a present and a related work in progress
05.15.08
Today is my due date, but we are still waiting. And waiting (I think the landscapers are finishing their work as I type, so it looks like they’ve won the race to the finish line). Our friends, who were originally due 2 1/2 weeks later, even had their baby this morning! In the meantime, I continue with the sewing. Oh, and the waiting.
We have a baby friend, Oliver, who celebrates the same birthday as Otis, and despite how easy it should’ve been to remember, we actually forgot. Naughty naughty. So I made him a small belated present - a food related present, since he has recently been magically cured of some trying eating difficulties.
I sewed him a bib from fabrics collected from Otis’s baby clothes . Does that seem unsanitary somehow? But I loved all of these clothes, and they bring up such great memories for me, and it seemed like a shame not to use them all up. I embroidered his name on the bib, and it’ll go into a package with some dishes and utensils from Boon, whose new feeding products I’m rather enjoying. Oh, and the new layette looks nice, too.
What actually started this bib project is the idea that I wanted to make Otis a quilt made of his old baby clothes. After we found out that we were having a girl, I went through all the boxes of clothes that I had been holding onto for the past three years, figuring out what to keep and what to give away. I used to love buying these little button-up shirts with great patterns on it for Otis (yes, uncomfortable and silly for a 2 month old, so sue me), and I just couldn’t quite bear to give them away. So it seemed to make sense to make him a keepsake with them, especially since he doesn’t have a large enough quilt to cover his bed now that he’s moved onto a twin-sized one. So I took all of the clothes that were made of woven fabric, took a very deep breath, and cut them all to shreds. After the first shirt, whose destruction made me quite sad, it was actually quite therapeutic. I’ve actually had to stop myself from eyeing clothes that have great patterns but that he still fits into. And the verdict?
Otis had a lot of blue clothes, which surprised me a little.
But now I’m finding that I’m a little stuck, because in case you can’t tell, I generally don’t mix a lot of colors and patterns, and every combination that I’ve tried to work out seems to be just so darned busy.
See?
And see?
Is it just me? Probably, since thinking about more than 3 colors at a time usually makes me feel slightly tipsy. I think I’ll just have to sort of give into the (perceived) busyness. I’m not used to this whole concept of mixing and matching, but since I feel quite committed to using all of these little squares that I’ve cut up, I think I’ll have to just go with it. I guess Oliver’s bib was a sort of try-out, and it doesn’t look too bad to me, so maybe I’ll feel differently about it once it’s all put together. I think I’m leaning towards two rows of pieces squares, followed by a solid band of white or off-white (rather than the small squares, like the bottom photo), repeating this, and then putting a white/off-white border around the whole thing? Anyone have any opinions about this?
And here’s another question - I’m debating the fate of a shirt of Otis’s, which is one of my absolute favorites. I’ve only just stopped stuffing him into it because it’s cutting off circulation at his wrists (it’s an 18m shirt). A friend recently said, “Hey, that shirt looks like a girl could wear it.” and I had to respond, “Um, that’s because it is a girl’s shirt.” So it’s really something that could be passed on to Otis-ina, an idea that F likes. But it’ll really be Otis’s shirt forever in my brain, and it feels like it should be part of his quilt. Should I cut the mother up, or should I save it?
Entry Filed under: craft, friends, the otis report. .
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1.
geobrarian | 05.15.08 at 3.31 pm
The off-white makes a real difference–I’m partial to the four square pattern, but the stripes are nice too. With a border around the outside, I think both would look great.
Perhaps Otis has a doll or stuffed animal who could sport the shirt? That way you could keep it intact, honor it’s original wearer and also have it for the girl if it suits her? And, not to get too far into the future–it’s hard for me to imagine my two year old becoming a parent–but both my brother and I have both enjoyed dressing our kids in clothes that my mom saved on our behalf.
Good luck with the upcoming arrival. Have a friend in labor today–perhaps she “stole” your day (if there is a quota on such things?)
2.
Mrs. Gregorton | 05.15.08 at 8.47 pm
My brain seems to prefer the stripes. It’s really beautiful. As for cut versus save, well, I am hopelessly sentimental about these things too. Maybe use it if you think it will enhance the pattern of the quilt?
3.
Lonie Polony | 05.15.08 at 9.12 pm
Good luck with the baby! My last obstetrician, unbeknownst to me, had his own weird ideas of calculating due dates, so I was needlessly impatient and my baby was actually born at the ‘right’ time.
