Once upon a time I made a quilted crib bumper for a much-anticipated baby, using a charming alphabet fabric by Carolyn Gavin. For four years, the leftover letters have been waiting patiently in my multi-colored scrap drawer, waiting for the right moment to become something new.

Last week, I pulled out those scraps and started cutting. I had no idea what kind of patchwork I would sew, but I wanted to make a baby quilt. Something simple. Something sweet.

I cut the letters as rectangles, their natural shape, and cut matching solids from scrap too. I didn’t have enough letters for my design, so I added multicolor scraps that seemed to fit. This is where a scrap-organization system pays off! I was surprised how many coordinating prints I found ready to go!

I had filled out all the patchwork like so one night. But, in the morning, the colors didn’t thrill me. Altogether it felt too busy, as if the letters were hiding.

So… Kona Cerise to the rescue. Cerise was one of my first solid color crushes and still delights. With more repetitive solid patchwork this quilt has a more pleasing rhythm, don’t you think?

Yes, I did allow for a few stray patches. I couldn’t resist. And this forget me not quilting was the crowing glory. In golden yellow thread, it adorns the solid patches with a bit of the old world wonder of the Carolyn’s prints.

I am perfectly delighted with the finished quilt! It is about 32” square, from 3” x 4” finished rectangles. It’s the right size for a new baby as a bassinet, stroller or carseat blanket. I’m listing it in my Handmades shop today!

It’s always such a pleasure to take a project from start to finish in a satisfactory scrappy sort of way. Naturally, I scrapped the back as well, using a special piece of Anna Maria Horner fabric and some of the “reject” solids from my process.

All fabrics remembered and sweet baby too. “Forget Me Not” for the scraps and the quilting pattern and the baby most of all.

xo,

Rachel Hauser