Sunday, August 1, 2010

When is a quilt not a quilt?

No, it's not a riddle. I'm just curious. Precisely how many lines must you sew through layers of fabric in order to call something a quilt rather than, say, a several-layered blanket? And how big should it be?

Crucial questions I know, and one I've been pondering with my delightful new friend* Clementine as she's watched me sewing this weekend.


I decided to make a little bunting quilt this weekend, guided by the simple tutorial at a pretty cool life which I checked out after being inspired by Caroline last week.

There are approximately seventeen million and three newborn babies due to land in my immediate vicinity by mid-October (all via different wombs, I'm pleased to report). I have grand, if stupid, intentions of making a little something for each of them. Now that I'm a quilting wannabe, the first idea that pops into my mind is to make a wee little baby quilt for each. This is of course a ludicrous idea. Nonetheless, when I saw this tutorial I thought I may as well knock one down: 


I haven't done much appliqué, but I really enjoyed doing this (all without any fancy-pants fixatives). The little bunting flags will fray a bit once washed which I think will look sweet. 


I backed mine with flannel, so it's soft, warm and not so precious that it can't be chucked on the floor as a play rug.

Actually, mine has three layers of flannel. One in the middle, one on the outside, quilted together... and then another one on the outside when I decided that I didn't want to bind the quilt, and instead used the 'pillowcase' method of bagging, turning and top-stitching to finish.

This is why I don't think it's a legitimate quilt. The top and bottom layers are not sewn together at all through the middle - gasp! - but merely around the edge. And there is no patchwork. Maybe it's a SHAM!


Whatever. It works. The whole project was quick, fun and very much repeatable. Clementine has given it a 5-carrot rating.

One down, seventeen million and two to go...

*Clementine is, of course, a Dandelion creation, lovingly made (replete with apron!) by Beck.

41 comments:

  1. I love it Gina! Who cares what you call it ;) and the less fancy-pants the better in my opinion. Fabulous baby throw/quilt/rug/bed covering/whatever... looking forward to seeing more of the 17 million and two! ;)
    K x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks lovely! Does that mean no batting? So much the better, that's where it all goes wrong for me!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bollocks to hair splitting. A quilt's a quilt and that there is a quilt and if I were one of those expectant Mums I'd be doing star jumps* post haste in order to be the first cab off the ranks and claiming my prize.

    * Not that 4am 'inducing labour' star jumps ever worked for me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Definitely legit!
    And rather gorgeous too!!
    Have fun with the next hundred or so!!
    Andi :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful! Pity I'm not one of the 17 million recipients... (phew!) x

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a lovely quilt! I think it might technically be called a comforter, but I can't claim to know what the dictionary definition of a comforter is.

    I'm glad you confirmed all those babies are coming from different wombs. I would have been worried otherwise.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh it is so sweet... and here I am slugging it away crocheting a baby blanket for a sweet girl that has already been born. Maybe I will abandon my ambition and make my first every quilt for her... because I reckon what you've made is a quilt :)
    (but really - what would I know!?!)

    ReplyDelete
  8. oh my!! that is the bestest thing* ever!!
    i am only slightly obsessed with bunting..well maybe alot..and am thinking I may have to give it a go.
    nice one Ms G!
    and Clementine is ever so cute too.

    * i called it a thing as i really don't now what the correct logistics are to quilt making.

    ReplyDelete
  9. No idea on the when's a quilt a quilt... or not ... (!)

    BUT-

    whatever it is that you have made, I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm so happy to see Clementine is keeping warm and cosy at your place, she looks very at home. Nice 'quilt' too! What is it about bunting that is so appealing? Very snazz xo

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am definately the wrong person to be asking about quilting technicalities, but you call it what you like and it looks fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Its gorgeous! What ever its true name, it is a winner for sure. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. it's soooo fabulous Gina I love it soooo much, lucky babies if they are all this sweet

    ReplyDelete
  14. It's a quilt.
    1. A coverlet or blanket made of two layers of fabric with a layer of cotton, wool, feathers, or down in between, all stitched firmly together, usually in a decorative crisscross design.
    2. A thick protective cover similar to or suggestive of a quilt.
    It doesn't need to be quilted to be a quilt.
    And watchit: don't knock the fancy pants fixativews - they are the only way dummies like me manage! ;0
    Cherrie

