FREE Pattern: Little Lamb Baby Quilt

Making a quilt with love for the purpose of giving it away is one of life's pleasures. It's even more special when that quilt is for a baby. Last year a dear friend of mine became Godmother to twins: a boy and a girl. Not being a quilter herself, she asked me if she could borrow some quilting books from my bookshelf. I was more than happy to agree. Being a sewing enthusiast, she was more than capable of sewing the quilt, she just couldn't decide on a pattern.

So she asked me to design a pattern for her; one for a boy and one for a girl. She wanted lambs and classic pink for the girl and blue for the boy. It had to be simple and 'babyish' she didn't want anything too modern. Oh, and as she was giving these quilts as a Christening gift, she wanted a William Blake quote on there somewhere as well. She intended to gift the quilts with a Bible and book of poetry, so that was her design wishlist.Well, I was stumped! But then I just decided to design a classic baby quilt according to her guidelines.

The Christening came and went and, like many quilters, she found her sewing deadline quite tough to stick to around a full time job and family of her own. So now, these quilts will be a 1st Birthday gift instead.

I was in two minds about releasing my baby quilts as I've always been too busy, quilt design wise to set aside time to put it all together in a 'pattern'. But last year after the intensity of Love Entwined, I decided that I would open up my design folio and start sharing whatever was in there. Even the quick, fun quilting projects. I have several baby quilt patterns that I've made over the years and in the weeks ahead, I will be releasing those here too.

The Lamb 

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee,

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed

By the stream and o’er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, woolly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

   Little lamb, I’ll tell thee;

   Little lamb, I’ll tell thee:

He is callèd by thy name,

For He calls Himself a Lamb.

He is meek, and He is mild,

He became a little child.

I a child, and thou a lamb,

We are callèd by His name.

   Little lamb, God bless thee!

   Little lamb, God bless thee!

− William Blake, 1789

Songs of Innocence by William Blake was originally a complete work first printed in 1789. It is a conceptual collection of 19 poems, engraved with artwork. The Lamb is a beautiful poem and ideal subject for a Godchild's quilt and I'm really happy to share this pattern with you. Of course, there is also the option of making this quilt without the applique letters and quoting your own verse, name, date or simply leaving the borders blank.

 Like It? Make It!

I am releasing this pattern as a 'complete' pattern, not a BOM. It will be available to members of my Yahoo BOM Group for 1 month for free. I will also be releasing the matching cushion to this baby quilt in the weeks ahead.

If you do make this quilt, please let me know by leaving a comment over on the Little Lamb page at the top of this blog and if you have a blog, why not add a post link of your own quilt progress on the permanent linky?

Lily Rose: Puffing out the oval frame

I've decided to 'puff' out the oval frame with some extra batting. I've cut out my batting accurately around the oval template and am putting it down into position accurately. I just feel that the quilt centre needs this little extra. Sometimes, depending on the thickness of the fabrics, I just don't think that extra batting or stuffing areas with trapunto wool is necessary, but lately I've gotten into doing this all over again. It doesn't make an instant visual difference, but it is a subtle and enhancing detail.

the biggest 'difference' will be when I quilt the oval frame; this little bit extra of batting now will really define my stitches. 

FREE Quilt: 'Heart It' is Launched !

Heart It is a charming heart themed quilt and I'm releasing it for free to all my group members. Do you have a heart themed quilt in your home? I don't - yet- so I decided to do something about that! Hearts are such a classic design and plenty of fun too. I've designed my hearts here in a 'sophisticated theme' of red and beige but I'm also falling in love with a girly scheme of pink and lemon. This is a quilt top design that can be made in a single weekend and completely satisfies my craving for simple pleasures - love hearts and simple pieced blocks. A perfect opportunity to show off those stash fabrics.

I make a lot of intense quilts, so its nice to get back to basics.

This pattern is ideal for beginners; full of repetition and practice with a good balance of piecing and applique. What's not to love about that? The full complete pattern is available in my Yahoo Group for free. It will be available there for 1 month.

