Here’s a peek at how my new baby-gift quilt has turned out. I’m calling it “On the Minty Shore.” Read here to find out why!
(As is my wont, I hung it up on the side door near my desk and quilting space.) Here’s another view:
I wanted to get creative with the quilting for J’s baby – to stimulate his newborn eyes and fingers with some fun shapes. I set up my sewing machine to do free-motion quilting by really loosening the bobbin tension this time, which seemed to help (you have to turn the screw on the bobbin case to do this – remember, lefty loosey! Not sure how this works on machines with “auto-tension,” however). In the center, I quilted (freehand) loops.
Colette and I got really into the ocean mood, so we decided to honor the seashore with big quilted waves all around the borders.
Not all the waves came out perfectly smooth, but that’s life. The imperfections show that the pattern was created by human hands moving the quilt back and forth – not a computerized process. I moved the quilt as evenly as I could through Colette’s relatively small neck space, wearing those funny white quilting gloves that my daughters always want to try on (something about Cinderella). I did mark it in advance with some General’s Pastel Chalk (white), which I’m assured comes right off. I live in fear that I could mark a fabric permanently by mistake.
I hope that J’s soon-to-be-born new baby will enjoy my efforts.. and here’s wishing her a safe delivery of a happy, healthy little boy!
The quilting lines were what I noticed first! Great job!
Thank you very much! I’m working on more “interesting” quilting designs that are still straightforward enough for me to do free-hand. I like the book “Mindful Meandering” by Laura Lee Fritz. More on that another time!