this is baby on quilt
Meet Baby. He's the ring leader of J's three "guys". Baby has been with J since birth. He's well loved; he's been washed about a hundred times and repaired almost as many. Looks like it's about time for another bath.
Baby is going to help me out. I'm studying him, trying to figure out how to sew a three dimentional head for a softie I'm making for a friend. I have the body figured out, but that darn head. J saw me looking at him, and I explained it but instead of a lamb, I want the softie to look like a bear. Laughing wildly, J said, "Mommy, he's not a lamb. He's just a guy." Ahhh... sweety.
Look at the lovely quilt top Baby is lounging on. Just because I need a little more to do (ha.) I pulled this out today. A friend got it at a yard sale and gave it to me. The variety of color is great. All of the old fabrics- Yum.
After spreading it out and seeing N get all snuggly on it, I just knew it should be the quilt for her future big-girl bed. But what to do? It's all hand stitched and not well. I'm trying to decide if I should embrace the frayed edges and puckery-ness of it all or unstitich it and redo it on the machine. Any advice?
Either way, I need to back and quilt it. Oy. It's been awhile.
Comments
Right - well, see my post yesterday. When you figure it out, tell me! Ack - I can't imagine redoing it all. If the stitches do come out at a seam, that can be repaired...as long as the fabrics look like they will hold up. It is beautiful though! That pink flowered sashing is gorgeous!
Posted by: Amy | July 27, 2006 08:13 AM
Could you reinforce with machine stitching as opposed to ripping out and starting over? I love that pink floral print.
Posted by: autum | July 27, 2006 08:28 AM
I'd probably just use the best parts for a few big ol' shams, or maybe a small eiderdown-filled blankie for the foot of the bed? that pink and blue print looks like a 30's flour sack - beautiful.
don't you love old quilt tops? I found one for $12 at a garage sale and it is so frayed and stained but it has a saw-tooth edge (!) which is to die for. I can't stand the thought of cutting it, but the deed must be done...
Posted by: estea | July 27, 2006 08:35 AM
I agree with Autum, in fact that's what I recommended to Amy yesterday.
And I love that quilt too. It's perfect.
Or, when you quilt it, you can use a zig zag stitch over the ditches, that would probably hold everything in place really well.
Personally, I love the frayed edges.
Posted by: capello | July 27, 2006 08:48 AM
Sweet photos. The quilt is very lovely, but I have no quilting advice for ya, sorry. Good luck on the softie too.
Posted by: Angela | July 27, 2006 11:05 AM
The quilt top is beautiful! Lovely colours. I would just keep it like it is, with all its imperfections and frayed edges. Nora looks so cute lounging on it.
Good luck with your softie.
Posted by: Veronica TM | July 27, 2006 11:54 AM
have you seen (or studied) this:
http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2006/05/softie_scotty_d.html
or this:
http://www.patternbee.com/FREELAMBKIN.html
it might help ... although i really haven't ventured into softies yet (except the wee bunnies).
Posted by: lera | July 27, 2006 01:13 PM
My goodness, what challenges you face! That quilt is beautiful, what a lucky find.
Posted by: beki | July 27, 2006 10:52 PM
Great quilt. I vote for stitchihg over vs. tearing out and starting again. And J's little comment - he's just a guy. Soooooooo endearing. I hope Eliot still plays with Clifford when he's a big boy. :)
Posted by: laeroport | July 28, 2006 02:16 PM
Wow -- how pretty. I haven't a lick of advice myself, but I just hope there is a way to fix it so she can use it. The two of them (well, three of them -- quilt, stuffy, kid) look so pretty together.
Posted by: Alicia P. | July 28, 2006 02:19 PM
I think you should leave the quilt top (reinforce any seams that are coming undone) and when you layer it with batting and backing and quilt it - that will probably help reinforce it too. I don't think I'd be able to cut it up! Love the colors and the baby looks very sweet on it! I love J's comment about he's just a guy! They come up with some pretty funny things!
Posted by: Jackie | July 28, 2006 09:08 PM
The quilt is so lovely, I hope you manage to save it. Love the sandbox from your last post. When we want to dig in the sand, we go to the nearby beach just 5 minutes drive away, but it's such a pity we don't have the time to go more often.
Posted by: erin | July 31, 2006 04:20 AM
i have no idea, but nora on that quilt means you have to go to any lengths for that snuggly big girl bed! sweet J. too much...
Posted by: hannah | August 2, 2006 10:44 AM