“You're SEW SPECIAL! “  That is what you are saying to the new baby with a homemade quilt.  Give one as a shower gift to the new Mother-to-be or when the baby arrives.  A unique handmade baby quilt is a treasured gift for a lifetime.

 

Are you looking for a unique baby shower gift, something that the new mother-to-be won't unwrap and just place aside like the others from the rest of the quests?  Think of adding to the baby's room decor by choosing a Baby's First Photo Banner.  Moms and Dads treasure that first moment that their child is placed in their arms. A moment frozen in time, and captured forever and now can be predominantly displayed in a lovely hand quilted banner on the wall of the baby's nursery for a continual reminder for the parents or for others to witness the proud moment life entered this family. 

Your unique baby shower gift will continue to give on giving years past that baby shower.

Today is the last day of October and November is upon us. It is time to be thinking of those holiday gifts for family and friends.  A handmade baby quilt, or a children's quilt is a gift that will keep on giving way past the initial opening of the gifts.  A baby quilt, that is made of soft baby flannel and designed to keep you little one warm, as well as be a unique treasured gift, is a treasure to last a life time. 

Maybe there is a baby shower coming up soon, a crib quilt would be a unique idea that would stand out at the shower.  That new mother-to-be would be so excited to receive a hand quilted baby gift rather than just the usual items given by others,

This is not a trick- but a wonderful treat on Halloween.  All babies deserve their own handmade quilts.  If today is Halloween, winter and the cold weather is not far behind.

The newest line of Baby's First Photo Banners have now been completed in blue, green and pink.  What a wonderful way to display your baby's first picture or any favorite photo to display in the nursery.  This handquilted banner made of soft baby flannels compliments any nursery decor with prints for boys and girls.

Each comes with a hanging sleeve, attached to the back of the banners designed to hold any size rod.

Have you been searching for just the right baby shower gift for your best friend, your sister, or maybe even a colleague from the office?  No matter where you have looked, the idea of finding another outfit that the new baby will outgrow in weeks, or another pile of odds-and –ends from diapers to rattles is just not what you had in mind for a useful and meaningful baby shower gift, then this article is for you.   Create a handmade baby crib quilt that will amaze the new mother-to-be and all of the guests at the baby shower.   

 

You don’t have to be an expert quilter to make a special handmade baby crib quilt.  First, you need to choose the perfect fabric for the baby crib quilt.  If you’re unsure of what design you might prefer, either take a trip to your local fabric store, or go on line to the one of the many retail dealers for their collections of ideas and baby crib quilt patterns.  If this is your first attempt at the art of quilting, it is best to keep your pattern simple. Choose colors that are appropriate for the baby's gender, unless you do not know that, than yellow or white is a safe choice.  Be sure you wash and lightly iron all fabrics before you start to cut.

                There are many sewing tips that quilting experts would pass on to a novice, who may just be starting out, possibly making their first quilt.  Here are some important quilting tips:  Sew seams carefully, so that you match each corner and every triangle tip is pointy.  You can save time and increase accuracy by chain sewing your pieces together.   Your piecing will improve if you take the time to press your quilt blocks as you make them.  Pressing is an extra step in the quilt making process , but one that will payoff  when your block fit together, nest, just like they should.  Make sure that you are sewing an accurate quarter inch seam allowance for your quilt blocks.   If this allowance is not precise, when it is time to sew the blocks together, they will not align properly.   Set your sewing machine to the standard seam allowance used for quilts, which is an exact quarter inch seam.  One way to improve a block that is either too large or too small is to use the freezer paper method and square up the block before sewing it together.   Gridded freezer paper makes the job easier, but the plain freezer paper will work to help make the block more even.             

At this point you are ready to either hand quilt or machine quilt your baby shower gift.  Place the backing fabric right side down on the floor or large clean area. Put the batting down next. Place the pieced quilt on top of the batting right side up. Pin the fabrics and batting together starting from the center and working out.  I recommend that you stretch all three layers before pinning. Using an old table and some large butterfly clamps, stretch your blanket securely in place to the table before you pin the layers together. Also there are curved quilting pins available at the quilt shops that will make the pinning task easier to complete, due to the shape of the pin. They are rounded at the bottom and perfect for the task.   

