Windmill Lap Quilts #1 and #2

These quilts are actually the result of a mistake. I intended to make two crib size quilts but I got somehow distracted or bored or whatever and cut the pieces an inch larger that I needed. Do your math, do your math! Instead of putting them aside for a future project, I adapted the proportions to small lap quilts. I am not extremely happy with the result because a 4 x 4 composition does not allow for a central block. Maybe I just have a prejudice against even numbers. But they are crisp and confortable, and the prints are cute... 

Eduardo's quilt

My friend Catarina wanted a baby quilt for a friend who's expecting and the baby's name on the bag. My embroidering skills are quite limited (some practice is badly needed) but the result is sweet. Bags are very easy to make, they take just another half an hour to put together and your gift is complete with no need for paper and tape!

Nine Patch Baby Quilt Number Three

And this is the third Nine Patch Baby Quilt. I used lots of Marimekko prints for the little squares and my beloved dots for the border. Nothing compares to Marimekko when it comes to colors. They are amazingly deep and vibrant, I wish I had a lot more of these in my fabric stash. This quilt measures 85 cm x 126 cm. I quite like graphic combinations of prints and dots in bold colors. The back was pieced is acqua, green and the great pink and chocolote dots, with a small orange nine patch for fun. Please contact me if you´re interested in this one or any other quilts...

Windmill Baby Quilt Number Four

Here's the new baby quilt from the 'Windmill series', all happy and fresh. The main colors are acqua and orange so it is quite adequate for both a baby boy or a baby girl. It measures 83 cm x 133 cm, good for the average crib. I used lots of Portuguese fabrics in this one, including the blue and red flowery print that will soon be finished. I was told it was made on purpose for traditional folk garments but the company is sadly closed now. I have about one meter left and I already miss it...

The Marimekko Quilt

After more than a week without my dear old Pfaff, I'm back in business! This is the Marimekko Quilt I showed in a previous post, now totally quilted and binded. I cut simple squares from those beautiful prints and sew them together in a relaxed way, just trying to distribute the dominant colors evenly. For the back I used a plain strong pink and just added two stripes of pieced leftovers from the top. I usually do this because I like to close the process of making a quilt and I don't like to accumulate odd pieces of fabric. And nothing goes to waste or sits there waiting for that improbable day in the future when I decide to turn all those scraps into something useful. So here it is in its 143 cm x 143 cm glory, all washed, fresh and ready to go! Please email me if you're interested...

Self-commissioned baby quilt

This uncomplicated baby quilt was finally handed out on Friday. I had finished it a month ago. It is made of shirt fabric in boyish colors: I just sewed stripes of striped fabric quite spontaneously. The backing is as simple as the top, only the patches are bigger. I wrote the baby’s name on a piece of calico with a pencil and machine embroidered it immediately for the bag: no corrections, no second thoughts. I hope it will be useful in outings and at home as a playmat  because it is bigger than the average crib quilt.

Shirt fabric is soft and totally washable even at high temperatures. I plan on testing it a lot more in future quilts. The final result is so simple and homely it almost makes you smile...

New baby quilts in the shop

This pyramid of baby quilts and a few more are now in the shop. I just finished these nice calico bags to carry and store the quilts and I am offering one bag as a free gift for each baby quilt purchased.

A lot of work

Yes, I've been very busy with baby and toddler quilts. I quite enjoy making these small sized quilts for the little ones. I try to avoid the obvious pastels and rather combine lively colors with prewashed calico or white-based fabrics. Children seem to like them as well, and there's always a lot to look at because of all the different prints and the little details. Here are some pictures I wanted to share with you but for the whole lot please visit my shop. And don't hesitate to email me for any questions or special comissions.

Zigzag Quilt Number One

After a while of cutting and sewing lots of colored prints, I craved for black and white. As nowadays I'm happy enough to do as I please, here's the result, The Zigzag Quilt Number One. I noticed that it is not easy to take good pictures very black things and that they tend to look disappointingly greyish. There must be a solution. This quilt is all pre-washed and fresh in my shop. Yes, today is a busy day!

Nine Star Quilt Number One

This is one of my favorite quilts made of soft cotton flower prints in a calico background. It's nice to see how well a very simple traditional star block works. I would put it to use in a nursery to cuddle a baby while singing a lullaby. The back and binding are made of Portuguese cotton flower prints that are becoming less and less available as the textile industry shrinks. The Nine Star Quilt Number One is now available in my shop, all fresh and ready to go.

Crazy Squares Quilt Number One

This lap quilt (160 cm x 160 cm) is the first of the 'Crazy Squares Series'. I made a series of three quilts with this stash of fabric and design because I could mix and match quarters of squares and combine them into twelve different crazy squares. So this quilt will soon have two younger siblings, just like a little family. I feel a little sad to see this one go: it is now pre-washed and fresh in my shop.