Thursday, January 11, 2018

First Finally Finished for 2018--The Hinto Minto Baby Quilt

Less than ten days into the new year and I have my first quilt finally finished for 2018 and what made it so easy to accomplish was that it was a baby quilt and a pattern that I just love.  As the way the quilt weather works, just when I 'm ready to take photos of this quilt, the sun goes away and foggy weather comes to visit, which means the photos had to be taken indoor.  It makes an otherwise happy quilt look rather gloomy.

This quilt was made for soon-to-be parents, the father being a son of someone I knew since fifth grade and my first memory of her was that she, being somewhat intimidating since she was way taller than me, jumped out of her seat to block me from going to the cloakroom and asked me where did I think I was going.  If I had the power to look into my quilt future I could have told her right then that she might want to rethink her actions because I would be making a baby quilt for her granddaughter in 50+ years.  Instead, as I would relay the story to her sons, I ran back screaming to my desk. Flash forward to almost 50 years later, I met up with my intimidator who was working at the quilt shop I happened to be visiting from out-of-town and as the story goes, she wouldn't leave me alone, kept asking me all of these questions and I was trying to shop. I gave her short and curt answers until I realized she and I went to the same high school and graduated the same year and when she told me her then name, it was reunion time.  It's sort of ironic she was preventing me from shopping, isn't it, but it was a good thing this time.  That was the start of our "being nice" friendship and even though she lives six hours away, we have included each other in our family celebrations over the past years.  I would like to mention that I am at least four inches taller than her now.
Enough of the background story which I had to share and now to this quilt which the parents-to-be requested a gray and white quilt with a hint of mint, thus the name Hinto Minto Quilt which I'm pretty sure it's going to be renamed. As mentioned previously, I just love this quilt and it came together so nicely since I had all of the fabric in my stash.  I wanted to showcase the gray large letter by Art Gallery and the mint green Cotton + Steel fabrics so I came up with a pattern inspired by two other quilts I've made:  Jelly Roll Charm Chase (you can see it here) and the Blue Ernie Stash Dash Quilt (you can see it here).  I love the look of staggered strips and my favorite way to achieve this look is doing the first two laps of a Jelly Roll Race Quilt.  I sewed approximately fifty 20" long strips, which is way more than enough,  in various lengths and once they were all sewn together, I then sew it together like you would for a jelly roll race quilt.  This where the similarities end because I then cut the strip set in various widths and when sewn with the squares and rectangles, it made a forty-inch wide row.  (I'm going to be making another quilt like this with black and white Cotton+Steel fabrics and will make sure I write a Staggered Squares and Strips tutorial so I can share this easy pattern).   A fun touch to this quilt is the father-to-be is an IT executive and I was glad to include a rectangle that had the word "user" while I think some of the other fabrics might appeal to the mother-to-be who works in the Arts.  As you can see by the photos above, there were some spots where the seams or the same fabrics just happened to meet like a jelly roll race.  Also, you will see that I quilted with soft wavy lines along the seams of the rows which added to the easiness of making this quilt.
I backed the quilt with a medium dark gray dot fabric and the binding is a light gray gingham check, all from my stash.  The Hinto Minto Quilt will soon be leaving for California and just in time for the February delivery.  I'll have to check with the Grandmother as to how it should be sent.

I must have been a really nice girl back in my school days seeing that I never received a baby quilt made by someone in the past when I became a Grandmother last year but then again I did win quite a few free quilt patterns and four fabric giveaways in 2017.  Just purely coincidental, I say.  I think there are those of us who wear their halos well.

Hope you're having a great week too and also since it's been snow long, you're enjoying some warm weather.


16 comments :

  1. Love the colour splash quilt Rose and what a great name, Hinto Minto, love it.I will look forward to your tutorial, I have a couple of jelly rolls and I never know what to do with them, one I opened up to use recently and I hate it, so how can I use it? You did have a good year for wins although I'm happy to say I won a pattern. I only woke something once before, then they said I couldn't have it because I was in the UK, I can't tell you how disappointing it was, even though it was just a charm pack, sad.

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  2. Love the name and the quilt! I don't own any jelly rolls a shocker I know. My downfall is FQ's.

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  3. I think you should keep the name! This is a great quilt...I need a neutral with a hint of aqua quilt made soon. I have been trying to find a pattern and I love yours!

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  4. Congratulations on your first of 2018! I feel like I am a little slow to this one, but life happens. I may get one done while hunny is away. This will be a great tutorial and a very simple quilt with a great effect. I love Hinto Minto as a name. Oh, and what a great story about this long friendship. So many good things in their one, Rose.

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  5. Rose I love that gray windham fabric, it really makes this quilt. Waiting to see your tutorial.

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  6. Hi Rose,
    I'm glad you didn't let that very persistent salesperson impede your shopping TOO much. Isn't it really such a small world??!! I have a similar story about a good friend from way back in the day! I love the name of this quilt - they can call it whatever they want but here it shall be dubbed Hinto Minto. HAHA! OOOOOH, I hope you do make that tutorial!! I would love to see it for myself, AND if you allow it, share it on my blog later in the year. Rose, you wouldn't have wanted anyone to make a quilt for your granddaughter and begrudge you the honor of making ALL of her quilts, right?! Keep that halo up there. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  7. Rose, you just bring a smile to my face as I read your posts! I love the quilt and the name. A tutorial will be great, so I look forward to it. I really, really, like the backing fabric! I need to find some of that to add to my "pet" stash. Haha. What a great story behind the quilt too! Hope you are tucked in and staying warm!

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  8. This is just the perfect quilt! The grey with just that hint of mint! Topping it all off...I love the name! Hinto Minto is a smashing hit!

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  9. I love your original quilt design! Even better than a jelly roll race. And that story! Made me laugh for sure! Glad you can be friends after all these years.

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  10. You have me ROFLMAO AGAIN Rose, and I haven't even finished reading this yet! I have to write as I read, so I remember my reactions, ha... stopping you at age 10 and then 50 years later! Glad you are now taller than she, and glad you are clearly of a forgiving nature! Ha, and now I've finished, and you sure do wear your halo well. ;-) Love the name, and the mint is just the perfect little breath of fresh air (pun intended). Will watch for the tutorial.

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  11. Great story, Rose! You have a big heart to forgive such a memorable childhood fright :) Hinto Minto is a very fun baby quilt, although I never understand people who want gray for their babies. I'm sewing one this evening myself with hints of gray, for my niece.

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  12. Wonderful use of strips, chunks, and a pop of color!!

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  13. Nice finish Rose! That mint green is a particular favourite of mine at the moment! And such a clever name too!

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  14. Very nice! I love the name Hinto Minto, it's adorable. The colors of this quilt is gorgeous, I love that hint of mint with those neutrals. I'm sure it'll be well loved!

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  15. "There are those of us who wear their halos well." I like that line. So much that I suggest you add a gold-yellow to the b/w Cotton+Steel quilt and call it Halo. Or something like that. Whatever you do, write the tute because I like this pattern. (Those colors are pretty awesome, too.) It may be easy for a quilter, but those non-quilters of the world will never know.

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  16. The baby quilt is very modern. I am sure the baby will love it and it will be cherished by the parents. The grandma may be trickier - who knows. I have a feeling she has mellowed with age. Funny story, indeed. Now, I think I am good at naming quilts but Hinto Minto takes the cake!!!!

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I appreciate your comments but due to traveling and my ineptitude with typing on either my iPhone or iPad, my response may be somewhat delayed. Thank You for your understanding.