Baby H's Quilt

Way back in July I shared with you the fabric combination I had come up with for Raisin Baby's crib quilt, my first ever quilting project. As expected, I didn't get it done before the baby came, and honestly, who among us is surprised? I mean, I think it's a law that anytime you invite the internet to share in your intent to tackle something big and meaningful, be it learning foreign language or starting a renovation project or filling in a nail hole, said something big and meaningful is doomed to languishing delay or, at worst, failure. I am a rule-follower, and so I allowed my quilt to languish for close to a year before finishing it up. I'm ashamed to admit how quickly I was able to finish it when I finally put in the effort. In my defense, I had a baby, and some of you may know that babies are notoriously self-absorbed.

I mean, honestly. Divas.

Anyway! Ta-da!

It turned out PERFECTLY, and Mr. H is sleeping with it wrapped around him as I type this. I think this is unbelievable, "this" being the fact that all these disparate parts could come together and now be one blanket, draped over my child. I mean, sure, quilting is nothing new, nor would it have been something to brag about, say, 100 years ago. Possibly even 50 years ago. But now it is, and I did my first one, and I am going to be excited, even if it is, like, the easiest assemblage ever know to quilt-dom.

The back is The Confederation of Grumpy Owls:

I didn't get a close-up of the gray swatch, but it says "To H, Love Mama, September 2011" (HA!) in a combination of embroidery font and free-motion quilting.

All of the quilting is free motion, and I had a fun time experimenting with different designs in each individual panel. I used this tutorial for binding, and it is possibly the laziest way to bind ever. Which fit me perfectly. Believe me, it looks great. Someday I'll have the time and patience for hand-sewing. Or I'll just mail it to Raechel and let her do it for me.

So yay! A quilt! For my bay-bee, who probably doesn't give a fig that his mama put all this sweat and tears (Did I tell you that 10 minutes from being completely and totally done my sewing machine got a major thread jam and stopped working? We had to take it to the shop and get it repaired. They were quick and great, but still. Cruel irony. There were tears.) into something so elementary as, you know, a blanket.

Speaking of blankets with effort behind them, I'd like to quickly share with you the blankie that his Aunt Janie knitted for him as a welcome-to-the-world gift. He's had this for awhile, and I just now thought to share it with you.

It's fabulous. Yes, she knitted it, of her own design, and yes, those are his initials (HLC) done in the lower right-hand corner. This blanket is soft and sweet and periwinkle and perfect, and he cannot sleep without it draped over his head. (Don't judge. He sleeps all night.)

So now you know just how H sleeps at night: wrapped up in the two most perfect-for-him blankies ever made by loving ladies who want to kiss his face off.

And if that doesn't make a fellow feel special, well then. Diva.