Single (baby) Girl Quilt

Last week I gained a new niece! Claire will have an interesting story someday when the topic of who was President when she was born comes up. I imagine her saying, “Well, the day I was born it was one guy, but then the next day…”

Just in time for her arrival, I put the finishing touches on her quilt- the Single Girl pattern by Denyse Schmidt. I really am in love with the rounded square quilting and the white binding. I may have to use this binding look again soon.

If you plan to use this pattern, here are a few thoughts:

• the templates are the most time consuming thing in the entire project.
• after sewing on the white pieces to each arc of color, I was afraid that I’d lose a lot of the size in squaring it up. It really wasn’t too bad, but my pieces are just a little smaller than her pattern claims they’ll be. How anyone can sew a curve and not lose some ground is beyond me!
• Marking….oh, the marking. I would love to make this pattern with a dark background fabric. However, marking it on a white fabric was enough for me. I just traced over it, using the lighting in my living room. I don’t think I have the patience (and I teach middle schoolers!) to use some of the dark fabric techniques I’ve seen online for marking this with chalk, etc.
• The white binding just looks so crisp and clean. It really does keep the focus on the rings.
• I used about 10 different colors of fabric. I had an eighth of a yard of each. I had more than enough to complete the rings, and I felt like I had a good variety. It always annoys me when I have a ton of fabric left over from a pattern when it says I “have” to have it. I ignored her pattern’s recommendation for the amount of colored fabric to get. I did, however, follow the amounts for binding, background and backing.

 

There just aren’t a lot of photos of this quilt out there, other than the ones made by Denyse, of course. It’s simply adorable.  Plus, how great is the name? I have explained it to several people and they love how it’s a double wedding ring that doesn’t connect. Genuis. I hope someone else will make one and show it off! I am imagining one in bright reds, hot pinks and whites with a fun green background- sort of a funky Christmas coloring. Yum!