Baby Quilt

Making a baby quilt is not as intimidating as it sounds. It can be a bit time consuming and requires a certain amount of creativity but once it is done the kind of satisfaction that is derived is indescribable. So, next time you have a baby shower to go to, make a baby quilt. The quilt can be made with the aim for the immediate use of the baby or till it is 3 years old. Later on he quilt can be used as a doll blanket for the child to play with. Essentially it should be big enough to cover the baby, but small enough to drag around without leaving a winding trail of blanket for others to trip over.

A quilt that is 3x5 feet approximately will fit nicely in a crib. But a lot depends on the pattern that is being used, as the beauty of the quilt is a combination of its size and the design. Practicality also plays a part when some small quilts are used to fit in a bassinet but the child will outgrow it very fast. Different mothers use different techniques to make quilts. There are some that use any arbitrary fabric and pattern. The logic is that if it is meant to be used then one should not mind if it starts looking used. An extremely beautiful quilt will be used by the baby as it pleases. They may not take the aesthetics into consideration!! Every quit will end with a few stains some of them permanent ones; the only consideration is that the baby should enjoy it. If the mother is very particular about her quilt then she can make some and hang them on the quilt rack that is off-limits for the children. Some mothers have had the experience of reopening the quilt after the baby has grown up. This is a poignant moment because all the memories come flooding back.

Colors for baby quilts do not have to be pink or blue anymore. Any pastel is pretty, soft, and delicate, like a new baby. Yellow and green are favorites. Seasonal colors can also be used. White for winter, green for Christmas, Easter egg colors for the festive season, bright colors that imitate flowers for summer, and brown, orange, red and yellow for fall. Card designs such as hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs are nice patterns for a baby quilt. The overall color scheme can be shades of red/pink/white, or blue/white, or even purple/white. Hand embroidery around the outline of the main design makes it extra special. It will hold up in the wash if done properly. Tying a baby quilt through all the layers makes finishing it go quicker. But hand quilting makes an heirloom. Remember not to adorn it with buttons or beads, as it could be a choking hazard.

There are some mothers who very concerned with the pattern for the quilt. The size of the block one uses can determine, in part, the size of the quilt. Does it work better square, or rectangular? What size borders look best? The pertinent question of course is how will the baby use the quilt? Any size quilt may end up unused in the baby's corner, even if you try and coax the baby into using the quilt. A thin/flat quilt that seems rugged may get toted around, along with all that other baby paraphernalia, and used to cover baby in the car, in the stroller, or wherever. A larger, fluffy quilt will be more likely to end up in baby's bed. A quilt might even turn out to be a play area on the floor for a baby who's not yet mobile. Sometimes the quilt will be left untouched but it is of great use. How you may ask? The baby may psychologically want the quilt to be around. It may only like to stare at the quilt. The design and the shape may enamor her but the baby would not want to lay its hands on it. There are some mothers who will make different quilts at different points in the baby's life. When they are small a 45 X 60 works fine as they grow older they can graduate on to a 60 X 80.