Sew God's Grace

So I had pieced Grant's quilt top together and had it finished when he was just a few months old.  Then it sat and sat in a bag until I finally got it to my friend Kristy to machine quilt it for me.  She returned it me around January of 2014.  She did an amazing job with it.  If you live in the Cheyenne Wells, CO area, you should really check out The Rambling Rose Quilt Shop .  Matt's aunt Sarah helped me to machine sew the binding around the edge of the quilt, and then it sat again in my closet, waiting for me to finish it up. About a week before Grant's birthday this June, I got a burst of energy and decided to do the hand sewing on the back of the binding to finish up Grant's quilt for his birthday. Being two, he was not that impressed with the quilt, but I think it will be something he enjoys over the years. I'm not sure why, but this morning I decided to try to get a picture of Grant--my wiggly, busy boy--sitting on his quilt.  This is the bes...

I have always enjoyed learning new things from other women.  When I was little, it seemed like my Great Aunt Connie was usually working on something crafty when she and Great Uncle Keith would come visit.  Under Connie's tutelage, I learned how to do counted cross-stitch and latch hook.  I would sit beside her and watch her hands busily move over a project.  Noticing my interest, she would take the time to show me how to do it, too. When I got married, I got to know Matt's Aunt Sarah, who introduced me to the joy of quilting.  Over the years, she has helped me with many tips and helpful advice.  When Matt and I have visited her in Salina, she and I have laid out many a quilt design on her ping pong table downstairs. So, when she offered to come out to sew during a recent visit, I jumped at the chance.  I had cut the squares and laid out the pattern of a baby quilt recently, so it was a great morning project for us. Lyla was anxious to help, an...

Okay, it's not the prettiest picture--I had to lay it out on the floor in my basement--but here is the finished quilt top for Grant's quilt.  In a frenzy of nesting energy, I got most of it done the week before he was born.  I just had to add the borders and sew the back for the quilt, a feat I accomplished one night when Matt had a meeting and I got all the kids into bed!  I'm going to take it to my friend Kristy to get it machine quilted.  She owns a quilt shop and has great taste.  I can't wait to see how it turns out.  I will post an update when it is finished. Our little Grant came two and a half weeks early on June 29th, 2012.  It wasn't that big of a surprise because our last two kiddos were two weeks early as well.  However, for some reason I had decided that he was going to be a while.  He was born on a Friday, and I had made plans to have Maddie's eighth birthday party the following Sunday.  Needless to say,...

Okay, I had to post this quilt because I really liked how it turned out.  My friend Kim just had another little boy, her third!  She and her husband are big K-State fans, so I decided to use K-State fabric to make a quilt for their new arrival.  This sort of quilt is throw-size, so it would also make a great high school graduation gift.  Just use collegiate flannel fabric and coordinating colors!  For instructions on making a rag quilt, see here.

Here is a quilt that I made for one of my good friends while she was pregnant.  We didn't know if she was going to have a girl or a boy, so I thought that this sock monkey quilt would go well for either.  You will need 35 ten inch squares to assemble the quilt.  For more detailed instructions on making a rag quilt, see Rag quilt tutorial .  I made a sock monkey to complete the gift.  We tied balloons to it at her shower and placed the quilt on top of the table where she was opening gifts, so it actually doubled as a gift and decor!

Isaiah's Hope I have had the pictures for this quilt ready to go for a long time.  However, posting it for me has been hard because I made it for a little boy that I thought I would meet this month.  We were due on January 21st.  This, however, was not meant to be.  At fifteen weeks into the pregnancy, we discovered that our little boy had passed away.  I had made quilts for my four previous children, so it felt weird not making one for Isaiah.  Though it was a sad process instead of one of joyful anticipation, I am glad that I made it.  Having another "something" to remember him by has been comforting for me. The finished size of this quilt is 50 by 70 inches, which is great for a baby floor quilt or makes a good  throw size for an adult.  One of us often snuggles under Isaiah's quilt during "movie night" downstairs.  You will need five coordinating fabrics.  Pick your favorite fabric to use as the large block....