Doll Quilt Swap...Round One

Early in April I signed up for Lisa's Doll Quilt Swap.  Round One.  She's already on Round Two and has 100 swappers lined up.  Wow.  Beautiful doll quilts are popping up all around on craft blogs.  Many swappers from Round Two have finished already.  I received mine almost immediately.  The one I made finally went out last week.  My apologies go out to my swap partner who had to wait so long for her quilt.  The crazy thing is, I signed up for this swap having NEVER made a quilt before.  And as many of you know, I don't know how to use a sewing machine, so I stitched my quilt by hand.  I worked it in felt, which although not a popular choice, it is my favorite medium.  I am happy with the way it turned out, I'm just sad it took me so long.

Some research was involved before I made this quilt.  The first thing I learned about Monica, is her favorite color is yellow.  Oh, how I wanted to use yellow for the background, but I just didn't have enough yellow felt.  So I went with the yellow border of flowers for her. I also learned my she was born in the year of the sheep.  That's when I went with this idea.

 

And I just couldn't help it, but as I stitched along I would sing one of Peanut's songs from his Musikgarten Class, which translated from the German goes like this:

Sleep, baby, sleep,

your father tends the sheep,

your mother shakes the dreamland tree, and down come all the dreams for thee.

Sleep, baby, sleep.

So that's when I added this:

And since Monica is from a bilingual household as well, I also stitched it in Spanish.

 

The hand stitching went pretty well, but I did have one major mishap.  The quilt originally was white, not green, and had a green and yellow floral quilt binding.  The words were larger and embroidered on the bottom part of the quilt.  However, when I was close to finishing I noticed a tiny spot where I had embroidered duerme bebe duerme.  It looked like a tiny red dot of ink.  Well, I kept looking at it and it really began to bother me.  I thought I could spot clean it.  That didn't work.  So I added a little soap.  Then more water.  And before I knew it, I had completely destroyed the bottom half of the quilt.  I was devastated!  I couldn't believe I had ruined it and didn't even want to look at it again.  I put it away for a while before finally realizing I could rescue it by cutting off the section around the flowers. I then stitched it on the green background and restitched the phrases from the song.  Then the floral quilt binding did not look quite right, so I found this lovely gold velvet that I think works very well with the felt quilt.

I have to thank Mimi for all her moral support.  She even sent me this link, to let me know I am not alone. (Thanks Michelle, it's nice to know I'm not alone).

Whew!  I did it.  My first doll quilt.  I do hope all will be forgiven.

Comments

[Veronica TM]

the quilt is so beautiful, kristin! i love how you resolved the 'issues' you had with it. your partner is going to be a happy girl!
i love reading about your experiences with your training, so interesting and needed! looking forward to reading more about it.

[Jackie]

Oh my - how cute!! I'm sure your swap partner will be thrilled!

[Jeannine]

I can't tell you how much I love this (well, yes I can ... I just did!).

I recently did a doll quilt through a flickr challenge and, like you, encountered some difficulties. Working through those challenges made me love the finished product even more.

Your quilt (and the thought and detail in it) is lovely!

What did you bind it with? It looks too shimmery to be felt?

[erin]

by hand? you are amazing!

[Old School Acres]

You rock, girlfriend!! I'm in round 2 and had considered doing mine in felt and all by hand, but chickened out. You know how I love felt!!

I think this would be worth the wait for anyone. Beautiful!

[corry]

I sure believe that this gorgious little quilt was worth waiting for!

[Mimi K]

It's wonderful! I am sure your swap partner will be very happy. Also, it is great to tell the struggles that go into a piece- these projects don't always go together smoothly.

[barb]

Wow..that is amazing and looks great!! I would have never have known it was your first attempt...

[Felicia]

I adore it! Those little sheep are so cute :)

[norththreads]

Wow, this is simply adorable! I cant believe how much cratfing you get done with a travelling full time job! That blows my mind!
Ang

[Lisa K.]

Hi, Kristin! I knew your doll quilt would be worth any wait. Don't beat yourself up over wanting to do a good job. I'm sure Monica will be thrilled.

The sheep and the embroidery are so sweet! Very nice colors and design.

[jen b]

I just love how much thought and research you put into your projects. monica will love it because it is made with love. i love the bilingual phrase on the quilt.

[Frizz]

This is way cute. Love thoses sheep!
How do you do it all!

[Monica Andrade]

Thank you so much Kristin! I do love it, not only because it is a beautiful quilt, but because all the thought, care and love that you included in it. I feel so lucky for this! Thanks again!!

[Marisa]

Your partner will love it, it is beautiful! I'm not brave enough to quilt with felt, but power to you!

[Simmy]

It's so pretty and I would never have believed all the angst you went through. Thanks for sharing that though - it's nice to know that we're ALL far from perfect on our crafting. You should see what I have to rip out/unstitich/re-do!

[ellen kelley]

I was visiting Monica's site and saw your quilt. It is truly wonderful and unique. I know she's feeling very fortunate and will treasure it. I certainly would.

[Vallen Queen]

How could she not. Love it, I mean.

[jessica]

what a sweet and beautiful little quilt you made. and it's bilingual...wow!

[alisonmc]

That is so cute! Beautiful stitching around the sheepies and the Spanish is a lovely touch. That's my kind of quilting :)

[monica]

forgiven and admired. It's lovely!

[amanda bel]

How beautiful!! Well worth the wait, I'd say!

[dorie]

What fortitude! The quilt is quite pretty--you would never know you had such trials. I love that yours is in felt. It's completely appropriate.

[carolyn]

Your first doll quilt is adorable and I'm sure it will be much loved.

[Mirre]

It's beautiful!
I'm sure your swap partner didn't mind the wait!