Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Butterfly Baby Quilt Flitted Away

The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.
~Vince Lombardi

Quilting


The butterfly quilt is finally finished. Can you believe these blocks began in 2017 and have been hibernating in a box for four years?

The inner border gives a needed break and the light fabric sets off the green backgrounds although a different light fabric might have worked better. Still, this is the best in my stash and these quilts are about using what's on hand as well as welcoming a new child.

Butterfly Baby quilt

Nothing much will show on the busy top but Baptist fans are always a good choice. The directional changes strengthen the quilting. This time I added a curve of petals in each fan.  That took care of the inner section. 

Butterfly quilt quilting detail

The inner border is a simple set of loops.  Then I foolishly created large pebbles for the outer border. It took forever, used loads of thread, and doesn't even show. Sometimes I outsmart myself.

Butterfly quilt outer border detail


The back is a large floral on white from my stash. The binding is a multi-colored batik that blends with most of the colors. 

Butterfly quilt folded

Quilt Specifics
Size: 40" x 40"
Design: String tulips and string block border
Batting: Mountain Mist Cream Rose cotton
Thread: Superior 50/3 light and grey cotton thread
Quilting: FMQ
Approximate yardage: 6 yds

Previous posts:

Reading

I'm losing details of each series by reading one novel and waiting for a couple of months. OTOH, there can be a different loss when reading too many in a row. The quirks of an author become annoying.  I decided to try a different tack - either read them all the way through or at least in groups. Trying to get more out of them without a surfeit.


Anyway I finished three more in Martin Walker’s Bruno mysteries: The Devil’s Cave, The Resistance Man, and The Children Return, plus the novella Bruno and the Carol Singers. This is an excellent series with well-developed characterizations, setting, and knowledge of the region and its history.

We also watched the latest Pixar movie this weekend. Luca, a fish-herding sea creature, meets Alberto, a fellow sea creature who lives in an abandoned tower. They dream of visiting the mainland and buying a Vespa. Their behavior reminded me of my brothers growing up. How did any of them survive to adulthood?

And then DH found Smigadoon! on Apple+, a six espisode take-off of classic musicals. We've watched the first three and enjoyed the talented actors.

Monthly FUR (Fabric Use Rate) 

Two quilts this month. July = 12.5 yds. YTD =  94.375 yards. I purchased some fabric this summer but am still winnowing my stash.

Enjoy the day, Ann


22 comments:

patty a. said...

Congratulations on another wonderful finish and you finally get to put this in a stash pile.

LA Paylor said...

it's a sweet quilt... partway thru each quilt I wondered why I wasted fabric and time on it, then love it again when it's done. I need to read that Bruno series

rondiquilts said...

Great finish! Always love a variety of fabrics and prints. I so desperately need to use up my stash instead of buying what piques my interest.
Rondi / rondiquilts@yahoo.com

Nann said...

The "breather" light fabric looks just fine from here, Ann. I wonder if Schmigadoon is available on any of the platforms we get -- it sounds like fun.

Nann said...

(I looked. It's on Amazon.)

Julierose said...

Your butterfly quilt came out so beautifully--I really like that centered set off section--nice work hugs, Julierose

Linda said...

What a fabulous butterfly quilt! So pretty, so many lovely colours for baby to look at, so stimulating for a little one. I like your idea of breaking up the butterflies with the frame around the centre section. That really focuses the eyes onto both areas of butterflies.

Kaja said...

Isn't it frightening how fast time goes? I sometimes finish a quilt and am horrified when I look back to see when it was started. As for outsmarting yourself, you are in good company there!

Ann said...

Thanks, Patty. It was on the stash pile for a day until my son asked for it for a friend. And so it goes. But I'm thrilled people want them.

Ann said...

If I ever like a quilt halfway through, it never turns out well at the end. The ones I am hesitant about at midway turn out much better in the end. Perhaps because I spend more time trying to fix some problem or the other.

Ann said...

Thanks, Rondi. Having lots of people to gift baby quilts to helps keep my stash in stasis. I donate also but really enjoy giving them to DH's co-workers and my children's friends.
And it helps that I rarely go out these days. It's hard to resist fabric when I can run my hands over it. The stuff online is easier to ignore; I don't know what it feels like and the colors aren't always accurate.

Ann said...

I will enjoy hearing what you think of the series. It's fun. The writers did comedy routines before so there's lots of shtick (the humor is a bit sophomoric) but at the same time, you can tell they love musicals.

Ann said...

Thanks, Julierose. I wanted to use all the blocks but didn't want a really wide border. The offset looks good to me, too.

Ann said...

Thanks, Linda. I think babies like bright colors, too. The border was added to make the blocks fit but it worked out well. Better than solid butterflies perhaps.

Ann said...

Yes. It seems like just yesterday. When I was a child time crawled but now it flies.
Good to know I have smarty-pants company. Haha.

QuiltGranma said...

Sew cute, it will surely be appreciated by the baby's mother, hopefully there will be pictures of baby and quilt for the little one to look back and appreciate your work from some future time.

Mystic Quilter said...

Great Finish! A start in 2017 sounds not too bad when I know I have three from 2015 waiting for me. I have never tried Baptist Fan quilting, I thin k it's a very versatile design and will try it one day - any tips gratefully received!

Ann said...

Thanks. It is a treat to receive photos of babies on our quilts, isn't it?

Ann said...

Thanks, Maureen. I don't have as many old projects lying around but there are still several. Baptist Fan works well because of the gentle curves. I've written about it lots. Just search for that term on my blog. And QuiltDivaJulie sent me some tips that she also added to her blog. Hope this helps.

Mystic Quilter said...

Thanks Ann - I'll head over to your blog later this morning and check out Julie's also.

Preeti said...

The taper is subtle, but the inner border is bold. The lime green pinwheels as the secondary pattern is the best!!!

Ann said...

Thanks, Preeti. The light inner border worked well but I wish I'd had a less-busy fabric. OTOH, it doesn't compete with the butterflies or the lime background; it just sits back.