I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend! He is risen! The eyes I was working on last blog post was for my octopus baby quilt. I love how this quilt turned out, and this quilt features the biggest applique piece I have done yet.
Helpful Tips for Making a Not-so-traditional Baby Quilt
Baby quilts are beautiful and so fun to make! From the colors to the patterns, not to mention baby themes, there is a lot to consider when creating a quilt for that special bundle of joy. Here are just a few tips I have on how to create a baby quilt outside of the traditional nine-patch.
Fabric Selection
I used a collection of batiks that I had in my stash for this quilt. My friend’s favorite color is pink and her baby girl’s room was pink, so naturally that was a main color. I added some tans and blues to help create an ocean-inspired palette that tied perfectly with the octopus design.
Color – Use the baby theme, parents favorite colors, etc. for inspiration. Take the soon to be parents to the store and let them pick out the fabric themselves! If you want the quilt to be a surprise, use their registry for color ideas to fit with the nursery. A lot of baby quilts are soft, neutral colors, but if that doesn’t fit don’t be afraid to go bold!
Texture – Not all quilts have to be quilting cotton. Babies learn through interacting with their surroundings and laying on a soft quilt makes tummy time more fun! Try different material such as minky, flannel, yarn-dyed wovens, silk, etc. Even fabric paint could work. Be careful though, using different types of fabrics can be tricky since not all fabrics shrink the same way. For more information of different fabrics, I found this post by Lo & Behold Stitchery to be super informative!
Pattern Selection
I used a pattern called the Japanese Train Tiles from the book Double Take by Heather and Elissa Willms. It is not a traditional baby quilt pattern. This pattern gave me lots of room to show off all the fun colors I had picked, while not being overwhelming to take away from the octopus. Things to think about when picking a pattern: size, complexity, and emphasis.
Size – are you looking for a crib size or just a tummy time blanket? Is it for decor? How big is the hanging space? Is it a play matt? A little kid’s play matt not only works for tummy time, but will be tons of fun as the little adventurer gets older.
Complexity – beginner friendly or advance? When considering this, think about how much time you have to make the quilt. Even advanced quilters benefit from a simple pattern; especially when the deadline was yesterday! I was making this quilt after the baby was born (so my deadline was way passed).
Emphasis – Consider what you want the main focus of your quilt to be (i.e. appliqué, quilting, a certain fabric, theme, etc.) I went with a more simple pattern than the majority of my other baby quilts, because I wanted the focus to be on the octopus.
Quilting
Fun, themed quilting – For this ocean themed quilt, I did waves with little bubbles, tiny fish, and sea turtles. In Oh my, It’s a dinosaur!, I quilted tiny little dinosaurs to add to the theme.
Trapunto Baby name – This adds a personal touch, but only works if you know the name! For an example of this, please check out my other post, Little Kingdom Baby Quilt.
Keep It Simple – Sometimes the best quilting is simple lines (walking foot) or meandering (free-motion) to not distract from the beautiful piecing you have done or the super cute print fabric you found!
When gifting a quilt, I find it helpful to provide care instructions to the new owner and a few color catchers. Also, emphasize that the quilt was made to be used! Babies will inevitably spit up on it (or worse), but that is okay! Stitches will eventually pop and fabric will fade with washes, but that is what the quilt was made for… to be loved.
A quilt is a special gift. No matter the fabric, pattern, or quilting, know that the quilt you are making will be loved and cherished. Especially for baby quilts, I find it meaningful to pray as I work on the quilt for the person who will receive it. That way every stitch is a prayer for that person’s life.
I would love to see your baby quilts or here about your unique baby themes in the comments! If you are willing to share your quilts, I would love to showcase it in my blog. If you would like a detailed description on how I made this quilt, please leave a comment or shoot me an email. I will be more than happy to walk you through my process. Happy Quilting!
Some of my other baby quilts include Little Kingdom Baby Quilt and A Desert Quilt.
Quilt Bus 