Doll Quilt Fling

18.5" X 24.5"

I think the last time I made a doll quilt I was about 12 years old.  But, 2 days ago my son came home with a birthday party invitation for a little girl.  Hummm.  2 days to get a birthday gift.  Now mind you - to go to the store it is at least 1 1/2 hours round trip and bus fare.  You can only stay 1 hour at the shopping center or you have to pay the fare again.  And I hate crowded shopping centers anyway.  Nope, I decided to just  make a doll quilt.

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Granted, I already had a great head start - here is a photo of a larger quilt that I WAS working on - just wedges at this point.  I am not sure why I just love small blocks on big quilts, but I do.  The more pieces in a block, the more I seem to like it.

I thought this was looking pretty good.  But you know - I don't have enough of the "right" fabric or batting on hand to finish it... so once these blocks were complete it would just be sitting for awhile anyway until I could make more that sort-ov match what I have already done.  Hummm.  Looks like I can divide this work in progress into 3 smaller doll quilts with a few pieces to spare.  And I actually have a long, narrow scrap of batting on hand that is the perfect size for 3 doll quilts.  And my son actually does need 3 doll quilts to give as gifts this month.

The blocks finish at 6" each.  And I made a great discovery about quilts this size - you don't need much yardage for a backing!  I think that this was a 1/2 yard cut that I never could figure out how to use in a quilt - makes a perfect doll quilt backing, don't you think?  What little girl isn't going to love butterflies and flowers on a light pink background?  There is still some left over for another project.  And I have a few other similar 1/2 yard cuts for the other 2 doll quilts.

My dear sweet son - goes to school the next day and asks the girl if she plays with dolls?  Does her doll want a quilt?  He comes home and announces that the girl would love a doll quilt, so this is "perfect".  Never mind the fact that the girl does not speak English very well and my son does not speak German - this is how my son interpretes their conversation!  A funny thing is that many parents have told me that their kids say that my son DOES speak German and then I tell them that my son says their kids DO speak English!  Eventually the language understanding will emerge, but the important thing is that the friendship blocks are already solidly in place!  They seem to be able to communicate the important things by pantomine.  The parents and teachers tell me that my son is well-liked among his new classmates and that makes me very happy for him! 

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I  hand quilted it. I quilted around every other square and then every other square I quilted the light wedges.  I would have put more quilting in if I had the time (if for no other reason - because I enjoyed the process), but I think it still looks really, really  good! 

It was really so quick and easy - and very relaxing to just sit at night with needle, thread and thimble and stitch away.  Who knew?  Why in the world don't I make doll quilts?  I think that this little Doll Quilt Fling just might become a full blown Doll Quilt Love Affair! 

In anycase, 1 down, 2 to go.  My son was very happy to be carrying this little wrapped present when I dropped him off at the party awhile ago.  I think he is so brave, so many big changes for him lately.  I really hope that he has fun.