Showing posts with label baby quilt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby quilt. Show all posts

Thursday, October 29, 2026

A Finished Square Dance Baby Quilt on I Quilted This!

Hello and welcome 😃 I hope that you're doing well and enjoying the Fall. I managed to finish Square Dance, the first of three baby quilts for JJ's friends. I always want to keep it simple when FMQ but I can't help myself! So here is Square Dance in all of its glory. 😍

Square Dance Ready for a Baby!


It's done! I really love this pattern, it was perfect for showcasing pretty fabrics. I used Kona cottons for the blocks and then novelty fabric in the centre using fabric that depicted things that the parents love to do - there's adventure, pickle ball, dinosaurs, Star Wars, etc. Of course there's a lot of just very cute baby fabric. JJ helped me design the quilt. They have a wonderful sense of colour 😊

Square Dance baby quilt

As you can see from the photo, I made a scrappy binding for the quilt. I just ensured that the binding fabric wasn't against the same colour in the quilt - otherwise it disappears and looks off. I machine quilted it using white Bottom Line thread. It's not the best job I've ever done but I was able to fix it so that it's respectable.

The last thing that I did was FMQ the centre blocks with the same Bottom Line thread. I used a FriXion pen when possible to draw the stencil, and chalk pen on dark fabric. It's pretty difficult to see, but here's the adventure square that is FMQ. The next image shows the stencil.

A lovely sun stencil for the centre squares

The sun stencil used

Since I took the time to share with you most of the blocks, here are the ones that haven't been posted yet. You can see better if you enlarge them by clicking on the photo.

This block was FMQ with ice cream at the top and flower chains for the rest.

Ice cream at the top and flower chains 

FMQ with flowers

Geometric FMQ and birds!

Fun designs from Lorri Kennedy

The glamour shot 

The back of the quilt

What I learned
  • I love FMQ, until I'm fed up! Unfortunately the quilt finish and the fed-up feelings often don't synchronize! 
  • I will have to try to remember, for the next baby quilt, that simple quilting can be elegant and lovely. I don't need to go crazy with every quilt 😁
  • I wasn't very happy with my machine binding - I'll have to be more mindful for the next one.
  • As I looked at the quilt after taking pictures, I realised that I haven't FMQ one of the centre blocks! I'll get to that tomorrow, as well as prepare the label.
  • This quilt was my October OMG (and September's). I'm thrilled that it's finished and will be gifted to JJ's friend and her baby.
  • I've been working on my October Quilter's Cove house - it's almost done but I still need to quilt it. Please come back on Saturday for the linking party 😍
Related links
Linking parties

Project details


Square Dance baby quilt
Pattern from Modern Baby, Martingale
Size: 42" x 45"
Materials: Kona solids, novelty quilting fabric
Techniques: piecing, FMQ, stencil







I Quilted This!


Welcome to the I Quilted This! linking party that celebrates quilting on a domestic machine or custom quilting on a long-arm. Feel free to link up and share any recent project, even if you're not quilting it! 

Here are the posts that included FMQ, ruler work and walking foot quilting last week. Thanks for linking up 😊 and consider grabbing the button. 

Viridian from Viridian's Blog finished a jellyroll quilt UFO from 2021 called Three at a Time by Moda. She stitched it in the ditch. 

Viridian's latest finish, Three at a Time

Kat from Scrapbox Quilts quilted up a baby top donated through Heartstrings group. Kat backed it with a fleece fabric and quilted it using a circular grid.

Kat backed and quilted a baby donation quilt

Diann from Little Penguin Quilts made another placemat with the scraps left over from the previous two made last week. The placemat got a very cute penguin backing - what's not to love!

Diann's third scrappy placemat

The back of Diann's scrappy placemat

Vicki of Vicki's Crafts and Quilting made two very cool Valentine's runners. I love those unusual shapes!

Circular Valentine's runner

Serpentine Valentine's runner

It's now your turn 😍

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
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Wednesday, October 07, 2026

Back to FMQ and I Quilted This!

Allô and welcome 😊 My studio is a disaster after going away, but that hasn't stopped me from getting things done! I spent a few hours last evening adding more free motion quilting (FMQ) on the Square Dance baby quilt. It's getting there! Since my last baby quilt was given to the recipient just before his third birthday, I'm not too worried - but it would be nice to get it done sooner rather than later. I didn't make it for my September One Monthly Goal (OMG) but I'll be done in a week or two...and then on to the next one 😁 

FMQ Square Dance Blocks


So far I've shared three FMQ blocks. Here are more - the ones I quilted last night are shown first while the others were quilted a while back.

The centre square features dinosaurs. I tried drawing dinosaurs based on the images in the fabric but with no luck. Then I found a pieced stegosaurus on the internet. Adapting the image from a pieced quilt was much easier. There's a close-up below.

Dinosaur block with dot-to-dot quilting
and a dinosaur

Close up of the FMQ stegosaurus

The centre fabric on this block is adventuring in the jungle. I FMQ a fern à la Angela Walters and then added vines with leaves.

