Monday, March 25, 2019

Ugly Baby Quilt

I have been working on a baby quilt made from a pattern called Shadow Stars by Tied With a Ribbon
sawtooth star blocks being sewn on white featherweight
My daughter made it clear that she does not like this quilt, and I have to admit that her expressed dislike of the result of my efforts did take a bit of the "wind out of my sails" when I was working on it. 
I made this quilt using fabrics given to me from my friend Helen's stash after she died. Helen would have been this new baby boy's Great Grandmother had she lived to see the day, so I do hope that it means something special to the family that this quilt is NOT made with the newest, most beautiful, colour coordinated modern fabrics. 

Not all quilts can be showstoppers, right?!? 
This will be a drag around, take to the beach, "use it up until it's thread bare" kind of quilt. 


Next I am trimming the 160 bonus HST blocks from the sawtooth star points and plan to use them in a border to make the quilt a little larger.

Linking up to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts.

31 comments:

The Joyful Quilter said...

Ugly is rather harsh. I actually rather like how the quilt is coming together! More important is the fact that you put thought into its making. It will surely be a special gift for that baby!

Unknown said...

Please make sure you include the details on the label, that the fabric came from the baby's great grandmother. It's a sweet story.

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

Sometimes daughter's just don't understand nor appreciate what we do with our quilting and why we do what we do--???
I think it is darling and that baby will love it--as that baby will be too little to know any different--yet--I know that baby will fell the love that is in the quilt between you and that great grandmother-so just keep stitching--and adding that love with each stitch--
luv, di

Vicki W said...

I think you are being way to hard on yourself. Just because one person doesn't like it doesn't matter. It's actually a really cute quilt and it's full of meaning. I think it's going to be loved and treasured.

Mary said...

It's a fine quilt. Ugly is not applicable. So much love will go with this quilt. Your daughter gave her opinion. Sew on, Kathy!!

Quilting Babcia said...

Babies and young children love animals and soft cuddly things, and this quilt is absolutely perfect for a little one. Made even more so with fabrics from his great-grandmother, I hope you'll include that information on the label, it may well become a family heirloom.

Debbie said...

I love the sentiment and story behind this quilt and fabric. Plus it is a perfect throw on the floor, have a picnic type quilt that should be used and not judged. Your effort to extend the generations will make it an heirloom like the above comments express.

Kaelyn Angelfoot said...

I think it's wonderful that you made the baby a quilt with fabrics from his great grandmother. That's an amazing heirloom piece. It has a lot of fabrics I think a little boy will love. My 18 month old absolutely loves dogs and stops to say hi to them every time we pass one. Remember that you are making it for the baby and not for your daughter.

Sewgreen said...

I like the quilt, especially the meaning behind it!! I love the connection with family!

The Cozy Quilter said...

What a lovely memory quilt for this baby. A piece of grandma’s love in a quilt.

Deb A said...

Question - did YOU like the quilt before your daughters comment? I think it is cute and great for a little boy - especially knowing it is from his great grandma's stash. Extra special that a friend made it specially for him....Sometimes we need to ignore other's comments and do what we enjoy and like. Quilty hugs.

Robin said...

My daughter doesn't like many of the quilts I make. But, I'm not making them for her so it doesn't really matter to me. That being said, she picked out some fabrics for a quilt project that I thought were terrible. This cute baby quilt, with the sentiment attached, will be greatly appreciated.

Birthe Marie said...

I think this was a nice quilt. It is especially nice when the fabrics are memories from a great aunt. A lovely gift for the baby. :-)

Janet O. said...

When I read your post title I had to wonder if the baby was ugly or the quilt. I hoped you meant the quilt. :)
I think it makes a great "use until threadbare" kind of quilt. The source of the fabrics will certainly give it special meaning.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I think it is cute.

Marie said...

I think it is wonderfully thoughtful of you to do this for the little fellow and I'm certain he will be thrilled with it, given the special connection to the fabric. Good for you!

Unknown said...

I think it's a nice quilt and not at all ugly. The history behind it is the important thing. Great connection to a family member. I've made quilts for sixty years and some of the most meaningful ones were not to everyones liking I'm sure.

Louise said...

Ah, only family can push our buttons in that special way! When you're in a more charitable mood, you can remind yourself that your daughter must really feel safe with you to be able to express her opinion like that. If she told a friend something similar, she might lose a friend! But not a mother.

I think this is a fun, happy quilt! I'll even tell my Mom that I think so, and I hope that balances out the universe a little bit ;)

maggie fellow said...

I think it is a wonderful quilt

Jacqui's Quilts said...

LOL...I have those issues with my daughter too....and many of the young Moms in the Church! I make a baby quilt for their first baby and I am NOT making a neutral grey quilt for any baby! They all get a pop of colour from Aunt Jacqui...and the baby will love it LOL. They'll get it when they are my age :-). And, as one of my students says..."the baby's going to puke and pee all over it anyways, so good to go" LOL. Love the sentiment behind the quilt for sure!!!

MissPat said...

What everyone else said. Yes, do include the source of the fabric on the label. It will be loved.

Gretchen Weaver said...

I think it will mean something to the family since the fabrics came from the great-grandmother's stash. After my mom died, I made a lot of baby quilts for great nieces and nephew from her fabrics. It meant something to their parents. Happy stitching!

julieQ said...

Gosh I was just thinking how much I liked it and have saved it to favorites! I know the family will love it!

Sue said...

I would not call this an ugly quilt. I think its a pretty quilt, just right for the purpose for which its intended. I like the way you swapped out the colours...one star, the other the background.If that was given to me, made from my Great grandmothers fabric I would love it. I'm sure they will!

Nancy in NV-wheres the dude at blogspot said...

My friend gave me 2 matching charm packs that were not my taste and I made an ugly baby quilt out of them. Donation pile here it comes.

Cathy said...

I must be missing something. Where's the ugly part? Did you mean snuggly? ;-)

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Maybe once it is all quilted and bound she will see it in a different light. I like the greens and the light dark combination

Needled Mom said...

It looks great to me and it will always have such a special meaning to them.

Wendy F said...

I think the stars are great, and a wonderful family connection for the the fabric!

Louverna said...

I would keep the finished quilt and give it to the child when they are older. Go to Walmart and buy one to give as the gift to the child now. I'm 76 yrs old and was raised to appreciate anything I was given and be thankful for it. Sometimes I don't understand this younger generation.

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

I like Helen's stash quilt and the HSTs will look nice as a border! Good work!