The BFF quilt

My first finished quilt of 2014 was requested my one of my best friends, who is about to become an aunt any day now. This quilt is for her to give to her new niece or nephew, and today is her birthday!

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I was struggling to find a name for it until I thought of the stripes as friends like me and Amy. They are besties, similar but different, there for each other. Separated by a small distance.

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This quilt is going to live in Manhattan, so I wanted something that was both playful and sophisticated. It measures 42″ by 48″, so it’s a good crib size for a baby.

The quilting is echo zigzags about an inch apart. I made the lines more dense inside the chevrons.

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The back is a cotton/linen blend that gives it a nice weight and will only get softer with each wash. The design is inspired by Elizabeth Hartman’s Roller Rink quilt, but it’s a LOT bigger than the pattern in Modern Patchwork.   IMG_6146

I used the gray ombre fabric from Simply Color by V and Co. The color prints are from my stash and include Comma, Anna Maria Horner, Thomas Knauer, Monsterz from Cloud 9 and Reminisce. Golden yellows and teals are my favorite quilting colors, and not only do they look good together, they also work for both boys and girls.

I love how the ombre can add depth to something as simple as half-square triangles and make it look like the rectangles on the back are shining in the sun.IMG_6125

I didn’t realize until the quilt was almost done that this was my first time doing a scrappy binding. I think it brings just enough color to avoid being too gray and dull.

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This quilt was fun and fast, and I can’t wait to see if it will go to a little boy or a little girl.  And happy birthday to my own BGFF (I married my best friend, obviously), probably the wisest, most curious and passionate woman I know.

Thanks for checking it out!

Category : finished quilts, quilts