Adventure block filled with ferns and leaves

The fun red fabric has all kinds of fun motifs. I FMQ rainbows at the top of the block and then a car, sun, cloud and house. There are mostly Lorry Kennedy's quilting designs. I now have the rest of the block to finish. 

Rainbows, car, sun, cloud and house

There blocks were quilted after the last post on this quilt.

FMQ stars in the Star Wars block

FMQ flowers, a butterfly and squiggly lines


What I learned
  • Drawing a realistic dinosaur is beyond my abilities at this time but I was so happy to find a pieced stegosaurus. Since it was simplified to be pieced, it was simple enough for me to draw it. I'll have to remember that as a source of images to FMQ.
  • The hardest part about FMQ this quilt is coming up with the motifs. When possible, I like making it relevant to the centre block, although geometric designs can also be effective.
  • I'm going to publish this post early so that I can link up to the October OMG. This quilt needs to be finished soon since I can't wait to start designing the next baby quilt. I haven't let myself start until I finish this one!
Related links
Linking parties
I'll be linking up to many fun linking parties, including the October OMG. You may want to check some out after you've linked up below! Monday Musings, Sew & Tell, Put your foot down, Off The Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts, 15 Minutes to Stitch 2026,


I Quilted This!


Welcome to the I Quilted This! linking party that celebrates quilting on a domestic machine or custom quilting on a long-arm. Feel free to link up and share any recent project, even if you're not quilting it! 

Here are the posts that included FMQ, ruler work and walking foot quilting last week. Thanks for linking up 😊 and consider grabbing the button. 

Terry at Ongoing Projects is still FMQ her butterfly collage quilt. You'll want to check out her post for more details!

Terry FMQ her butterfly collage quilt

Vicki from Vicki's Crafts and Quilting is now working on her fall quilts. 

Vicki's Cinderella wall hanging (I just got the joke!)

Vicki finished this UFO fall table topper

Gail of Quilting Gail used to dislike appliqué - a lot! However, as she made some fun projects, she's now grown to like it! Here is one of her quilts. Check out her post for more!

Gail having fun with appliqué after making this tree skirt

It's now your turn 😍

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
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Thursday, September 10, 2026

Playing and I Quilted This!

Bonjour and welcome 😃 I spent most of the day outside playing with hexies - that was nice 😍 I'm writing this ahead of time since I'll be in Toronto for my semi-annual eye exam. I used to be able to stitch in the car but not anymore. That means that not much will get done quilting wise, so I may as well prepare this post before I go. 

Playing with FMQ Designs


As you saw last week, I finally started quilting Square Dance, a baby quilt. Since then I've been FMQ one block per day. I'm so excited - it's pure play. Of course I said that I would keep it simple but you know me...a chance to practice and play with FMQ. I just can't help it. 😁

Since the first block I FMQ just had straight lines, I wanted to add some curves into the next one.

Straight lines with "C" curves

The next one, on the turquoise background was FMQ with Lori Kennedy's Swirling Stars. I drew the design on the fabric with a white chalk pen.

Swirling Stars

The maroon block has a pickle ball fabric in the middle, so I practiced drawing on paper and then on the fabric, pickle ball pallets and balls. The rest was FMQ with squiggly lines.

FMQ pickle ball pallets and squiggly lines

Summer Hexies Sew Along

As well as playing with FMQ, I also spent time doing EPP (English Paper Piecing), the wreath for the Summer Hexies Sew Along. 

This is what I have done so far.

Hexie Wreath so far

Another double flower

I now have 10 single hexie flowers and 4 double hexie flowers. Now I need to make one double hexie flower and 8 single hexie flowers and the leaves. It's coming along nicely 😊


Focus & Flow Course

I'm taking the Focus and Flow course offered by Fibre Arts Take Two. The course is taught by Karen Olson. It's a mindful eco-art program. Our first project was a teabag paper journal. I used inks for a few of the pages and then used a branch from my yard to put into the spine. The book is tied with sari yarn.


Teabag paper journal

It was a windy day - the pages wanted to dance

If you're wondering. teabag paper is a translucent paper that feels a lot like tissue paper. It's very durable and takes paint quite well. Apparently if you want to work with Japanese papers, this is an inexpensive way to get used to them.

What I learned
  • I made the teabag paper journal a while back and have finally returned to the course. I've missed making books so it's great to be back into it. This is definitely from an arts perspective.
  • Playing with hexies outside for most of the day was very relaxing. I'm motivated to finish the wreath since it's more than half done.
  • Choosing fabric that plays well with the initial fabrics I bought has been fun. A little variety is a very good thing!
  • FMQ the Square Dance quilt has been fun, from figuring out the designs to practicing them and then drawing them on the fabric. As I've said before, it's a good thing that I'm pretty good at following lines 😀 
Related links
Linking parties


I Quilted This!


Welcome to the I Quilted This! linking party that celebrates quilting on a domestic machine or custom quilting on a long-arm. Feel free to link up and share any recent project, even if you're not quilting it! 

Here are the posts that included FMQ, ruler work and walking foot quilting last week. Thanks for linking up 😊 and consider grabbing the button. 

Kat of Scrapbox Quilts made another lovely Lil Bear Hug quilt. This one is yellow and purple - the August and September colours.