You can either hand quilt or machine quilt your baby shower gift. Following the perimeter of the shape or you can choose to use a quilter’s pencil and template and draw a design and quilt the design.    Either way, you will be stitching through all three layers, which not only fasten the layers together, but create a design, as you quilt.

Your baby shower gift will be complete when the edges are finished and the binding is sewn in place. Of the two types of bindings, crosswise grain and bias,  the former is a good choice because there is less risk that a split would damage the entire side of the quilt.  Crosswise strips also stretch well enough to curve when needed along the outer edge of the quilt.

Your search and dilemma is now over.  You have the perfect shower gift, a handmade baby crib quilt, which is the perfect baby shower gift for that new mother-to-be, created by you.

Take time to quilt.

Whether you are a veteran quilter or a “newbie” just ready to begin your first quilt, like any great craftsman, having the right tools for the job and knowing how and when to use them is important to the success of your project. 

 

In my family quilting has been passed on from generation to generation.  As a result, the new ideas and techniques, along with innovative tools and shortcuts have been passed on from one to another, so that the craft can continue to develop.  Always be proud of your work, sign and date all of the quilts that you make, so that you and those you give them to will enjoy them for many years to come. 

 

There are basic necessities that are needed in quilting.  For example, you can use almost any type of fabric, as long as the different fabric of the quilt has approximately the same fiber and weight.  Cottons are used most often, but quilts made from flannels, polyester cotton, or even old blue jeans or men’s neck ties can give you creative materials for a quilt.   All fabrics should be prewashed by hand and in hot water.  If the fabric bleeds, use a combination of 1 ¼ cups of white vinegar and ½ cup salt to set the colors. Allow the fabric to soak in the washing machine for at least 4 hours or more.  The quilt should be labeled “dry-clean only.”

 

Choosing a color for your quilt is a personal preference.  Use a color wheel to pick colors that either compliment the room in which the quilt will be kept or if you are making a baby quilt, design the quilt to fit the new baby or keep soft pastels that would be perfect for any nursery décor. 

 

How much fabric should you purchase depends on the pattern that is chosen.  Yardage amounts will be listed on each.  If you intend to enlarge the quilt, increase the size of the borders or add additional borders.  If the quilt is too large, reduce the size or numbers of borders.

 

Cotton batting is traditional, but polyester batting is much more common and easier to care for.  Depending on whether you plan to hand quilt or machine quilt, choose the batting right for you. 

 

Since you want your quilt to stand the test of time, always select the best-quality thread.  Cotton thread is the best, but often time’s cotton-covered polyester thread is much more readily available and works just as well.   If you are sewing the pieces by machine or machine quilting, use needles # 14 or #16.   If you plan to hand quilt, a needle # 7 or # 8 is perfect.   Keep your sewing machine is good running condition, well-oiled, and the tread tension on the correct setting.  Change your needle after each project.  Have your machine serviced annually.  Unfortunately, there are many UFOs (Un Finished Projects) sitting out in sewing rooms due to improperly cared for equipment.

 

My Grandmother would be amazed with a rotary cutter and mat, since she only used card board templates to make her patchwork quilts.   I recommend you buy the smaller sized cutter, even though they come in large and small, because I find that it is easier to handle and requires less pressure when cutting.  Don’t forget to purchase the mat, if you are a “newbie” The larger mat is better, even though the initial investment is higher because it allows for more work/ cutting area.  Always remember to place the mat underneath your fabric before cutting or the work surface will be badly scored and the cutting blade will dull quickly.

 

Acrylic rulers are needed to measure and cut the fabric. These come in various sizes, shapes and are marked to support the cutting process.  An alternative to acrylic is Plexiglas.

