A Quilt for V

Instead of setting myself a resolution at the beginning of this year that would focus on some negative aspect of my personality that I wanted to rectify, I decided to set myself positive goals.  Challenges to focus my creativity, new skills to better equip my life.  Top of the list: Quilting.  During a very boring week of being ill at home in January I got restless and decided to get stuck right in to my first quilt without having done any research or reading, so needless to say, it didn't quite turn out as I'd hoped.  (But I still love it in spite of it's imperfections)

So for my next, and first proper quilt, I prepared the process a little better.  Made for my 2-and-a-half-year-old son, I wanted the design to be very simple, colourful and happy.  Made with fabrics we picked together, 100% cotton batting and big enough to fit on a single bed (110 x 165cm).  I had started out contour quilting by hand, sewing little running stitches 15mm away from every seam... Not only did this get tedious but also really hurt my fingers!  So I resorted to quilting by machine.  (Next time I definitely want to quilt by hand, but I will space the lines further apart!)  Although I did get a little emotional as I sewed the binding, not quite believing it was really finished, I couldn't be more thrilled with the result.  Perfectly embodying that childlike enthusiasm I get as I embark on a new project, and beautifully flawed in its sometimes uneven construction as I learn a new skill, to me this quilt represents all the love, mistakes and learning curves, and the unpretentious wholeheartedness of childhood.  What better gift for my little boy? 

embroidered quote from my romantic boy

the finished quilt top

feeling very tense as I watched it go round in the machine for the first time...

...and feeling very moved as I watched my son sleep in his new quilt