Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Baby Quilts

Good morning, Gentle Readers. Today is my birthday, and I always celebrate that day by setting new goals for another year God has graciously given me. One of my goals for this year is making a baby quilt—an odd choice since there isn’t a baby in my family at present nor a chance of one for several years. But I have reasons.

I write while sitting in my recliner, and for three seasons out of the year, I have cold feet—literally. A baby quilt is just the right size to cover my feet without interfering with my laptop. I’m looking for an easy design. Here are three possibilities.
 
 

Oh, and I want to make my baby quilt the old fashioned way. Handstitched. Later in the year I’ll be writing another book in my Women in Peril series, and the heroine is a quilter. I want to experience the process, however difficult and time consuming.

And it is time consuming. I made a quilt for my granddaughter sixteen years ago. I started it when my daughter told me she was expecting and my granddaughter was almost one before I finished. I’ll never be a master quilter.

Unfortunately, that quilt was destroyed in a fire. Here is the only picture I have of it. Don’t know why it’s in black and white.

When I made that quilt, I envisioned it becoming an heirloom. Maybe that’s why I want to make a baby quilt, even though any old design would suffice to cover my feet. I hope to pass it on to a great-grandchild.

Are there any quilters out there? Which design do you like best?

Comment to win Mail-Order Revenge by Angela K. Couch. Contest runs through May 1st.

And check out my new release, Cloaked in Love. The cover was designed by our very own Crystal Barnes.


A woman in peril. An unlikely hero. A love woven by God.
   With Pa off on a cattle drive, Jeannie Baylor is alone on their isolated Wyoming ranch. When she’s taken captive by a gang of ruthless outlaws, she realizes her virtue is in imminent danger, and her life is safe only as long as they need her house for a hideout.

    Then one of the outlaws, Zak Collins, proposes a fantastic scheme to save her life. Having no other choice, she has to trust Zak. But God gives her another way, and its success depends on the cloak she’s crocheting for a friend.



9 comments:

  1. I make quilts, but not the hand-stitched kind. I cross stitch on quilts. I've made quilts for my children and grandchildren...currently I am cross stitching a quilt for my second great-grandchild. I do attach a back to it and hand-sew a border around it. Here is a link to my Homemade Crafts Pinterest Board. It shows some of the quilts I've made. https://www.pinterest.com/debsbunch5/homemade-crafts/

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  2. Have fun with your quilting. Not something I have ever attempted.

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    1. I applaud your great enthusiasm and courage. A quilt is stitched with enormous time, patience and love from the heart of the quilter. Although I do not quilt, I admire the skill. I cross-stitch and when I do I put my self into it. Leaving a quilt to a future generation is like gifting a piece of yourself. The hand-sewn stitches; are an expression of your love. When my husband's parents passed, my husband and I sorted carefully through the contents of their home. We learned more about who they were as we looked piece by piece at old letters, photos, and memories left in scrapbooks and old newspaper articles. We found quilts and crocheted items but unfortunately could not identify the crafter from an earlier generation. This was sad for me. Perhaps I can
      leave some advice; if you would permit. It would be to stitch your initials and date in a corner. It would be a treasure to the receiver of your beautiful quilt. We are fortunate to have my mother-in-laws lovely paintings, they are signed at the bottom as most artists do. A quilt is a cherished piece of art as well; determined by colors and shapes carefully stitched together. Personally, I like the triangle quilt with all the colors. Oh, and don't forget to take a photo holding your quilt.

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    2. Wishing you a wonderful day, and a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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    3. Thank you for the input, Helen. That's exactly why I want to quilt a baby quilt from the scrap cloth of garments made for the grandchildren.

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    4. Mary, it'll probably take me over a year to finish. A little at a time.

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  3. I have always wanted to make at least one quilt and I still plan to do this!
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. That's my thinking, Connie. When you make a quilt, you make memories.

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  5. Great idea! My feet always get cold as well, but I always have baby blankies around and they do work great.

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