Laney's Big Girl Quilt - RSS Summer Sew-along

Here is a fun finish for my littlest granddaughter!

Ruby Star Society Sample Quilt

What began as a summer sew-along has turned into a fall finish! After making a Gingham Table Runner, I spied another project featuring colorful squares of fabric on Instagram for the Ruby Star Summer Sewalong. I love gingham and plaid effects in quilting, and thought this would make a great summer picnic quilt. We haven't been on a picnic in years, but I love the sound of "picnic quilt"!

I printed out the free pattern and was just starting to pull some fabrics from stash when my daughter texted me. She and 6 year-old Delaney (we all call her "Laney") were "fighting" over a quilt that my daughter had claimed the last time they visited. (Side note: It was this quilt, and you might recall I made it for myself. Well it was mine until my daughter saw the back of it and fell in love - lol!) She wondered if I would want to make Laney her own "big girl" quilt so she wouldn't have to share her quilt with her - lol!

Laney loves this fabric!

RSS suggested these possible colorways for the quilt

As you know, when someone asks you to make them a quilt, heavenly choirs sing! On a whim I sent my daughter the picture of the sample sew-along quilt and asked her if she thought Laney would like the pattern. Well yes, she loved the pattern so I sent her some of the colorways suggested, and Laney chose the one that features Tarrytown by Kimberly Kight (middle colorway shown above). A big part of the attraction was the above navy turtle fabric. We narrowed down preferred colors, I ordered from two Etsy shops, and everything arrived fairly quickly.

The pattern features strip cutting, and with the charm packs, cutting was pretty fast. The making of the quilt was prolonged due to two cataract surgeries, but better late than never!

Binding choice was influenced by Diann at Little Penguin Quilts, who has used Tula Pink's gorgeous Fairy Dust in a few of her projects. I found it in lavender and there was every color needed! Quilting was a widely spaced "swirly criss-cross" (my name for it) because my daughter prefers less quilting.

Quilt back blowing in the breeze

Closeup of the backing

My daughter sent me photos of the colors in Laney's room as well as her sheets. I found the perfect backing, which not only coordinates with the fabrics on the front but also with Laney's sheets!

Cozy softness after laundering!

I have to say a word about the batting. Last year I used up the last of a big roll of batting I had purchased on sale from Joann's fabrics. I asked Kathleen of Kathleen McMusing for her recommendations. Kathleen is always so kind and patient with any questions I have, and she gave me such good information. I ended up purchasing Quilters Dream Cotton Select Loft, and I could not be more pleased with it! I never knew how much difference good batting can make in a quilt. My quilts are so soft and cozy after laundering, and you can actually feel the difference between my most recent quilts and my old ones. So thank you Kathleen!

We will deliver the quilt on Friday while Laney is in school,

so my daughter will send me a photo of Laney with her quilt

Quilt Details

Finished pre-laundered size: 68 x 69 inches

Finished laundered size: 65 x 66 inches

Pattern: Perfect Picnic, a free Buffalo-style plaid pattern found here

Fabrics

Main:

Fabrics from Tarrytown by Kimberly Kight for Ruby Star Society

Hole Punch Dots in White by Kimberly Kight for Ruby Star Society 

Stay Gold by Melody Miller for Ruby Star Society

Sugar Sunshine by Sara Watts for Ruby Star Society

Effie's Woods by Deb Strain for Moda

Tessalations Diamond Stack Purple by Victoria Bright for River's Bend 

Backing:

Words Allover from Sweet World by Charlotte Grace for Wilmington Prints

Binding:

Tula Pink's Fairy Dust in lavender

Batting:

Quilters Dream Cotton Select Loft

Thread:

Superior Threads So Fine #50 in Genoa Gray #503