Baby Quilt and Give Away Winner

Today feels like a vacation day. Why? Well, the baby is currently sleeping peacefully in her bassinet and Olivia is at pre-school. Yesterday was my first day alone with both the girls at home all day and my goodness did they run me ragged! We went to the park, cleaned, prepped dinner, played games, changed diapers, nursed, changed clothes about 10 times... Exhausting but wonderful. But I'd by lying if I wasn't grateful for this quiet time, which I'm going to put to good crafty use!

A few months ago, I talked in a podcast episode about whole cloth quilting. While this may not totally qualify as the definition of the technique, I am hand quilting straight lines on Isabelle's baby quilt.

To prep, I sandwiched the quilt as I would to machine quilt it. Then I drew straight lines lightly in pencil across the top fabric. Using a square quilting hoop, no. 8 perle cotton, and an embroidery needles, I am going to town quilting little sections at a time.

The effect on the back is quite subtle since the fabric is dark. That doesn't bother me, though, because the front is a busy print. Fabric is Anna Maria Horner's Loulouthi.

Making sure my crafting is distributed equally between the girls, I am knitting Olivia a hat called Upside Down Daisy from Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitt Hats book. This pattern has been on my mind to make her since I first took up knitting over three years ago but wasn't confident I had the skills until now. I'm worried it may be too baby-ish for her but am moving forward anyway. 

The yarn is Mirasol T'ika, which is 8 ply 100% cotton. Unlike some cottons, this one has a buttery hand to it and doesn't feel dry or stiff. The pattern is perfect for middle-of-the-night feedings as I have to knit 7" in the round. Perfect mindless work while watching episodes of House Hunters International. :-)

And now for the winner of the Sweetwater Hometown fat quarter bundle selected by Random Number Generator...Congratulations Gretchen who said:

I was born in McKeesport, Pa, but moved away from there when I was eight. I spent the rest of my growing up years in Belleville, MI which really feels more like my hometown to me. Instill live in that general vicinity.

Gretchen, I'll be in touch to arrange shipment of your prize!

Reading your comments was such fun! Thank you for the enthusiasm and personal stories you shared. I wasn't expecting that but was reminded what a wonderful sharing and supportive community of sewers we have. :-)