Today for Throwback Thursday, Jenn suggested we share makes of Christmas past. I don’t have any specifically “holiday” made quilts, but this quilt was gifted during the holiday season of 2008 and was the first quilt I had made in years. This quilt kicked off a slow, steady progression of quilt making that has evolved directly to where I am today, so it is near and dear.
Flannel Baby Quilt – Front
I had 2 good friends who were expecting their first child. They love to spend evenings outside star gazing, so I wanted to make a flannel quilt they could use to wrap the baby up to join them. I designed the quilt in Microsoft Paint after I picked out the fabric from Fabric.com. As you can see in my concept sketch below, I also pulled a baby quilt image to kind of use as a guide, too.
Concept Brainstorming
First Blocks
I remember being so excited when the first few blocks were sewn together. I had forgotten the joy of creation and I have to say I have definitely been hooked since those stitches. Clearly, I have older quilts than this, but this quilt marks the start of my love affair with the craft.
Flannel Baby Quilt – Back
The quilt top was slightly larger than a regular width of fabric, and I remember worrying that piecing the backing together was too funky.
Flannel Baby Quilt – Ready to Gift
I was so excited to be able to gift this to my friends and it arrived at their home just a few days before Christmas.
Watching the Peresids
And I am super happy to say that 5 years later, I received this fantastic image of my friend’s sons watching the Peresid meteor shower, snuggled under the flannel quilt.
Linking up with Throwback Thursday with Jenn @A Quarter Inch from the Edge.
I think its so cute and bet you were proud you made it! Kids don’t look how it is made but how cuddly it is! Wish I could show you my first one but it was supposed to be a wall hanging and my niece grabbed it and it never went on the wall, loved to death so no photo!!
What an awesome picture of the kids using the quilt!! Seeing quilts being used and loved long after they have been gifted just makes me smile 🙂 The wonder in the that little face is just priceless!! It is a great quilt and I’m so impressed that you planned the quilt out with paint prior to putting it together!
Who heartwarming to know that your quilt is loved and still used. I like the brainstorming photo.
It’s funny how one project can snowball into a passion. You just have to smile when you see the picture of the boys with the quilt. I’m sure a lot of memories have been made that include your quilt. From star gazing to maybe fort building and cuddling with it when they just need something soft and warm. I think when we give quilts as a gift, it’s just the thing we want, for it to be loved.
I’m pretty sure you’ve heard me go on about it before but there is literally nothing that makes me happier than seeing something I’ve made being used and loved year later. What a great share 🙂
Aww such a sweet quilt! I love how you packaged it up, and I love that pic of the two of them–THAT is a gift to be sure!
Love those cute monkeys and frogs. It’s great to know and see that a quilt we’ve made is being used and loved.
Yvonne, I truly enjoyed reading your post today as did every one else! It is always magnificent as a quilter to reminiscence. I think it helps to hold us strong and true to ourselves and one another along with what we do. Seeing the picture is another great treasure for so many of us. I like to envision this as being one of the charity quilts that I have donated and how it is being used. Thank you so much for creating such a fantastic quilt that is a special heartfelt warming part of these children’s lives and yours and sharing it with all of us! Have a wonderful creative day!
Cute little quilt, and fun to read about your early journey designing your blocks. And wonderful that you received this photo with your quilt in use!
While I agree with the above comments, my real chuckle came from the concern over the pieced back. How times have changed!
Look at all those cute little critters! I think some of them made their way to me for DTs I Spy quilt! Isn’t it lovely to see quilts you have made still in use years later? Thanks for linking up with Throwback Thursday @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge!
Adorable! Great to know they still enjoy the quilt. I’ve often wondered about the fate of quilts given as gifts.
Isn’t it wonderful to see the quilts we have made for family and friends being used and loved? All that time and effort…so worth it.
It is a beautiful quilt and it is wonderful to see it being enjoyed! When I gift a quilt I tell people to use them, we all have washer machines for a reason 🙂
How fun to see the quilt being used still, one of my favorite parts of being a quilter! 🙂
Seeing their little faces with your quilt…that’s why…we do what we do! I love when we get that moment of glee when a block works or it comes together. I think you had some of that here!
That last picture is priceless and probably pretty much sums up the reason you have a love affair with quilting, right? Funny to think you were concerned that the pieced back was too funky. Trendsetter!
That is such a great story Yvonne. I still design quilts with the Microsoft paint program and use it in conjunction with EQ. What a wonderful gift that is of the photo of the children watching the meteor shower!
Lovely story. And what a dear photo of the two scamps cuddling up under your quilt.
What a fun quilt. I loved seeing it in use and hearing how it helped get you into quilting more regularly.
awe! very nice!
How cool that you were already designing using tech back then! And lovely to receive a photo like that 5 years on.