 

For some patterns, drawing on your fabric is needed.  Washable pens and pencils are available.  A fine-line ballpoint pen is an option if you are marking the wrong side of the fabric and then cutting on that line.

 

Pressing as you sew is important, so keep your iron on hand.  It is easier to connect subsequent pieces when the seams on the first ones are pressed down.

 

The quilter’s best friend is your seam ripper.  No one is perfect, so this tool allow us to get rid of our mistakes quickly and cleanly.

 

From start to finish, from one generation to the next, quilting has evolved and changed.  Quilts have become more innovative and yet still resemble those of their “patchwork” past. One thing is still certain.  The correct tools of the quilter’s trade are needed to create these magnificent works of art.

 

Take time to quilt.        

Are you looking for that special baby shower gift or for that new mother-to-be? Do you have a grandchild, a favorite niece or nephew, or just that extra special young lady or little man, who have a soft spot in your heart and their birthday is around the corner?  No ordering store bought gift off the shelf will be your unique gift.   The most cherished items are those not bought, but ones made with selfless love and are, like a handmade children’s quilt and crib quilts.  These are treasured items prepared with skills and dedicated to the art of quilting.  These become true keepsakes and cherished gifts that will not be forgotten on some shelf in a closet or outgrown in a matter of months.  A handmade children’s quilt or crib quilt lasts for beyond even the child’s toys or playthings, because they are gifts of a lifetime.

 

            Jack and Jill with their pail of water, Winnie the Pooh, or other story book characters do not have to adorn the tops of children’s quilts or crib quilts for them to be favorites today.  Children’s quilts can be replicas or smaller versions of adult quilts. When designing the children’s quilt, look first for fabrics.  The soft baby flannels, minx, quilters cottons each bring a uniquely soft texture to the quilt, which allow for the cozy, cuddly feeling.  The novelty and solid collection of colors and designs, adds to the gorgeous prints and plaids that make up the 100% cotton quilt flannel materials and cottons.  These arrays of colors, designs for boys or girls are as endless as your imagination.  From the  traditional trains, planes, ABC’s, and ducks for boys to the dolls, flowers, and kittens for girls, the patterns and designs you use, the materials, colors, and textures now create a uniquely one-of-a-kind children’s quilt or crib quilt.  More traditional quilt designs include the four and nine patch, the star, and the appliqué designs, which bring the 19^th Century children’s quilt approach into a more modern day designing.  The most common and often used is the patch work, that offers the flexibility to encompass all materials, color, and textures of materials, yet provides for an easy pattern that even the most novice of quilters to attempt, as they design and set out to hand make their children’s quilt or crib quilt for their special gift.

            Where do you begin?  Take a trip to your local fabric store, browse the materials, feel the textures, match the colors and choose the ones right for your specials “little one.”  Once you’ve made your choice, wash and lightly iron the fabrics before you begin to cut or sew.  Take your time, and relax making your quilt.  If you need help, call or ask another quilter.  If there is no one in your family or circle of friends that is a quilter, check your local organizations for a quilt guild in your area or look for them online.  Any quilter would be happy to share “their passion” with you and answer all of your questions.  Just ask.  Remember your making a gift for a life time.  Pour your heart into your children’s quilt or crib quilt and watch that keepsake quilt in the hands of the child, who received it as your gift.  It’s truly worth every minute of your time.

            Time to quilt.

Observe a playground of 3 year olds playing for a few minutes.  They are the busiest little independent group of individuals.  Each can make you smile, cause you sleepless nights, and give you the most love and joy you have ever experienced in your life.  As a quilter, designing a children’s quilt is much like these little ones on the playground.  Each of the unique children’s quilts stand alone in a sea of other unique handmade baby quilts, yet all belong to the collection entitled, “Children’s Quilts.”  The quilter smiles and sews, thinking of the child, who will cuddle under the quilt each night.  Yet, those late nights spent making sure the children’s quilt meets with the high expectation of its maker, if not, long hours will be spent until the problem is resolved.  But as the quilter adds the last stitches to the finished project, she knows that unique handmade quilt, will become another keepsake to her growing collection of the children’s quilts.