My advice (because everyone loves unsolicited advice ;) right?) is to enjoy the last few days of your orderly, comfortable life as you know it, have some nice long baths and sleep in while you can!
4.
jennifer | 05.15.08 at 10.02 pm
I just discovered your blog today and I’m hooked! : ) Even though I have lots to do and orders to fill, I can’t stop reading. Must stop. Now.
I love the post about the fish head soup. Bring back some fond memories with my po po and ma ma :)
You have a beautiful family and best of luck with the new baby.
5.
AmyK | 05.16.08 at 5.56 am
Maybe you could make bigger blocks of the same color/pattern (by combining the smaller four squares into larger ones as you did with the off-white squares)
I really like the look of the larger off-white blocks but would prefer the color/patterns to balance out with it in bigger blocks as well. JMO that it would make it less busy. I think you would still have enough interest from the texture of the smaller squares being sewn together.
I am sure you cut the squares that tiny because they were coming from tinier shirts.
Good Luck with the second! I welcomed my second son 9 months ago and it has been quite the fun ride.
6.
Dora | 05.16.08 at 7.44 am
I like Oliver’s bib- very cute. Doug’s mom is a quilter so, not having been around quilts much until a couple of years ago, I now encounter them a lot; we have some (including a lovely wedding quilt she made us) and I’ve seen several of hers (she is great, wins prizes at shows and now is in business for herself– http://quiltingbyjudith.blogspot.com/). I think the quilt is by nature kind of a busy thing, but your prospective patterns definitely don’t sem too busy to me. Of the 2 possibilities pictured, I rather like the second and its distribution of color.
Hope you’re feeling good! Hope to talk to you and F soon.
7.
wayfarer | 05.16.08 at 9.26 am
cute bib! those must have been some cute clothes!
For the quilt, i’m that way too. Fearful of too much busyness and colors but after giving in to it one time and going against my discomfort i ended up really liking the quilt.
For the recent decision - cut it up! Can you get another for the new one?
8.
Di | 05.16.08 at 10.06 am
I am sure it won’t be long till the baby arrives!
I love the quilt! It’s a great idea! I can’t believe it - someone else with a colour phobia! I struggle to wear more than 2 or 3 colours - if you can count black as a colour!!
9.
sarahgrace | 05.16.08 at 5.04 pm
What a great idea! I really like the second quilt with the rows…
10.
elsiemarley | 05.16.08 at 8.15 pm
I love the bib! why not make the quilt in a similar manner?
11.
VioletteCrumble | 05.18.08 at 1.18 pm
I LOVE the bib you made, and the quilt layout looks great to me.
Save the shirt you love for Otisina!
Could your quilt possibly have a solid center with the quilted squares all around the circumference? Or a solid center that you do an applique on? Just an idea. I wonder if you’ve had your baby already, I’m so excited for you.
12.
Hyena In Petticoats | 05.19.08 at 2.01 am
If the busyness of the quilt is bothering you, I’d throw in more off white squares to contain the patterned bits - so the busy parts are like accents instead of the overall design….. that being said, I do love a crazy busy mismatched quilt like nobody’s business……
Good luck with the labor! I’ll be thinking of you over the next few days - here’s to a safe and happy (and easy) birth with a gorgeous wee healthy little girl at the end! Yay!
I was thinking about telling you about how I have accidentally started learning Chinese - My partner and I have tea with an old Chinese man every Monday, and he has now gently bamboozled us into learning chinese….. very funny, and extremely hard!
Looking forward to hearing some baby news -
Leah xxx
13.
sara | 05.21.08 at 6.04 am
Great idea for the quilt! I like the 4 square design, but it might be interesting if it were totally random and you just went with the busy-ness, thats what will make it unique and special!
Good luck with your new arrival! I hope you are out of discomfort soon, cant wait to see her!
14.
rebecca | 05.23.08 at 1.30 pm
I love this idea for the quilt and the bib too.
I am favouring the stripes out of the two shown but also like the idea of doing a similar pattern to the bib.
Can’t wait to see the results and your new babe!
15.
Kristin | 05.28.08 at 11.59 am
Thanks for this post…I am about to make a quilt for my husband out of my boys’ baby clothes, but I can’t get started bc I’m scared of that first cut. Now I know that it will be worth it…so thank you! I like the quilt with the rows, but either will turn out wonderful! Congrats on your baby!!!