Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Scientific Pinwheel Quilt Gifted

I'm constantly amazed how quickly small quilts get finished. It took part of one day to sew the borders on and pin baste the quilt, another day to quilt it, and it was bound the next morning. Then it just needed a quick wash and dry to be ready to gift.

I like to wrap these quilts into little sausages and tie them with a pretty bow. The colors are pretty enough for wrapping paper and I get to see their excitement when it's unrolled. How do you wrap quilt gifts?

Scientific Pinwheels baby quilt

Scanning my stash brought this yellow and green stripe to the surface.

Green and yellow binding
on Scientific Pinwheel baby quilt

Red was my original plan for the binding with grey quilting thread but I like this even better, especially since the backing is red with "sun-printed" ferns.

Back and binding of 
Scientific Pinwheel baby quilt

I sewed the binding to the back then pressed it away from the back and again to turn it over the raw edge. That means only the corners need to be pinned although I use a stiletto to keep things straight.


Pressed binding only needs
a few pins in the corners

This baby quilt going to its Forever Home tomorrow. Hooray!

Quilt Details
Size: 41" x 41"
Design: Medallion with hourglass, Chinese coins, and pinwheel blocks
Batting: Hobbs Premium 100% bleached cotton
Thread: red Gutermann cotton thread, 
Quilting: Free motion Baptist fans 

Enjoy the day, Ann

26 comments:

Gale Bulkley said...

What a marvelous gift! I'm going to follow your lead on ironing the binding. I don't wrap gifted quilts either and simply fold them up. If there's enough leftover fabric, a pillowcase might get made as a wrapper.

patty a. said...

The quilt turned out wonderful! That binding added another fun touch! I am like you - I usually just roll it up and tie it with some twill tape.

Nann said...

What a lively quilt -- perfect for a baby quilt intended to be used and loved. I like the FMQ Baptist Fans. It's a design I really need to get courageous to try.

Lisa J. said...

It's a beautiful quilt. I have also experienced awe at how quickly smaller quilts are to deal with....especially the pin basting.

Angie in SoCal said...

Fabulous. I'm delighted with the red you used to quilt it. Gives me impetus to try a "different" color next time I quilt a quilt. I usually place my quilt gift in a box and then wrap it in fabric.

Janie said...

Great contrast in your quilt Ann.
Pleasing to look at.
The baptist fan quilting is the perfect touch too.
Nice finish!

JoniStrother said...

Ann, I often mail baby quilts. I fold them and send them in boxes I save just for this purpose. I once saw a quilt rolled into a snake, (right side out), and coiled into a snail and boxed. I thought it was a terrible way to treat a piece of art, but after unrolling, it was nice an flat.

KaHolly said...

It’s just lovely and I’m sure was well received! Most of my gifted quilts get folded up and mailed. Sometimes I’ll make a matching tote to 'package' it in if I’m hand delivering it.

Mystic Quilter said...

Perfect binding fabric and the baptist fan quilting gives a lovely texture. Good idea for wrapping quilts for gifting, I have one to give to our youngest grandson on Saturday, I may t\go with your idea!!

Ann said...

Thanks, Gale. This is the first time I pressed twice and it's made sewing the binding much easier.
I admire you make pillowcases for the quilts. Perhaps I should try that sometime.

Ann said...

Thanks, Patty. The binding seemed a bit lightweight but now I really like it. Almost a circus feel; definitely child-like.
Rolling quilts keeps those pesky fold lines from forming.

O'Quilts said...

lovely

Monica said...

You know, it took me a while to figure out what was "scientific" about this quilt. I'm looking at the proportions, wondering if there is some arcane geometry involved...fractals...Fibonacci...

But no, it is a novelty fabric! LOL.I crack myself up sometimes. Anyway, great job, and perfect for baby! I hope it will make him or her curious too. :D

Mary Marcotte said...

I like this quilt! I think the binding you found really works. It's fun and colorful and goes with the novelty fabrics without being too matchy. My favorite, though, is the round of low-volume/whitish in the center. The contrast really brings the colors to life. Yep, I like this quilt!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Another lovely quilty gift! I too, roll up my quilts & tie them with some pretty ribbon or strip of special/blending fabric.

Ann said...

Thanks, Nann. I do hope they will use it frequently. They sent a photo with the baby on it so they've started. My fans are getting much better now that I use this design frequently. I always need constant practice. Julie's tips were invaluable - although I do some of them backwards. Hmm, why would that work for me?
It is a fun and quick design. I'm discovering how well curves look on straight line designs. Plus, the width of the quilting balances holding together with soft puffing. I do have a tendency to overquilt at times.

Ann said...

Oh, yes. Pin basting. I use a spoon to open close them because it saves my fingers. Thanks, Lisa.

Ann said...

I definitely overthink quilting threads but I'm trying to use up the stash. We always look at our quilts about 3" from the designs. Stepping away highlights "it's all small stuff."
Putting your quilts in a box makes the surprise greater and emphasizes the time you've taken. I don't know that I could give fabric away as wrapping. Brave Angie!

Ann said...

Thanks, Janie. I'm pleased how it worked out. For a while it seemed to be headed for disaster.

Ann said...

Yes, you'd need to box them to mail. I like the coiled snake since it keeps {some} wrinkles from forming.

Ann said...

Wow, Karen. I'm always impressed when quilters make presentation totes and pillowcases. Good for you.

Ann said...

Thanks, Maureen. I know your grandson loved the gift; you use such delicious fabrics.

Ann said...

Thanks.

Ann said...

We are twins, Monica. That sounds like something I'd do. I did intend to piece some math symbols like Nann suggested but needed to get it done by the time the father was in town.

Ann said...

Thanks, Mary. The quilt really needed that quiet round. Originally I put the pinwheels in the inner border which simply didn't work. It took a while to figure out that the quilt needed a quiet and much lighter section. Thanks for noticing the colors don't always match; they blend. That's my story anyway. I'm glad you like it, too.

Ann said...

I'll remember your idea to tie with fabric strips. I'm finally running out of ribbon. Thanks, Linda.