Home

Friday, July 4, 2008

I think I can, I think I can......

Actually I know I can, I definitely can!! I finally finished the train quilt!!!

Lochie, the lovely recipient of this quilt, is turning one tomorrow and I thought it was a fantastic deadline to work to. We had a yummy morning tea to celebrate today and I presented the quilt after finally finishing it last night.

I found this lovely Michael Miller 'I think I can' fabric not long before Lochie was born and thought it would be perfect for a vintagey style cot quilt for him.

Lochie's quilt

After mucking around with ideas for ages I finally decided on a 'four patch square on point in a square' out of lots of fun prints and a nice not too cream quilter's muslin. Not sure what the technical terms are here and I'm sure there are proper quilting people out there going "what!!!" But I know what I mean.

I quilted it with two squares in the four patch and triangles in the triangles.

Lochie's quilt detail

Then I fussy cut all the different versions of the train. I quilted this square in various ways and hated them all. Then my mum suggested I do a diamond and it was perfect. I really like that it follows the line of the square on point beside it.

Lochie's quilt patch

Somewhere during the designing phase I decided I would quilt train tracks around the border to finish it. About five versions later I'm really glad I did.

Right down to the little engine - it's the Lopez Express of course!

Lochie's quilt

Finished with a slightly wonky label that I like even more now the quilt is washed.

Train quilt label

Lochie's quilt

And folded up ready for wrapping.

All finished

I had even bought him a train card to match!

Lochie's present

Happy 1st Birthday sweet little Lochie!

Lochie and his quilt

71 comments:

Ginger said...

Louise, you are so creative. That is the cutest quilt I have ever seen for a boy. Not too loud, but still so boyish. I love it on every level... the rail-road hand quilted border is the perfect touch, along with the stripes on the binding. What a wonderful gift!

Nikki said...

That is ABSOLUTELY DIVINE!! What a lot of love and thought went into it, and it's so beautifully designed and made.... It's a stunner.

French Knots said...

Lovely, so lovely and just right for a boy.
A family heirloom to treasure.

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Amazing quilt and perfect for a little boy - love the fabric, the design, the quilting, and the train tracks. Too cute!!

Kellie said...

How did you get this done??? You are amazing! Well done Louise it is lovely.

PAMTASTIC! said...

fantastic quilting! Love love love MM stuff, you showcased it super well. =)

Claudia said...

IT's a lovelly quilt. The colours and the fabrics and specially the quiltted train track around. Congratulations for a very special present. This is how family heirlooms start.

Jeanne said...

I love this quilt! I was admiring each photo as I read the story. When I saw the last one...WOW. That photo is priceless! He is adorable and obviously happy with his new quilt. The striped border is perfect and your quilting is so nice! Great finish!

wardstorms said...

So lovely! I love this quilt, it is so sweet, love the quilting with the train too.

Amanda Jean said...

oh, louise, that is one FABULOUS quilt! I love the train track detail on the borders. and the striped binding! nice job all around.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful quilt for a little boy. I love the train track quilting, such a unique idea.

Ali said...

Just look at his dear little face. I think he knows how special that quilt is.

Anonymous said...

ohhhh Louise you work is beautiful. What an amazing gift.

Cathy said...

I knew you could.

Well done, Louise, on finally completing this adorable quilt. I am sure little Lochie will love it forever.

Your quilting looks fantastic

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! What a lucky little boy Lochie is. I think that is the best use of that fabric I've seen and I just love the quilting.

Chookyblue...... said...

looks great.........one happy boy there...........

Cass said...

I've been reading your blog for ages and never commented but I just had to say that quilt is fantastic, what a great gift.

Michelle said...

Oh wow! It is absoltutely devine! I love everything, the fabric, the design, the gorgeous train tracks around the edge...and of course the stripey binding!!!

jennifer j. s. said...

gorgeous....absolutely genius....you are amazingly talented! what an amazing quilt. What a lucky boy!
jennifer j. s.

Amy said...

oh my goodness! that quilt is adorable! great job!

Soo said...

oh it's just beautiful! there is so much thought and love put into this quilt and I love the train tracks around the side!

Jade said...

Oooh, can I be Lochie, please? That's so beautiful.. Well done!

Florence Knapp (Flossie Teacakes) said...

Louise, this is utterly amazing. I spent ages looking at it on Flickr in disbelief that you had actually cut out all these trains and then planned for them to slot in just perfectly between the patches! What a huge amount of work, lucky boy.

I wondered if I could ask you when you quilt is it by hand or machine? I'm currently looking at a machine that has a stitch that looks like a hand-stitched quilt stitch and wondering how useful it would actually be.

Wishing you a lovely weekend. x

Anonymous said...

Well done! It is absolutely beautiful. The perfect gift for a one year old boy!

loulee said...

Fantastic, what a great quilt. I love the tracks in the border, what a wonderfully creative quilt and just perfect for a little man.

Busy Betsy said...

What a fabulous quilt! I haven't been quilting for a while but I got truly inspired to finish my project. The colours are fabulous and it is just so cute!

Valerie said...

Holy moly, Louise! That is so stinkin' adorable! I love the fabrics, the pattern, your fussy-cut train squares, and the quilting, oh the quilting! That little train and track?! What an amazing gift.

Thimbleanna said...

