of them out as well as their reader linkups, whether you are looking for inspiration or simply want to spend some quality time on the internet. You'll get both, I promise.

Meanwhile, a bit of encouragement for everyone expecting lots of snow, like we are tonight...spring will be here in just 5 weeks!

Linda