Handcrafting A Delightful Baby Quilt
Never store your handmade quilt in a plastic bag. The fabric needs to breathe. Storing it in a plastic bag for a long period of time may result in yellowing and discoloration of the beautiful fabrics.
The best bed you can make for your Retriever inside the house is with a woolen blanket - an old one - and keep its meal and water, close by all the time. If inside the house and sleeping with you in your bedroom, well, you better be prepared to get up twice or thrice to take it outdoors for it to answer nature's call. You will get used to it, and so will your pet! You bet!
Blanket Quilt You can also get ahold of the grandparents to be and see if they have any clothes or blankets saved from the parents' childhood. If they do you could include these fabrics in the quilt for their child making it a multi-generational quilt, which will no doubt be a family heirloom.
For making perfectly straight cuts, choose a thick, clear acrylic ruler. A good size to start with is a 6x24" rectangular ruler marked in 1/4" increments.
The third layer is the side that lays face down on the bed and is called the quilt backing. Even though the backing is not always seen the fabric color should complement the quilt design and be made of a durable cotton fabric that will not tear or fray when machine washed.
Once you have your design set, the next considerations are the materials you choose to make the quilt out of. Does the material match the nursery for the child; is it themed for their gender? Additionally the cloth needs to me comfortable for the newborn; cotton or fleece fibers are among the best choices. If you are using two different materials they need to be of the same type, with the only difference being the pattern. In addition to the cloth or yarn you will need appropriate thread and batting for the inside of the blanket.
Place a few straight pins at random places on the surface of the quilt. (Anywhere but on the lines.) This will keep the pieces from shifting during sewing.
Don't be afraid to use your handmade quilt. The layers and the warmth of the batting make it perfect for keeping you warm cold winter nights. Even after many years of use, this author has several quilts that are still in excellent condition.
