The Best Way to Welcome Baby

by Nicole

If I had to pick my favorite type of quilt to make, it would be a baby quilt. I am convinced that there is no better way to welcome a new little person into the world than with a quilt they can use for years to come.

So when one of my dearest friends told me she was expecting a baby, visions of baby quilts danced in my head. I toyed with many different quilt designs, but in the end decided to go with one of my favorite designs – the minimalist log cabin block. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of making log cabins. Depending on the placement of the fabrics, the width and length of the logs, and the number of rounds of logs, the block can look different every time.

I used improvisational quilting techniques to make the log cabin blocks, making each block different from the next.

Related: Improv Log Cabin Block Tutorial

Stack of quilt blocks

For the quilting, I went with an overall floral design. It’s fairly quick and easy to stitch.

Quilting-flowers

Not only is the texture from the quilting amazing, but the design is fairly forgiving of inconsistencies in the quilting – which is a great quality for when your quilting is less than perfect!

Quilting_detail1

Here’s a close up of the quilting.

Quilting_detail2

I had a few orphan blocks from my initial brainstorming for a design so I put these in the back of the quilt. I am determined to leave no orphan blocks behind!

Related: Top 10 Ways to Use Orphan Blocks

Mama-Love-Quilts_quilt-back

Here’s another orphan block on the back.

Quilting_detail3

Unfortunately I didn’t get a good picture of the whole quilt before gifting it to my friend, so you’ll have to use your mind’s eye to picture the whole thing.

Mama-Love-Quilts_Folded-quilt

But believe me, the quilt was one that was hard to part with. Knowing it was going to a dear friend made it easier to let it go. I know it will be a gift that both mother and baby will treasure for years to come.

Nicole Neblett signoff Modern Quilting blog

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28 comments

Chantal Shaw June 1, 2016 - 8:34 am

What a beautiful quilt. The colors are so peaceful. Love your quilting too. Lucky Momma and baby.

Nicole June 1, 2016 - 8:00 pm

Thank you, Chantal! It’s not my usual color palette, but I do think it works!

Lea June 1, 2016 - 10:40 am

This quilt is just darling!! Everything about it is so sweet and soft. Beautiful fabrics and colors and your quilting as always is fabulous. What a loving way to welcome a new baby.

Nicole June 1, 2016 - 8:03 pm

Thanks, Lea! I appreciate your kind words. It was a fun quilt to make!

Marla June 1, 2016 - 10:43 am

I adore everything about this quilt! The soft colors, the fussy cut cabins and the texture created by the quilting add up to a quilt that will be treasured.

Nicole June 1, 2016 - 8:04 pm

Thanks, Marla! Like I said, it wasn’t an easy one to part with, but I think you are right that it will be treasured!

bobbi dougherty June 1, 2016 - 11:38 am

So Cute! I love the soft colors. I bet mama loved and and baby will too. I am with you, baby quilts are very satisfying and fun to do! A quick finish inspires me!

Nicole June 1, 2016 - 8:09 pm

Thanks, Bobbi! Aren’t baby quilts just wonderful to make?!?

Margaret June 1, 2016 - 1:09 pm

SOOO lovely. The colors are refreshing and sweet . The quilting is perfect –enhances the simplicity of the blocks. Sweet and modern. A lucky baby! Thanks for sharing!

Nicole June 1, 2016 - 8:10 pm

And thanks for the comment, Margaret! These colors are some my friend’s favorites, but I have come to appreciate them too!

Cindy B June 1, 2016 - 2:11 pm

I second everything already posted in comments! Nicole , is that free motion quilting? I love the texture. Well done! I also love the log cabin pattern’s versatility!

Nicole June 1, 2016 - 8:12 pm

Thanks, Cindy! Yes, it’s free motion quilting on my long arm. It’s super easy to do! You are so right – the log cabin is very versatile!

Lee June 1, 2016 - 6:48 pm

A treasure indeed! What a lucky friend! 🙂

Nicole June 1, 2016 - 8:14 pm

Thanks, Lee! And I am lucky to have such a wonderful friend. It was a pleasure to make something for her new baby.

Margaret (margiestitcher) June 2, 2016 - 1:33 am

a lovely quilt for a baby and your quilting finishes it off beautifully it will certainly be well loved

Nicole June 5, 2016 - 9:59 pm

Thanks, Margaret! I’m so happy with how it turned out!

Izzy June 3, 2016 - 6:09 pm

So cute!! I love quilting those flowers – you are absolutely right, the texture is amazing and it really is very forgiving.

Nicole June 5, 2016 - 10:04 pm

Thanks, Izzy! It’s one of my go-to quilting designs for those very reasons!

karen June 3, 2016 - 7:17 pm

What a dear little quilt! And your quilting is gorgeous–looks more than perfect to me!

Nicole June 5, 2016 - 10:05 pm

Thanks, Karen for such kind words!

karen June 3, 2016 - 7:17 pm

What a dear little quilt! And your quilting is gorgeous–looks more than perfect to me!

Kathy June 5, 2016 - 9:37 pm

I love the texture your quilting gave this quilt! I completely agree with you about baby quilts! Babies and snuggly quilts go perfectly together and this one is perfect!

Nicole June 5, 2016 - 10:06 pm

Aww, thank you, Kathy! I can’t wait for the next time I get to make a baby quilt!

Grace June 7, 2016 - 10:19 pm

We were so impressed with the classic details of these quilts. The colors on the basket are my favorite color. Keep up the good work Nikki.

Nicole June 8, 2016 - 12:05 am

Thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate you stopping by!

Bes June 10, 2016 - 12:46 pm

Hello Nicole!!! Your quilts are amazing!! I love coming and seeing your latest project! What do you do with all of your quilts once they are done?

Laurel Woodside June 17, 2016 - 9:52 pm

Hello Nicole, Love your website… the tips, tutorials, and lovely quilts. Thank you! Question: in your opinion, which batting gives the softest drape? Are you headed for QuiltCon in February? Hope so!!!

Nicole June 21, 2016 - 9:30 pm

Hi Laurel,
Thank you for the kind words!
Which batting gives the best drape? I don’t know. I haven’t done much comparison as I tend to use what’s most convenient. I think that the density of the quilting has a lot to do with the drape, perhaps even more than the type of batting. The less densely quilted a quilt is, the more drape. What are your thoughts about what causes drape in a quilt?
Yes, I will most likely be at QuiltCon. Maybe I’ll see you there?
Nicole

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