Thursday, June 23, 2011

A Finished Quilt: "Ladybugs for Bailey"


This quilt is for a very special little girl in my life. She will *technically* be my niece next year when I get married, but she and the other kids already calls me Aunt Jess :)

(Those monstrous feet belong to my wonderful fiance!)

Bailey just turned four. I was dating Mike when she was born, and also when her little sister was born. I remember holding her when she was a baby - she loved grabbing for my necklaces and hair. Now, her family lives in Texas, but they are coming to visit for the whole month of July! I can't wait to spend time with them and give her the quilt.


My senior prom (she was about a year old):

When she turned 2:
Last time I saw her, I asked if she wanted me to make her a blanket. She said yes, and that she wanted "pink, purple, ladybugs, and my name, Bailey Mae." I was only happy to oblige. ;) Plus, I added the bee in, because I found out she's going to be a bee in a play (I can't figure out a better way to write that last part!)

I am so happy to finally finish this quilt because it's been in the making for the whole first half of this year! I've been posting bits and pieces of it but nowwww it's doneeee :) Sigh of relief.


I'm still experimenting with applique - all the flowers, lady bugs, stems, words, antennae, and singular bee were stitched on with a zig zag machine stitch.

Dimensions: 56 in x 65 in

Quilting: Stipple on the inside square, stitch in the ditch around the borders and charm squares. This is also the first time I've really done some legitimate hand quilting. I didn't realize how long it takes, but I really love the way it looks. I quilted in the purple border - I thought about doing a second, different colored thread there too, but I like the way the one quilted border looks.

I also hand quilted around each layer of the flowers (you can see this in the last picture above).


Design: For the flowers and stems, I was inspired to make them 3D by Piece n Quilt and this Ruffled Flower Rag Quilt tutorial by Bobbie. The original inspiration for this quilt is from Piece n Quilt, too (I can't find the link but I saved this picture on my computer because I knew something similar would be perfect for Bailey):

Fabric: Many! What can I say, I love to make it scrappy. It's a Hoot, Dream On, Soul Blossoms, Love, Innocent Crush, Fandango, American Jane Pindot, Sunkissed, others, remnants from my mom's stash, scraps I've gathered from other quilters. I got out my charm packs and mixed an matched for the second border.

Backing: Pieces with same hodge-podge of fabric mentioned above (several pieces from my mom's stash)

Binding: Machine stitched to the top, hand stitched to the back. A purple paisley fabric I found at Joann's - I really love it and need to get more.


I'll post a picture when I give it to her!

Linking up to:



12 comments:

  1. awww so pretty! Best aunt everrrr

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  2. I'm sure she'll adore it - made with love as it obviously was!

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  3. So, soooo cute!! You've created a most wonderful quilt that she is sure to love for the rest of her life. :)

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  4. She will LOVE it I'm sure and have many hours snuggling under it. It's a real treasure and you've done a fantastic job. Maybe you need to start another new quilt now ? Lol xx

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  5. What a darling quilt! I'm sure Bailey will cherish it for years to come :)

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  6. Beautiful! What a great quilt to capture all the imagination of a beautiful young girl!
    Whoop Whoop!

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  7. Beautiful quilt. Sew cute! You did a great job. Bailey will love it.

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  8. Possibly one of your best quilts yet :) I love all the bright colors and stippling. Great job and I know Bailey will love it a lot!

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  9. that is adorable!! She is going to love it for many years to come!

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  10. It's beautiful, Jess, and she'll love it forever!! Whoop whoop!!

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  11. Whoop Whoop!! What a cute quilt, love the fabrics you chose. She's a cutie, too :-)

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