Star Wars Meets Quilting
Friday, September 9, 2011 at 2:25PM A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....
Ok, maybe 10 minutes away and back in December. But that seems lightyears away to me. I watched a father pull a quilt out of a closet. I'm not really sure why. It wasn't that cold, but someone must have said words like: baby blanket, comic book, super heroes, etc. But when he held up his old blanket, his face lit up. The entire back was filled with DC characters (I think. I just know it was full of men I recognized. Don't shoot me if it was Marvel). The other father in the room started to smile too. The room filled with the perfect combo of pride and jealously which bubbled over a blanket. I took note of the full paneled back on that quilt and started to make a mental note: If they have a boy, find the blue vintage Star Wars sheet and use it. I filed it and sat down at the table to play a game which I lost.
They had a boy and I battled the evils of ebay for the first time in years. I won. I almost won two of the sheets. At the time, it could have been an expensive mistake. But when Mark watched the entire sheet tumble out of the box, he was defeated that I lost the second battle.
I know how to quilt like I know how to take a picture. I know the basics, but most of my knowledge/skill comes from my eye and desire to make something people might love. I know to sew 1/4 inch seams. I know that ironing is key. But color wheel crap? I don't get it. I wing it 90% of the time. I started this quilt the day after he was born. I have no good reason why I held an idea for months and didn't start until he popped out. I just did. I needed the quilt bug to bite me. And when it did, it chomped down hard. I've never used a pattern before. My prior blankets were all simple square or rectangles stitched together for a twin bed size (that's huge for someone who only knows the basics. I'm a little nutty like that). Because of the baby blanket size, I knew I could try something different. I tried wonky log cabin. I made one full stacked coin block. They didn't work for me. And then I tried a Modern Cross. Four little blocks are sewn into one large block. It went together so well. After the second little block was made, I realized I was going to have to really concentrate on this quilt. If my seams and cuts weren't straight, the cross would look funky. I almost started a new design, but I really wanted this top. So I kept going and tried real hard to not be picky. After the final wash and dry, I couldn't be happier with the final blanket. Secretly, I hope one day when he's hosting a game night, he might show his friends the back of his blanket. But if he loses it on the beach or it gets damaged from the washer, that's ok too. That meant it was loved. And that's truly the only thing a blanket ever wants.
Crafty
Reader Comments (7)
you rocked it.
no question - this will be loved and treasured forever.
This is so awesome! You did such a great job here. Every boy needs something like this.
So wonderful!
so absolutely perfect. especially the words. i need to get on some quilt making. i guess i'm waiting for that bug, too.
i used to have those sheets, so when i say perfect, i really mean i love it and i'm a little envious of the lucky boy.
Oh gosh this quilt is SO awesome! I'm the same way with quilting, but worse. I don't even know what you're referring to when you speak of 1/4 in seams. Probably explains why Eric's quilt has holes in it, and it's only in its 2nd year of life. Someday I will learn though, because quilts like that one you made are so great.
you rock mama.
hands down. what a great blanket!
e, this quilt is the bomb! what a cool gift to give your man child. he will love it forever. i can hear him telling his kids....yeah, your grandma made that for me when i was little. <3 sigh*