Kat's yellow and purple Lil Bear Hug quilt

Terry from On Going Projects has been quilting her Butterfly collage project. Here's a peak.

Terry is FMQ her Butterfly collage project.

Diann at Little Penguin Quilts has finished her lovely Patchwork Hearts quilt. She quilted-as-you-go. If you're curious, read about the process on her post!

Diann's Patchwork Hearts quilt

Preeti at Sew Preeti Quilts quilted a lovely quilt that she called Jeni's Colorado. You'll want to read all about it.

Preeti's latest quilt, Jeni's Colorado

Vicki from Vicki's Crafts and Quilting has been busy. You'll want to check out her post. Here are a couple of fall quilts that she finished.

Vicki's fall wall hanging - check it out!

Vicki's sunflower table runner

Gail of Quilting Gail made the cutest baby quilt. You'll want to read the story behind it. She quilted it with the Rocket Ruler by Silly Moon.

There's a dog on my quilt by Gail

Details of the ruler quilting by Gail

It's now your turn 😍


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
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Thursday, September 03, 2026

FMQ a Baby Quilt and I Quilted This!

Hi and welcome 😊 I hope that September finds you well. I'm so grateful that the back-to-school rush is no longer a thing in my family - I don't miss those very stressful days! I've been quilting the first baby quilt of three for JJ's friends. Let's see how I'm doing.

Square Dance is getting quilted


This week I quilted-in-the-ditch the first baby quilt. The title of the pattern is Square Dance, so I'm sticking with that! I used a light grey for the top and a light blue thread for the bobbin. I'll be using a light blue in the bobbin when the top thread is pale, and a darker blue to match darker thread. That's the plan since my tension will cooperate 😀

First block quilted - ruler and FMQ

I started by using a ruler to quilt the top triangle of the block. I gave up after that section was done. It was easier, faster and more accurate to draw the lines and FMQ them. That's because I have a generic ruler foot that is not very good. One day I will buy the proper Janome ruler foot - hopefully that will help.

Here's Square Dance with all of the blocks stitched-in-the-ditch. The top light green block has been quilted, except for the rainbow centre block. I'll probably be FMQ it with rainbow shapes that I learned at the Free Motion Quilting Summit 2026.

Square Dance stitched-in-the-ditch

Back of the quilt with extra novelty squares

September's One Monthly Goal (OMG)

I would love to have Square Dance all quilted by the end of the month, but that may be too ambitious, so I'll aim to have half of it quilted 😉. Wish me luck!

What I learned
  • I enjoy sandwiching small quilts - it's just so much easier!
  • The back of the quilt came together easily. The pattern called for one extra row but I was done, so I added the 6" blocks to the back. It worked out perfectly 😊
  • I was disappointed with the ruler quilting. I guess I had forgotten how bad the generic ruler foot can be. I was not in a patient mood, so out came my FMQ foot. All was good 😍
Related links
Linking parties
I'll be linking up to many fun linking parties. You may want to check some out! I'm linking up to September's OMG, Put your foot down, Off The Wall Friday, Finished (Or Not) Friday, Patchwork and Quilts, 15 Minutes to Stitch 2026,


I Quilted This!


Welcome to the I Quilted This! linking party that celebrates quilting on a domestic machine or custom quilting on a long-arm. Feel free to link up and share any recent project, even if you're not quilting it! 

Here are the posts that included FMQ, ruler work and walking foot quilting last week. Thanks for linking up 😊 and consider grabbing the button. 

Kat from Scrapbox Quilts FMQ this stunning panel following Angela Walter's challenge, Arcs, Curves and Points. This is the challenge I was going to use to do ruler quilting on the Square Dance quilt, but the rulers have been put away. Kat isn't a fan of the dark panel but it is a stunning finish. You'll want to expand her photo to get a better look at the FMQ.

Kat's FMQ on Angela Walter's Arcs, Curves and Points panel

Diann at Little Penguin Quilts quilted her last block and is now putting together her Quilt-as-you-go (QAYG) colourful Patchwork Hearts quilt. 

Diann quilting her last colourful patchwork heart

Diann is ready to put the whole Patchwork Hearts quilt together!

Vicki of Vicki's Crafts and Quilting has finished many quilts this week. Here are a couple of them. You can check them all out on her post. The first one below is a lovely disappearing 9 patch. Those blues really play well together! My favourite is this colourful table topper. I just love the pieced border!

Vicki's blue disappearing 9 patch

Vicki's colourful fall topper

Margo Yang of MY Quilts and Crafts got her gorgeous denim quilt finished. It's called She's A Star. Let's hope it'll be hanging in the Quilt National 27!

Margo's She's A Star

Sandra of mmm quilts finished a quilt for her daughter, Holiday Star. It was quilted very simply but I love the little extra Sandra quilted in the secondary blocks.

Sandra's dramatic Holiday Star

Debbie of A Quilter's Table made this great improv quilt - Plethora. Debbie quilted this in an uneven grid with a number of coloured thread, for a plethora of fabric and thread. Check out her post for more details.

Debbie's Plethora of fabric and thread

It's now your turn 😍

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
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