OHMYGOSH Louise!!! That quilt is absolutely adorable!!! I just love your quilting with the bigger thread -- Too, Too CUTE! What a lucky little boy!

SadieandLance said...

Louise that is just devine. I LOVE the train track and train around the border.

LBA said...

you rock !

What a lucky boy, and what a terrific job you did !

Mom said...

This is awesome! Great work. What type (weight) red thread do you use?

Handmade in Israel said...

Fabulous! What a lucky boy Lochie is! I am sure he will delight in his quilt in years to come.

Molly said...

I love everything about that quilt! Especially the train stitching! Your descriptions made sense to me.

~Niki~ said...

Wow, beautiful. What a lucky kid!

periwinkle said...

I think this is the best boys quilt I have ever seen, it is just adorable
lisa x

Kylie said...

Love the trains and so perfect for a little man! You did a great job and congratulations on finishing it - I love the boarder!

Cosy said...

Oh my goodness! What beautiful use of colour, esepcially the red and white and the stripey binding. I'm in awe! Congratulations. That will become an heirloom, I'm sure.

Jodie said...

Oh Louise... This quilt is just gorgeous.... I love the train track embroidery around the bourder..

Jodie :)

Tamara said...

Job completed! Wow, it looks wonderful Louise and it must feel so good to have it finished.
The quilting is lovely.

Anonymous said...

Lochie's quilt is just perfect. I love everything about it and I am so very grateful that you made him such an incredible gift. Lochie is very lucky and I am absolutely blessed to have such a wonderful friend like you. Thank you so much. Daphxx

Philigry said...

this is one of the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen. such a sweet hift, Louise. this will be treasured forever!

pinkgreen said...

What an amazing gift - he really is a lucky little boy. The hours of work put into it have really been worthwhile. I hope he treasures it and passes it onto his own children.
Cathy XX

Anonymous said...

Wow! This is great! I absolutely love the stitched train. It's the perfect touch... really brings the whole thing together. All in the details as they say. It's just perfect.

Jodie said...

Its fantastic - I love love love the stitchery around the outside.
Whata great gift ! You are simply astounding .

Bronwyn said...

I think you did, I think you did Louise, produce a wonderful present, which will be loved for ever more!

liset said...

So GORGEOUS!! I love your train quilt. The finishing is so nice. Esspecialy the train on it, is so great. Many compliments for you!

Corrie said...

oh its so beautiful, perfect for a little boy and I'm sure will be treasured...he's a real cutie too

Corrie:)

a friend to knit with said...

this amazes me.
you amaze me.
really, really fabulous,L.

laura said...

Very nice.The little boy must be happy with it!!
regards Laura

Melody said...

Oh my goodness - that is soooo cute. You did a terrific job and he looks so proud sitting there next to it!!

Unknown said...

Oh, Louise, what an amazing train quilt for your little sweetie pie. He looks pleased as punch about it too! His smile just lights up the whole room! I am most impressed with your quilting work!!!
~Emily

Austysmum said...

This is gorgeous! That train fabric is one of my favourites and your simple design (and adorable quilting) really set it off.

traci said...

That is absoultely amazing! The train stitched around the border is so adorable. So craetive and I love it!

Kate said...

Fantastic! Looks fabulous, wonderful colours!

Anonymous said...

This is gorgeous and unique. Lucky boy to receive this treasure. I love the quilting on the side and the binding is perfect.

Annie said...

What a truely magnificent quilt - what a lucky Lochie

Unknown said...

oh louise - that quilt is amazing. I would have cried if I got it!!!

Sue said...

Louise that train quilt is fantastic. I am sure Lochie will love it too, and I love the train track with the Lopez Express. What a great quilter you are.

Anonymous said...

I love it. The hand quilting on the sash is incredible. I do have this fabric in stash but didn't think it would make some lovely quilt like that.

P.s. I found your link via Ravenhill!

traci said...

I just wanted to thank you for your kind comment on my blog the other day. As for your patterns, I think they are wonderful. I think that I will try to get some of my embroidery patterns up and going and agree with you about the copyright information. I just need to get over the initial fear phase and jump in. I always enjoy reading your blog and still LOVE that train quilt. Traci

Anonymous said...

Just beautiful. What a lovely idea for a first birthday. Love the stitched train.

Katie R said...

It's beautiful! I love the "diamonds" and the track quilting. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

As everyone is telling you THIS IS STUNNING!! What a beautiful job you have done, it is amazing and gorgeous and I am sure it will be loved and treasured for many years to come (one day it may even keep a grandy warm!!!) You are an inspiration!!

Lucy said...

That quilt makes me weak in the knees! hee hee I love it. My little one is a train kinda guy. I love it how boys are totally focussed on one thing like trains or dinosaurs. You really get to play with it too for a few short years. I will have to look up that fabric if I can find it! My boy would just love it.

KR said...

Oh. MY GOSH. Wow. I love it. LOVE. LOVE LOVE. WOW.

Kristin
Reclaiming The Home

Beth said...

It's AMAZING! I'm blown away by the quilting. I just took a hand quilting class and I am ready to jump into my first project. Can I ask what you used to quilt the train and tracks? I love the bold look....

Clare Carter said...

That quilt is amazing! Perfect first birthday treasure.

Java Venus said...

What a lovely gift for a lovely little boy. I am certain there are years of enjoyment in that thoughtful gift.

Kudos to YOU!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.