Timber!

Don't you just love it when it's time for another One Thimble release? I sure do! The only thing more fun than reading through the great articles is sewing up one of the fabulous patterns!
This time around, I got to try out the "Timber!" quilt pattern by Rachel Rossi Designs as part of the OT blog tour for Pattern Revolution.

Have you never read a One Thimble e-zine? If not, you are missing out! Look at all the great contributors featured in this issue.

Look at this beautiful cover!!

I have a niece who's expecting a baby girl in May and I decided this quilt would be a perfect gift!
She's actually naming the baby "Willow" and I think these are birch trees, but I don't think she'll mind, lol!
This was my first time sewing up a project from Rachel Rossi and, WOW!, it's a very in-depth pattern!  The instructions are very clear and precise, leaving you very little room for error.
I appreciate that the applique pieces print in reverse so you don't need to worry about flipping anything around when you trace it out.

One thing I didn't do according to the pattern is cut my strips long enough. The pattern comes in two sizes-crib and twin. I had planned on making the crib size...but, then I came home from the fabric store, lol.  I picked up this black and gold fabric with zero projects in mind, but realized it's perfect for this quilt-makes it look like a starry night to me. ;)
Anyhow, the fabric is only 42" wide and I didn't buy enough to cut lengthwise, so I ended up with a quilt that's only about 40" long after quilting. (Honestly, this may never see the inside of a crib, so I'm good with the size.)
I amped up the comfort on this quilt with the pink swirl minky fabric.  It matches great with the bear on the front and I used one of the bear fabrics for the binding to pull it all together.

I am very pleased with how the quilt came out and I bet my niece will be, too!

Don't forget to check out all the other stops on the tour!!

2/9/2017

Pattern Revolution

Call Ajaire

The Berry Bunch

2/10/2017

SewSophieLynn

Candice Ayala

Lilyshine Creates

2/11/2017

Sprouting Jube Jube

Once Upon a Sewing Machine

Beri Bee Designs

2/12/2017

That's-Sew-Kari

Gaafmachine

SnickerDoodle Stew

2/13/2017

Stitches by Laura

Made by Sara

Max California

2/14/2017

Little Cumquat

Tales of a Tester

House of Estrela

2/15/2017

Not Sew Selfish

Adventures with Bubba and Bug

Lulu and Celeste

Happy sewing! :)

My First Quilts

Let's go back to the fall of 2001. Do you know where you were?  I had just moved to Houston, Texas, with my husband and then 2 year old son.  I was also expecting my second bundle of joy.  Almost as soon as I knew that I was pregnant, I started planning what I would be making for her....okay, him as it turned out! ;)

I hadn't even attempted a quilt since one of my nephews was born (So long ago I can't remember which one, lol). I must have made 4 quilts for my soon-to-be infant son, but unfortunately I didn't keep most of them.  I have kicked myself several times because I would love to have them to hand down to my grandchildren someday. :/  But that's okay, I have plenty of time to make something for them...hopefully at least 10 years! 

Here is the one I made that we kept. Affectionately referred to as the "Baby Blanket," this one finished somewhere around 45."  I came across the pattern in a magazine at my stepmom's house and instantly fell in love. Since we hadn't yet learned what we would have, I chose a pleasing combination of purple, green, and yellow. The back is the tie-dye fabric you see in some of the blocks. My son used this quilt on an almost daily basis until he was 9!  Yes, he had probably outgrown it at least 3 years earlier, but had not complained a bit. :)  I finally realized that he was a little big for it and offered to make him a new quilt.  Sweet, sweet child that he is, he asked me if I could just add some more onto this quilt so that it would be a little bigger!  <3

 

 Of course I offered to make a totally new quilt using any design he wanted.  He wanted the same pattern, just a bigger size.  Here it is, made sometime in the year before he turned ten.  He loves this quilt, too.  As much as the first one?  Probably not.  The original "Baby Blanket" is the softest, cuddliest, coziest quilt ever! I'm sure that is due to being washed so many times and being wrapped up in until the edges have started to fray a little.

 Guess what?  We still use the "Baby Blanket!"  I think it's the perfect size to curl up under while watching tv.  It's great if we have "little" friends over that need a nap. I have even caught my son using it from time to time! :)  Definitely a labor of love, well worth every minute, every crooked stitch, every pin-stuck finger. ;)

Do you have a favorite quilt with a story?  I would love to hear about it...