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Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Laney's Big Girl Quilt - RSS Summer Sew-along

Here is a fun finish for my littlest granddaughter!

Ruby Star Society Sample Quilt

What began as a summer sew-along has turned into a fall finish! After making a Gingham Table Runner, I spied another project featuring colorful squares of fabric on Instagram for the Ruby Star Summer Sewalong. I love gingham and plaid effects in quilting, and thought this would make a great summer picnic quilt. We haven't been on a picnic in years, but I love the sound of "picnic quilt"!


I printed out the free pattern and was just starting to pull some fabrics from stash when my daughter texted me. She and 6 year-old Delaney (we all call her "Laney") were "fighting" over a quilt that my daughter had claimed the last time they visited. (Side note: It was this quilt, and you might recall I made it for myself. Well it was mine until my daughter saw the back of it and fell in love - lol!) She wondered if I would want to make Laney her own "big girl" quilt so she wouldn't have to share her quilt with her - lol!

Laney loves this fabric!

RSS suggested these possible colorways for the quilt

As you know, when someone asks you to make them a quilt, heavenly choirs sing! On a whim I sent my daughter the picture of the sample sew-along quilt and asked her if she thought Laney would like the pattern. Well yes, she loved the pattern so I sent her some of the colorways suggested, and Laney chose the one that features Tarrytown by Kimberly Kight (middle colorway shown above). A big part of the attraction was the above navy turtle fabric. We narrowed down preferred colors, I ordered from two Etsy shops, and everything arrived fairly quickly.


The pattern features strip cutting, and with the charm packs, cutting was pretty fast. The making of the quilt was prolonged due to two cataract surgeries, but better late than never!


Binding choice was influenced by Diann at Little Penguin Quilts, who has used Tula Pink's gorgeous Fairy Dust in a few of her projects. I found it in lavender and there was every color needed! Quilting was a widely spaced "swirly criss-cross" (my name for it) because my daughter prefers less quilting.

Quilt back blowing in the breeze

Closeup of the backing
My daughter sent me photos of the colors in Laney's room as well as her sheets. I found the perfect backing, which not only coordinates with the fabrics on the front but also with Laney's sheets!


Cozy softness after laundering!

I have to say a word about the batting. Last year I used up the last of a big roll of batting I had purchased on sale from Joann's fabrics. I asked Kathleen of Kathleen McMusing for her recommendations. Kathleen is always so kind and patient with any questions I have, and she gave me such good information. I ended up purchasing Quilters Dream Cotton Select Loft, and I could not be more pleased with it! I never knew how much difference good batting can make in a quilt. My quilts are so soft and cozy after laundering, and you can actually feel the difference between my most recent quilts and my old ones. So thank you Kathleen!

We will deliver the quilt on Friday while Laney is in school,
so my daughter will send me a photo of Laney with her quilt
Quilt Details
Finished pre-laundered size: 68 x 69 inches
Finished laundered size: 65 x 66 inches
Pattern: Perfect Picnic, a free Buffalo-style plaid pattern found here

Fabrics
Main:
Fabrics from Tarrytown by Kimberly Kight for Ruby Star Society
Hole Punch Dots in White by Kimberly Kight for Ruby Star Society 
Stay Gold by Melody Miller for Ruby Star Society
Sugar Sunshine by Sara Watts for Ruby Star Society
Effie's Woods by Deb Strain for Moda
Tessalations Diamond Stack Purple by Victoria Bright for River's Bend 
Backing:
Words Allover from Sweet World by Charlotte Grace for Wilmington Prints
Binding:
Tula Pink's Fairy Dust in lavender

Batting:
Quilters Dream Cotton Select Loft

Thread:
Superior Threads So Fine #50 in Genoa Gray #503

15 comments :

  1. Oh Linda, that is gorgeous! I love the fabric choices, the backing, and the bindireally aly is perfect. The whole thing is definitely perfect for a special granddaughter! Congratulations on your finish! I'm going to have to put that pattern on my list.

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  2. Laney's quilt is lovely! Your sewing of it may have been delayed because of your cataract surgery but it sewed together so much easier because of it! Happy stitching!

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  3. There really is no compliment greater than when one of your children asks you to make something for them. I love this.\

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  4. Great quilt. Laney will adore it. My big OH! Was your quilt shrank 3” both directions after washing. Yikes. I seldom wash my quilts before passing them on but I might do so on one or two just to see the difference in size although I use a cotton with 20% poly in it. You did a great job.

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  5. I love this quilt! The design is simple, but it really gives you the opportunity to see the beauty of the fabric. I’m also very impressed with how lovely your morning glories are. That’s a wonderful picture of the quilt draped over a chair with the morning glories in the background. Pattie @Olla-Podrida

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  6. Congrats on a beautiful finish!! It is lovely.

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  7. I love this quilt! What a great pattern. It’s so happy. Laney is going to love it.

    Michelle
    https://mybijoulifeonline.com

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  8. This turned out beautifully, Linda. I love your fabrics and I think you are making a little girl very happy with this quilt. Thanks for the info about the batting. I've had a bit of a struggle lately with batting.

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  9. YAY!!! It is gorgeous!!! and she will LOVE it!!!!!

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  10. I think you should start making three of everything you make. So sweet that they were fighting over a quilt that you made. This one so beautiful. She has good taste and I know she is going to love it!

    -Soma

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  11. How precious! She will love having her own quilt. Now, will a 3rd one be in the making for the youngest grandson?

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  12. What a wonderful quilt for your GD and extra special that you found fabric to go with her sheets too!

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  13. I'm late commenting, not sure how I missed this post. What a cute quilt - I love that turtle fabric!

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