If you make this quilt, please consider letting me know by adding a comment to the Heart It page at the top of this blog. There's also a linky there for any bloggers that want to share their journey with the rest of us.

Happy Quilting!

WOW: Collectible Sewing Kits

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

Today is an unusual WOW in that I'm not doing any sewing. I'm instead sorting through some boxes in the garage as we are having a garage sale. I think I have been downsizing for the last 5 years, it's just so hard. But other than that, its just so time consuming. But even so, some decisions are easier than others. Take for example my bag of sewing kits. I don't know why I even have so many. I guess its a bit like having hundreds of matchboxes back when everyone handed out little matchboxes wherever you went. That doesn't happen nowadays, but I can remember when it did. I think my sewing kit collection grew in the same way.

This is a basic sewing kit, it's rather pointless as it doesn't actually include a needle.

whereas this one has a fat needle that would puncture rather than sew your clothes

this is the deluxe version as it has 3 needles, 3 sizes of safety pin and even a press stud

the rest are all exactly the same, except for their different cardboard covers. I really wonder if anyone ever uses sewing kits. Did they ever? I know having hundreds of these in a bag is completely pointless and yet I think they're rather cute and don't really want to part with them. But I will.I definitely will. 

What's Your WOW ?

An InLinkz Link-up

Oma's Blues: Template C

In Oma's Blues, you have the option of creating charm plates with a ring within them (you could of course simply stitch down a fabric that you love, without applique, depending on the look you're after). With the charm plates themselves, this inner ring is quickly and easily appliqued with fusible.

This is a real time video guide for beginners. This is how I do it and the technique is the same regardless of the template or pattern or design I am following:

Oma's Blues Part 2 is Launched !

Phew, I'm launching on time! Yes, my copier issues are finally behind me and hopefully my trusty old Toshiba will be able to keep up as I intend 2015 to be my year for BOMs.

Since last month, some of you have already started on your centre plates  - and they're all looking wonderful, just how I imagined them. I'm feeling really sorry at the moment that I'm not making the pattern with you at the same time. This is how it has to be for most of my patterns from now on. 

There just aren't enough hours in the day for me to make everything I design. Mind you, if I didn't have so much going on this year, I think I would 'pause' LE for a year to get Oma's Blues made because I'm completely in love with it! You've probably noticed that I've started an Oma's Blues board over on Pinterest (you can see it from my Oma's Blues Page at the top of this blog). If you're making this quilt, be sure to share your journey with us. I've already seen some fabulous fabrics as well as one member who is going with an oriental inspired version...I can't wait. 

My heart skips a beat when I see a new image uploaded. I never knew so many of you were in love with the idea of a blue and white quilt too, and I'm so happy that Oma's Blues has snuggled into your hearts . I know many of you also remember your own Oma's with dishware and I've been touched by the emails I've received by those of you making your own quilt in memory of a loved one. What better use for a quilt can there be?

This month you will be creating the 4 x roses charm blocks and I already know they're going to be beautiful.

Can't wait to see your progress....

Oma's Blues is a free BOM available to members of my Yahoo BOM Group. 

We are currently at Part 2. Part 1 is still available for free, so if you're interested, join us today

Lily Rose: Sewing Down the Borders

Today I'm sewing in the borders and I hope to be done by lunchtime. I'm thinking about puffing out the oval frame by stuffing it lightly, just like I did over some of the flower details. I'll take a look at it when its all together and decide then what should be done. I'm feeling so determined to get Lily Rose completed as I know that its now or never. Meaning that if I don't finish this WIP now, when will I? I have so many WIPs I'm too daunted to even answer that question!

Often as I work I listen to the Quilt Show that I'll have running in the background or the radio. Today I opted for the radio and I've already had to change stations twice. There's a lot of nonsense on the radio about it being Friday the 13th. Well, I don't believe in bad luck or that a number can have any power over your luck, but if it did, surely talking about it non stop wouldn't help?? What about you? will you stay home today? Or avoid threading a needle?

Or do you have any other sewing superstitions you pay heed to?