the blue blog archives: i want stripes, then rockets all over, then a lot of blue sky

Yes, he suddenly asked if I would make him a quilt. I suspect that by now he knows that the answer to this sort of question will always be an enthusiastic YES! And not only did I say yes, but, since I'm constantly trolling the internet for fun and fabulous fabrics, I'd already bookmarked some awesome rocket fabric.

He liked it and we got to work on designing the quilt. He would have had me just sew three strips of fabric together - stripes on the bottom, rockets in the middle and blue sky on top - and wrap his favorite color red all around it, but I wanted something a little more interesting. I flipped through the few quilt books and magazines I have and found this design, Just Sweet Enough, from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. (Love that book!)

Joelle Hoverson does such a good job in this book coming up with clean, simple designs that are striking but not overly complicated. In this design, she's essentially got horizontal stripes of several different solids, but since they're broken up into columns and separated again with the background fabric, the result is really neat. This was going to be perfect for S's rocket quilt!

I sketched out what the quilt would look like for final approval from S before I bought the fabric. I've learned from previous design collaborations with the boys that they are completely incapable of imagining the design in the book in any other color or print. Nope, the picture's got to be exactly right or they'll keep insisting that they didn't want pink and yellow. So I even made a little mock-up in Photoshop so he could really see it.

The design approved, I bought the fabric (I got most of the fabrics from this awesome etsy seller) and once I had it, I got to work washing and cutting it all. There's a lot to be done before you can get sewing! But once that was finished, sewing it up was a snap. (Seriously, I thought "last minute patchwork" would have to be a joke, but this one went FAST people!)

We like it! I love those zoom-y stripes on the bottom. And he's sure got plenty of blue sky for the rockets to fly up to.

There's still the actual quilting to be done (that's sewing the quilt top here together with the batting and backing) and I'm planning on trying something a little fancier with that, so this is still a ways from being done, but so far, so good. It's so satisfying to be able to bring something to life that one of the boys has kind of dreamed up in his head!

posted by alison at 10:39 am | in last minute quilts , the boys get quilts

Comments

It looks awesome! S is so imaginative. I love the idea of the rockets shooting up into the sky. Yeah for "custom orders"!

Posted by: Johanna at February 19, 2008 10:50 AM

Hehe, I love that book too and I already made the quilt for our bedroom. Wanna see a pic?
Yours looks wonderfull, what are you going to make with the back?

Liebe Grüße

Posted by: Sibylle at February 19, 2008 10:50 AM

Great quilt and perfect fabrics. It is really fun and full of movement. I'm going to check out that book. Great colaborative design experience for the lucky recipient. At least you know he will love it.

Posted by: Judy B at February 19, 2008 10:52 AM

You have passed on your design talents to your sons (and wee one to come). What more could any Mom wish for? The quilt is fantastic! Please tell S I am impressed with his design.

Posted by: Katherine at February 19, 2008 10:54 AM

wow! i love it! lucky S. :)

Posted by: jess at February 19, 2008 11:11 AM

Very cool! I can see some curly-cues coming out of the rocket engines as part of the quilting...so fun!

Posted by: ruth at February 19, 2008 11:20 AM

I LOVE it!! This is terrific! Looking forward to watching it progress.

Posted by: Cynthia at February 19, 2008 11:22 AM

That's a great adaptation of that pattern. And really cool how you did the stripes then the rockets then the sky. Now you got me thinking...

Posted by: Tana at February 19, 2008 11:39 AM

Wow, beautiful work! S is very lucky :)

Posted by: Christina at February 19, 2008 1:08 PM

Wow, that looks amazing! Your kids are very lucky!

Posted by: C at February 19, 2008 2:46 PM

I can hear him "explaining" his design in my head... what a cutie! How long until B puts in a request?

Posted by: Shannon at February 19, 2008 3:02 PM

I've resisted so far, but every time you post about quilting I get the urge to jump right in! Some day I will quilt, but until then, keep on posting about it!

And I love hearing how creative your boys are!

Posted by: aimee noel at February 19, 2008 3:24 PM

That is adorable! I love how it is faithful to his request but really hip and stylish too.

Posted by: Emilee at February 19, 2008 3:32 PM

I LOVE this quilt!

Posted by: Anne-Marie at February 19, 2008 3:56 PM

Gorgeous! I'm not a quilter but this one almost makes me run to the nearest quilting fabric shop.

Posted by: Cybèle at February 19, 2008 4:10 PM

Wow! That's gorgeous! I love the colors in those fabrics together!

Posted by: Lindsey at February 19, 2008 4:15 PM

Way cool! Good choice S.

Posted by: Gayle at February 19, 2008 4:16 PM

That is so cool it almost makes me want a rocket quilt!

Posted by: Donna at February 19, 2008 4:21 PM

My mom says I used to drive her nuts with not being able to differentiate between the pattern picture and the final colors. ("But Momma that's BLUE, I hate blue!", etc.) I'm pleased to say you eventually grow out of that...

I love this quilt, all the materials you chose are perfect.

Posted by: Melissa at February 19, 2008 4:38 PM

That is fantastic! So creative, and so awesome for a little guy.. I should make one of those for my little brother - a fun quilt like that sure makes for great space-travelin' dreams!

Posted by: Lisa at February 19, 2008 4:42 PM

Great choice! Don't you just love how their little minds work? And, they know what they want! I think it turned out perfect!

Posted by: Sara at February 19, 2008 4:55 PM

Young'un would love that ... now what does B have in mind for his quilt?

Posted by: Ruth at February 19, 2008 5:11 PM

wow.... I luv this .... beautiful work.
luv Abby

Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2008 5:44 PM

so cool!

Posted by: courtney at February 19, 2008 5:57 PM

Is 30 too old to make one for myself? I love it. I love the fact that S also dreamed it up himself.

Posted by: KERaven at February 19, 2008 8:07 PM

That is so awesome!! he did a great job-my little man would love that as well he is big into rockets. You have really gotten into Quilting and its so wonderful to see. You are doing great!!!!! really picking it up!

Posted by: Myriam at February 19, 2008 9:26 PM

What an *awesome* design you came up with! (I can see past the colour, but I never would have thought of three big "stripes" like that.)

Posted by: Andrea at February 20, 2008 12:48 AM

Wow...you are such an enabler! I want a quilt for myself and I just want EVERYTHING in that etsy store. My Mum is a keen quilter, I can't wait to take her online shopping! Fab quilt - congratulations.

Posted by: Nic at February 20, 2008 7:14 AM

Posted by: Nic at February 20, 2008 7:16 AM

That would make a terrific wall hanging too!

Posted by: Dava at February 20, 2008 8:18 AM

Awesome quilt! I added the book to my Amazon wishlist, thank!

Posted by: Katie at February 20, 2008 1:32 PM