Is a Drunkard's Path appropriate for a baby quilt?

Is a Drunkard's Path pattern appropriate for a baby quilt?

 I hope so! Because that's what this little girl will be getting.  Maybe I just won't tell her mother or grandmother what the block is called?

This small baby girl quilt is only about 40" square but I had to dig pretty deep into my stash for the pinks and purples.  Suffice it to say that I am NOT a pink person.  Adding the green was necessary to stretch my stash and I like the way it looks.  The colors of much more vibrant in real life than they are showing up on here.

Thor always "helps" me take pictures

I sew my curves without pinning, which makes this a quick and easy block.  I fold the pieces in half and crease to mark the center, then I line up the middles and sew from the middle out one direction, flip the block over, and sew from the center out in the other direction.

I quilted it by marking circles with a compass and quilting long "S" shapes to make chains of circles.  I saw the technique at Film in the Fridge and it worked like a charm.  The rounded corners were something I've been meaning to do for a while but always forget until it's too late.  I was pleasantly surprised by how easily the binding went on; no tucking required, it just eased around.

Most of the back is that blue-purple flannel with the circles on it.  I added a couple of strips of green polka dot flannel to the edges to make it big enough.  It's bound with a pastel pink polka dot fabric and ready to welcome a precious new little person.

Pet Peeves: How a quilt is like a sports car

Photo from homeautodesign.com

I just have to rant a little bit; tell me someone else is with me here!  (I'll explain the photo of the Veyron, just stick with me.) My number one quilting pet peeve (well, one of the top 5 at least) is seeing quilts hung on a wall, on display, instead of in use!

Now, don't get me wrong, some quilts are MADE to be display quilts and many quilters (myself included) have more quilts than we know what to do with and so keep some of them on rotation on display when all the beds are covered.  It's better than having them folded in a closet.  What I'm talking about is when a quilt is being hung on a wall because it's "too pretty to use" or "I'm afraid to mess it up."  What?

Quilts are MADE to be used.  They are made to be loved and cuddled.  Quilts are for spring time picnics and mid-winter snuggling on the couch with the dogs, and for comforting vomit-y children.  A few stains, tears, or worn patches on a quilt are well-earned battle scars.  Like laugh-lines on a face, they're evidence of a life well-lived.

Photo from automotivecarpictures.blogspot.com

Hanging a quilt on a wall is like having a really beautiful, fancy sports car and never taking it out of the garage.  Sure, it's pretty to look at, but if you never take it out for a drive and put your foot down it doesn't get to do what it was made to do.  And that's really a tragedy!

I feel the same way about seeing quilts hanging on the wall.  Yes, they're pretty.  They make great wall art.  But they're not getting to do what they were made to do. 

I always tell people when I give away a quilt: Use it!  If your quilt gets dirty, you can throw it in the washing machine.  If it gets worn beyond use, I'll make you a new one.  Nothing would make me happier than to know that one of my quilts was literally worn to pieces.

Hanging a quilt on the wall or folding it in a closet or otherwise coddling it to "save it" is a crime. Like people, quilts need to live fulfilled lives.  So please, people of the world, stop this travesty, USE your quilts.

New Wallhanging, a Small Finish

I finished this mini quilt wall hanging this week. It's a miniature version of the "Little Peeks" quilt I did last year. In fact, this was made with the scraps from that same charm pack. These tiny cathedral window block measure just 2.5" square and the whole quilt is 22"x27".

I quilted this with a star burst pattern starting in the empty corner. I had wanted to do the big quilt this way, but didn't think I could manage it on a large scale. It worked out great in the small scale and really highlights the un-quilted "peeled back" windows.

I started this at a sit-n-sew at my LQS a few weeks ago. Everyone was very interested in the blocks I was making and how it would all come together, so I'm glad I got it together in time to take it to show and tell this month. I can't wait to show it off!