Friday, December 30, 2011

Hugo's quilt

My nephew Hugo turned 5 in May this year, and months prior to that I'd promised him that we would come to his birthday party. I'm not too sure who was more excited - him or me. Plane tickets were booked and I decided to make him his own special "big boy" quilt. I found the perfect fabric when I was at Sew It Together in Sydney in March - a Michael Miller panel featuring retro methods of transport. Given Hugo loves trains so much, I knew I was onto a good thing.

Unfortunately I got really sick for a few months and the quiltmaking got a bit rushed as I was worried I wouldn't finish it in time for his birthday. I pieced the whole quilt in a couple of afternoons. The "blocks" in the panel weren't even so I decided to sew a log cabin frame around each block, and then trim them to the same size. I used black and red polka dot fabrics for the frames. For the little blocks, I joined them together into one big block using black homespun.

New quilt

 Once the borders were on, I pin basted it on the living room floor. I remember thinking how insane I was doing this - I had labrynthitis from the painkillers I was on, and my stomach hurt like nothing else on earth. A couple of days later this happened. 

photo.JPG

I had major surgery a week later - a couple of days before Hugo's birthday - and there was no way I was going to make the party as I was still in hospital. Probably just as well - the quilt hadn't been quilted yet.

A few months later my stomach muscles were strong enough for me to wrestle with a quilt through a sewing machine so I finished the quilting and bound it. 

Hugo's quilt

The day before we left for Queensland for Christmas I attached a label to Hugo's Quilt. I always use a board backed with sandpaper to make it easier to write on the fabric. I drafted the label first with erasable fabric pencil before going over it with a fabric pen and setting it with an iron.

Hugo's quilt

Then I appliqued the label to the back of the quilt.

Hugo's quilt

Hugo's quilt

Hugo's quilt

I found the backing fabrics at my local quilt shop. I knew they'd look great, but I didn't realise (not being much of a selvage reader) that the fabric was actually in the same range as the panel.

Hugo's quilt

I gave the quilt to Hugo on Christmas Day after he'd received all his Christmas presents, and he loved it. I'm glad I didn't go for anything too baby-like for his quilt as he's getting a bit old for that now. Even though he'll still always be my little boy!

The kids have been using the quilt in their new teepee (I have photographic evidence!) I love seeing quilts being used - sat on, stepped on, slept under. That's why I make them.

17 comments:

  1. The quilt looks fantastic. I am sure it will be well loved.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful quilt and I'm sure he'll treasure it.
    cheers, Glenda in Wagga Wagga

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think it's just lovely and worth the wait. I love the colours and the planes and trains!! Oh and the fire engine!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a great boys quilt! Love the fabrics and the fun he will have with it as he grows.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow Michelle, it's absolutely gorgeous! Great fabric selection - completely timeless so it will last for years. Just think about the quilt story you can tell him in ten years time!

    ReplyDelete
  6. you did a fabulous job and I totally agree that quilts are made to be used

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow that looks wonderful. I love all the images and trim fabrics. So amazing the way you pressed on all year with it too, through the ups and downs of your year. I'm sure it was satisfying to have it done by Christmas. BTW I have a nephew Hugo too! snap.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a lovely quilt .. I love the effectiveness of the colours for taking a simple design and making it into quite a striking design

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Michelle, thanks for posting on SCQ I was one of your swap partners in a retreat a few years ago. Cam't believe Hugo is 5 years old. You do a terrific job with your blog. Loved the red and white Christmas theme. The quilt looks amazing. Hope you have a wonderful New Year Vicki Lynch

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's beautiful Michelle, a wonderful keepsake.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I just love the colours Michelle, it is a fabulous quilt. I think that the quilts that take time-for whatever reason- are appreciated more by the maker. Or maybe I am projecting...

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a super fantastic quilt! I love the fabrics you used, so perfect for your nephew. Hope you can make it to his next birthday party. Happy 2012 to you and your family too!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hugo's quilt is just perfect for a little boy! Well done ... eventually. What a trial for you (I'm glad I'm not the only one who photographs saline drips going into my arm when I'm in a hospital bed!). Thank you for your lovely comment on my post "The kindness of quilters". Unfortunately you're a "no reply" blogger so I couldn't reply to you directly. I love your blog, especially your wonderful photos, and will add it to my Google Reader. I spent some happy summer holidays at Maroochydore when I was young and my grandparents had a "Queenslander" called "Coo-ee" right on the Maroochy river. Looking forward to reading more.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I enjoyed reading your story about the quilt for your nephew. The finished quilt is just gorgeous. You should be very pleased.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lovely quilt Michelle! I really like the colours in it, and it looks like it's well loved already. If turning it into a teepee isn't a sure sign of success, I don't know what is!

    ReplyDelete
  16. The quilt is gorgeous and I know I've said it before, but I really need to pull out my pile of that fabric and make my boys their quilts from it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Michelle, I do just love Hugo's quilt! I really like how you incorporated the different picture sizes into the blocks - clever lady!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! I love reading your comments, but if you're anonymous please tell me who you are.