Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Crafts: Happy Drawing Baby

A friend of mine is having a baby boy later this month. She requested a quilt, but I also made matching burp cloths and a bib.

Most of the fabrics are from Ed Emberley's Happy Drawing line for Cloud9. I also used a couple of Lizzy House's bracelets, a spotty fabric by Denyse Schmidt, and Robert Kaufman flannel.

For the quilt, I followed a pattern I've had for some time. But once the blocks were cut and sewn I decided I didn't like the pattern's orderly arrangement. I mixed up the various-sized blocks and did some generous trimming to get the effect you see here. I rather like it, although it's nothing like I had planned.

I quilted in the ditch, but only after trying free motion scribbles and echo quilting. I have a special foot for quilting in the ditch, but I had the best results with my walking foot.

I used Cloud9's contoured burp cloths pattern and tutorial. The organic cotton and flannel make soft, lightweight, absorbent, non-slip burp cloths, and the contours make them easy and comfortable to wear. I wish I had some when Cole was a baby.

I don't have a model for the bib, but it's long enough to double duty as an apron. Hence its name: Bapron (pattern available here). The armholes and tie closure won't allow the baby to pull it off during mealtime, too. Messy bapron, clean clothes.

I hope these Happy Drawing baby gifts will be well used and loved! Congratulations, Mai!