I'm so happy to be sharing this finished quilt. I bought the race car fabric quite a while ago and hadn't found a reason to use it until recently. I designed this quilt to feature the race cars without chopping them up to small. There are a fair number of partial seams, but I already mastered those while making my Purple Ninja quilt. I love bright colors and enjoyed pulling together the blender fabrics to accompany the race cars. I ordered the Ta Dot print in Apple and Crosshatch Sketch in Tangerine since I didn't have the right green or orange in my stash. So five of my seven fabrics are from my stash.
Each section is quilted in matching Aurifil thread (Red #2250, Burnt Orange #1133, Canary #2120, Spring Green #1231, Turquoise #2810). I chose to use the same motif in each matching section of the layout, and I wanted a variety of curves and lines. The cars each have a freeform, flamelike pattern (in Natural White #2021). The square sections each have a square spiral. I used large pebbles (I like to think of them as river rocks) in the top of each pair of rectangles and switchback quilting on the diagonal in the lower rectangle. The long, skinny rectangles were each quilted with a curvy zigzag that ended up looking like shark fins to me. It's been a while since I've done much free motion quilting, so it was fun to get back in the groove. It's so much more fun than quilting a bunch of parallel straight lines (that quilt will be done soon so I can share it!).
I had a great stripe in my stash that I chose for the backing, which drove the size of the quilt. It finished at 34" x 40". I think it's a great baby quilt size, even though this one will be going to a 4-year-old. It's still a great size for cuddling up with at that age. Certainly big enough to cover himself on the couch for reading or TV watching.
Since the quilt was full of color and the backing was, um... loud, I decided to bind it in a black and white. It's the first time that I have made a straight grain binding which I found a little more picky to work with, but I wanted to keep the crosshatch pattern on the binding on the diagonal.
What do you like best about making quilts for kids?
Thanks for visiting!
I'm linking up to Finish It Friday, TGIFF and Needle and Thread Thursday, as well as the Q3 Finish Along finishes party. See all my Q3 WIPs in my goal post.
BillieBee
So cute and fun...zoom zoom.
sarah
Post authorThanks!
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
The backing fabric is so perfect, wow! The quilting looks great, and I love how you think of pebbles as river rocks, I really like that visualization. Making for kids is fun because the quilts usually are smaller and go fast (haha), but also feature fun and play that we adults seem to have lost in our lives.
sarah
Post authorI wonder if the stripe and the cars were from the same line. I should have checked the selvage. No idea if it's still around here now. ;-) I definitely love the smaller feature of kid quilts! I have some zebra and elephant fabrics that I'm itching to make into a kids quilt. I just need to decide who to make it for. :-) Thanks for visiting, Yvonne!
Marji
My new favorite, Sarah! Lucky kid to get this special gift :-)
sarah
Post authorAww, thanks Marji! It was a lot of fun to make.
Linda
I love all the different quilting.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Linda!
Bernie @ Needle and Foot
This is adorable. Wonderful selection of quilting motifs, Sarah. The binding is perfect!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Bernie! I'm looking forward to making this quilt again in another palette.
Bo
Looks great!! Your son will be thrilled!!
sarah
Post authorThank, Bo... but it's not for him. ;-)
liz
GORGEOUS!!!
sarah
Post authorThanks, Liz!
soma @ whimsandfancies.com
What a cute quilt and cozy too! Love your choice of binding!
-Soma
sarah
Post authorThank you, Soma! I just posted my latest quilt, another colorful one with a black and white binding.
Leanne
I love all the different quilting motifs! A lovely finished quilt. Thank you for participating in the FAL, on behalf of the 2016 global FAL hosts.
sarah
Post authorThank you. I really had fun choosing a variety of motifs. Thank you for all your time for the FAL. It really helps me stay motivated!
Celtic Thistle Stitches
Great use of that racing car fabric! I really like the black and white binding too. Just discovering the joys of making quilts for little people now that we have a brand new grandson :)
sarah
Post authorThank you and congratulations on your new grandson. I love how fast a baby quilt can be to make! Enjoy sewing for him!