Making it My Own

This Autumn, I will be welcoming my tenth grandchild to the craziness we call our family. Ten grandkids, nine baby quilts. (The first grandchild was born before I started making baby quilts, so later he got a “teen” quilt to make up for that terrible oversight.)

So, how do I start? After making so many baby quilts, how do I come up with a new and fresh idea for this one? And still keep it simple enough that I’ll finish it before the said new baby goes off to college? With all the beautiful fabrics that come into the shop on a regular basis, ideas and colors are not hard to come by. Its making that final decision and committing to the pattern and colorway that’s difficult. So how do I make those choices? What is my creative process?

My first decision was easy. When I saw the darling White Hedgehogs Flannel  come into the shop, I knew I wanted to use it on the back. The hedgehogs are so cute I had to use them! First decision – simple! Use a unique, colorful and playful fabric that I fell in love with.

The next decision I basically stumbled upon. I was doing some internet research for interesting items to include in Sew Hot’s weekly newsletter and I found the darling quilt pattern, Baby Lattice Quilt, over at the Moda Bake Shop. Amy Smart has written a tutorial on how to make it, and it looked fun and easy to put together. Second decision – serendipitous! I found a pattern that met all the qualifications I needed, simple, quick and attractive. Now, true to my usual style sense, I knew it was going to take a little more effort for me to research and choose my own colors for the front.

I decided I wanted to use colors that will coordinate with the hedgehog fabric, but not compete with it. After looking at many different charm packs of prints, baby patterns, pastel solids nothing seemed to work. Finally, I found the solution! Sew Hot’s Cotton Couture Charm Pack has a selection of bold bright solids that will match perfectly with the hedgehog print. Third decision – took a little research and work, but was obvious when I discovered it.

I’ll use these handy 5″ pre-cut squares for the front pattern, intersperse some hedgehog squares in there, too, and the new baby will be warmly welcomed into this world with bright happy colors and playful little critters. And I will have the satisfaction of making and giving something uniquely created by me…