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Stars and Butterflies Baby Quilt

This little baby quilt and I have made it to the finish line. Perhaps not quite in time for my little grand daughter's arrival (she is now 3 months old), but just in the nick of time for her move from bassinet to the big girl crib. I have named the quilt "A Pocketful of Starlight", just as Perry Como likes to croon. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t_PDU5RmBw), "Catch a falling star and put it in you pocket, save it for a rainy day".

Three different shaped stars, which have been either machine appliqued or pieced, form the focal motif for the quilt. Three free motion quilted (FMQ) butterflies intertwine and emerge from the midst of these falling stars and join this little quilted galaxy.

To keep the butterflies fluid and moving and separated from the curvy, swirly background filler, I added a small scale cross hatch border around them.

A larger quilted star shape surrounds each of the yellow appliqued stars to highlight them and to keep them separate from the background.




As you can see in the next 2 photos, the quilt is more like a whole cloth quilt then a pieced quilt, with a great deal more FMQ then applique or piecing. Variations of the quilted stars mimic the shapes of the appliqued stars and form the basis of the quilting design.



On the back of the quilt, a row of falling stars drop into a pocket, which doubles as the quilt label.


Close-up of the back of the quilt.

The front of the completed quilt.


So now that our little grand baby is happily dreaming under the stars, it's on to the next project (or 10!) for this gram.

Comments

  1. Monika KinnerMarch 24, 2015 at 12:38 AM

    That is unbelievable beautiful! WOW. What a keepsake!

    ReplyDelete
  2. MonicaMarch 24, 2015 at 6:41 PM

    My goodness, this is wonderful! It is so clever with the stars showing through on the front and back, and the quilting designs seem better than ever. That cross hatching looks perfect -- did you use a ruler or is it just freehand? What a lucky baby -- congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seams FrenchMarch 25, 2015 at 4:40 PM

      Ah yes, it would have been clever of me to plan on having the stars shining through the layers if it had been intentional. Lucky break this time!
      The border around the butterflies went through many different permutations before I finally settled on the cross hatch. The stitching on the cross hatch is free motion, however, I did mark in some reference lines with a ruler to make sure the rows remained parallel.
      Thanks so much for your comments; I always appreciate your input.

      Delete
  3. sherryMarch 24, 2015 at 7:02 PM

    OMG stunning

    ReplyDelete
  4. needle and nestMarch 24, 2015 at 7:28 PM

    Oh my stars!!!!! This is, quite possibly, the most beautiful free motion quilting I've ever seen. What a blessed baby!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seams FrenchMarch 25, 2015 at 4:44 PM

      Thanks so much for your very kind comments and your support. And thank you for your help in in sourcing organic baby cottons at the beginning of this endeavour. Much appreciated.

      Delete
  5. What Comes Next?March 24, 2015 at 10:23 PM

    gorgeous quilt, it is destined to be a much loved heirloom, I'm sure!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Marjorie's Busy CornerMarch 25, 2015 at 4:39 AM

    Just gorgeous!!! Your quilting is exceptional

    ReplyDelete
  7. HollyMMarch 25, 2015 at 5:25 PM

    I am in awe of your machine quilting! Just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousApril 3, 2015 at 12:23 PM

      The quilt is amazing! It is hard to believe that you do this on a regular sewing machine and not a long arm machine. I wish I had that talent! It is exquisite. Such a lucky little girl to have such a loving and talented grandma! I adore the simplicity of the yellow and white and all the lovely quilting!

      Delete
  8. Seams FrenchApril 3, 2015 at 8:19 PM

    You are much too kind and generous Karen. You inspire me with both your exquisite work and your dedication to family and friends. Thank you so much.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Cynthia GilbrethApril 6, 2015 at 7:57 PM

    This is sooooo beautiful! Your quilting is exquisite! Lucky baby, I hope mama takes good care of the quilt and doesn't let baby drag it through the mud. What's the next project? Now I have that song running through my head, which is not a bad thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seams FrenchApril 6, 2015 at 8:13 PM

      Thanks Cynthia. I think that mama is so worried about soiling the quilt, baby may never be allowed to sleep under it, although that would be a little sad and would sort of defeat the purpose:) As to the next project, there's another baby quilt in the works for extended family, and there's always a boutis project (or 3) on the list. Glad to see you back in the blogisphere.

      Delete
  10. AnonymousApril 26, 2015 at 8:06 PM

    That is truly a stunning and glorious quilt design!

    ReplyDelete

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