Ultra Violet Baby Quilt

Sometimes I forget to share a project here, and then it kicks around in my head FOREVER because I just can't let it go -- especially when it's as pretty as this baby quilt that I made over a year ago for my cousin Amy's baby girl. I've been intending to write this one up for a while, and then it hit me -- the Pantone Color of the Year is Ultra Violet, and this quilt is spot-on.

I think that I originally saw this quilt block pattern on Pinterest, but I can't find it anymore. Luckily I sketched it out for reference. The smaller size of baby quilts make them the perfect opportunity to try new blocks and new ideas.

When I heard that my cousin was expecting, I wanted to make something special for her first baby. My aunt shared that Amy and her husband were planning to decorate the nursery with a mix of neutral tones and purples, so I pulled out my purple and periwinkle Tula Pink fabrics along with a mixture of white, ivory and cream solids for the background. I've hoarded those Tula Pink fabrics for a long time, and it felt SO GOOD to finally sew with them. It was a reminder that I should use the fabric I love -- it's not doing any good just sitting in the closet. These blocks were fun to put together because I was using fabric I loved. That's a good lesson to keep in mind.

After assembling the blocks into a top, I added a pieced border using the scraps and put a moody Tula Pink print on the back. My local longarmer friend Pat did the quilting for me -- graceful loops that echo the swirls in some of the prints but also contrast the sharp lines of the block pattern. I shipped the quilt off to be enjoyed by the new baby, Viola. A violet quilt for Viola -- seems fitting.

The setting sun really shows off the texture after washing.