Triangle blue
a baby blanket for Michael
When I finished piecing the triangle patchwork for Michael’s baby blanket, I sensed that hand quilting would be the sweetest finish. The quilt is just 25.5” x 27”, a small format that suits any time-consuming process.
My first thought was to use chunky pearl cotton thread, stitched in vertical lines across the triangle points. I basted the triangle patchwork to the cotton sherpa backing, without including any batting. Then, I began to stitch.
But after the first two lines, I had that pesky, unsatisfied feeling. By the third line I was dissatisfied enough, to take out the quilting and start again.
My new idea, quilting that follows the zigzags, felt like an immediate win. I love how it emphasizes the ups and downs, even giving a subtle puff to the unquilted triangles.
In harsh lighting, the quilt looks positively crinkled! It’s super soft and cuddly, just as a newborn blanket should be.
July has been a pensive month, rich in internal processing. Sometimes it was too warm to do anything active. Other times I was too sad to do anything challenging. Taking stitch after stitch has that meditative effect that allows the body and spirit to come to rest. I’m so grateful to have had this project at this time.
This blanket is surely stitched with love, with hours and hours of love. I hope most of all that Aria feels it.
Michael, you are welcome. We’ll meet soon.
You can SEE the love, never mind feel it in the lovely soft fabrics front and back. So carefully made! Please a pic of the back I dont know the product you've used. Feeling a little sad too this morning. My son (and carer, protector and guardian angel) just left this morning to go back to Wales to work. I sense I'm ageing quite quickly and Im depending on him more and more. Quite strange really because I've always been the sheepdog and now I'm becoming the sheep. Getting old is not for sissies! But it's better than the alternative. 🤷♀️
Beautiful in Blue, Rachel. Aria will feel your love for both her and her baby. As her heart and life expands, her understanding of yours will as well. You are far away but never far from her thoughts, especially when she gets to hold her precious new baby. The quilt is precious, hand quilting by a longer armer is the highest expression of love and caring and hope. Re: your blue feelings.. the color blue and bluebirds are symbols of hope and new beginnings in many cultures and folklore. Hold onto that thought and be kind to yourself.