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gina, aren't you a nice friend? That will be one gorgeous present for one lucky family. I would call it a quilt, but I am not the quilt police, I think quilt is a nicer word than blanket...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Whatever it's called, it's lovely - I'm adding this to my list of things to make! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have absolutely no idea about the answer to that question, but your quilt is super gorgeous!
    I have to make a pram quilt / play mat for a one year old birthday later this month and I was wondering what to back it with - is that a 100% cotton flannel that you used? I'm thinking that it needs to be soft enough to sleep under but tough enough to withstand the floor.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great work Gina, I love it. Funny, I did the same and backed mine with yellow flanelette, couldn't go past the softness of it. I have bleached calico as the middle layer to bring out the white of the top layer. I am hand sewing some binding as I speak (type) so I will show off my version tomorrow! Stay tuned.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I;m not sure what the answer is Gina - but whatever it is...it looks great!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. clever you!! clementine looks very cosy and content.

    ReplyDelete
  21. A quilt is anything you use to cover up with in my opinion :) My favorite quilt is one a friend made for me that is flannel on the top and bottom sewed together with no filler. I love the flags! I too wish I could make a new binkie for every baby born :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh my giddy aunt - I am so ridiculously inspired - your quilt is the most divine thing I have seen in ages.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sooo sweet. Looks like a nice little project too. Good luck with your millions of handmade presents for the upcoming explosion in the population!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love the quilt - very cute (and definitely a quilt in my books). Here's hoping you get those baby gifts under the 17 million mark soon!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love the bunting quilts doing the rounds. So cute. I think you can still call yours a quilt... or whatever the heck you like :) It makes me realise though that I probably have actually made a 'quilt' to completion. When I was expecting #1 I made a pieced top, added really thick batting/wadding, and bagged it together. It isn't technically 'quilted' either, but I'm going to go ahead and count it!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Now thats a bit lovely! Quilt Schmilt, I say its a quilt and if I was one of your 17 million and 3 to be getting one I would be absolutely delighted and feeling a little bit special that you had gone to the trouble of making it.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Very cute. Never thought of using a bunting pattern for a quilt- great idea for those who are trying to figure out what to do with old bunting. Clementine looks are snug as a bun(ny) in a rug. xo m.

    ReplyDelete
  28. That would be a quilt in my book but then remember 'I will never be a quilter'

    Love the bunting and Clementine!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Lovely work. Bit of a quilt dunce I'm afraid so can't help you with the technicalities but it looks good to me!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow, it looks sweet and seriously, what a good question! I have no clue what the answer is but now i'm wondering if i have falsly been posing as a quilter while producing blankets. I'm going to ask the quilters guild i've just joined, wish me luck, they may kick me out and call me a fake :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. i don't know if it is a quilt, but if it keeps you warm then it is... and it is lvoely... and so simple... maybe maybe...

    ReplyDelete
  32. Quilt or no it's beautiful!!! I haven't come across one like this before so I'm about to follow the links - thanks! x

    ReplyDelete
  33. i loves this quilt (or whatever you decide to call it) :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Whatever it's proper definition is, it's rather lovely. And another very excellent scrap buster project!! Whoever the lucky recipient is of this one will appreciate it very much :-)

    Oh, and we'll try to be more considerate in terms of timing next time...!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Omg and here I am researching things to quilt when i could just do thips... Simple and effective... That's what you want right!!??

    Xo Steph

    ReplyDelete
  36. Definitely a quilt, and an especially lovely one too!

    ReplyDelete
  37. really love this (even better than the version from whip up in my opinion), and may even work up the courage to make one!

    ReplyDelete
  38. No matter what it's gorgeous. Very clever.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Whatever it may officially be called, it is a perfect baby gift.

    I bookmarked this tutorial when I saw it on whipup a while ago thinking it would be great to use up scraps & haven't done anything about it since.....but I'm feeling all inspired again...thanks Gina.

    ReplyDelete

“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
~Albert Einstein