 

How does the story of each unique quilt begin?  As a quilter commences her initial design work, thoughts grow and develop from the design board to the sewing machine.  Each of her children’s quilts tells its own story, as the pieces are cut from carefully chosen fabrics, sewn carefully into patterns.  The story’s is illustrated through color, design, and texture.  Whether the quilter has a special child in mind, as she sews and quilts, or if the quilter is designing and quilting for the love of her art, either way, the children’s quilts come to life step by step.  For example, the soft baby flannel that may be used in the piecing of a clown’s hat may evoke memories of a toy that the quilter’s son once played with in the nursery.  The soft pink cotton that once was the out grown nightgown of a clumsy toddler is now the ballerina’s skirt in a children’s quilt of a graceful little girl, who grew up and now loves to show her Mommy how much she loves to dance, instead of crawling around the house.  Or the blue jean train on the newly finished children’s quilt which was once a little boy’s first pair of dungarees.  Tonight, when he goes to bed, and hugs his handmade children’s quilt, the story can be told again about the little train on that special children’s quilt, a keepsake for years to come, with a story to tell.

Take time to quilt.

You need just the right baby shower gift.  One that will not be tossed in the pile at the baby shower and be lost and forgotten, or be carelessly opened and set aside while the new mother-to-be goes on to hurriedly unwrapping the next unwrapped gift.   How can you find a better way to make your hard-earned dollars be well spent on a gift of a lifetime?  That gift is a unique handmade baby quilt.

 

A handmade baby quilt gives comfort, security, and warmth to the new little one.  A custom handmade baby quilt becomes a family keepsake, to be treasured always.  Expecting a baby is a wonderful and happy time in every woman's life, so the gift of a baby quilt will be treasured for a lifetime. These quilts make wonderful baby shower gifts that can be used, by the baby boy or girl to cuddle with it at nap time or on the go in the stroller or car, used for toddler bedding, on the floor or in a playpen for extra comfort and warmth.

 

Help a new mother-to-be celebrate her pregnancy, or someone you know that's expecting, by giving a beautiful handmade baby quilt; it will certainly be enjoyed for many years to come.

 

A handmade baby quilt can be costume made with specific baby nursery theme or colors, personalized for the baby, made with the favorite clothes or outfits that the baby once wore, or any other unique idea that you might have in mind.

 

You don’t have to be an expert quilter to make the right baby shower gift.  First, you need to select the material for the handmade baby quilt.  If you’re not sure of a theme or color design you might prefer, take a trip to your local fabric store, or go on line to the one of the many retail dealers to scan and collect ideas, and simply choose from the many handmade baby quilt patterns available.  If this is your first attempt at the art of quilting, it is best to keep your quilt pattern simple and easily sewn. Choose basic colors that are appropriate for the baby's gender, unless you do not know that, then pastel yellow or white is a safe choice.  Be sure you carefully wash and lightly iron all fabrics before you start to cut the fabrics.

 

You are not a quilter.  Don’t fret.  Finding a handmade baby quilt online is an easy task.  Use the keywords: handmade baby quilt.   These 3 words will take you to websites of many talented quilters, who are selling their baby quilts, and are moms who know from personal experience what babies want and need.   Most quilts are easy to care for; just machine wash warm, tumble dry low and remove promptly.  Many are unique, one-of-a-kind, handmade baby quilts in a variety of original and innovative designs. How simple can finding that right baby shower gift be?

Are you in need of a unique baby shower gift or a baby shower gift idea?

Our newest and fastest selling product is a hanging handquilted banner for the baby's first picture. 
This lovely 20 x 29 inch, 100% cotton baby flannel banner is supported by a 3" wide hanging sleeve on the back, designed to hold a 4" x 6" photo on your favorite decorative rod.

Coming soon
Banners in light green and pastel yellow