I love making graduation
quilts. There is so much promise, hope and excitement in watching a young
person graduate and take their next steps in life. I think it energizes those
of us who have to brush off the cobwebs to remember our own graduations. It
reminds us of the possibilities of new beginnings, and how thrilled and scared
we were in those moments. Making a quilt for a graduate is our way of sending
love and encouragement with the young person embarking on that new journey.
We have two special
graduates to celebrate this year . . . our daughter’s boyfriend Cameron and our
niece Madison. Cam just graduated from
college and Madison is graduating from high school. They are both terrific young people who will
make a positive mark on the world. I
look forward to seeing how their futures unfold. Today I want to share some
pictures of Cam’s quilt, which we gave to him this past weekend.
The gorgeous flannel
fabric you see in the photos is Farmhouse Flannels II by Primitive Gatherings
for Moda. This collection will release in
July, and you definitely want to get your hands on a bundle! To tell you the truth, I think I need more of this fabric! It goes nicely in my house!
Obviously, the
flannel texture is yummy, as flannel always is. But I also love the rich,
masculine palette. The steely grays lean toward blue to my eye, the
blacks remind me of charcoal, and the browns have a bark-like coloring ~ the color palette is natural and wonderful.
I knew this collection
would make the perfect college graduation quilt for Cam. I searched for a
simple, masculine pattern and found one on Fat Quarter Shop's website: “Picnic” by Zen Chic. This FREE pattern finishes at 72”
x 83” and is layer cake friendly. I had
a fat quarter bundle of Farmhouse Flannels II, so I cut my 10” squares from the
bundle and used the remaining fabric, along with some yardage, to sew a scrappy
backing. Two quilts in one!
By now you’ve noticed the
fabulous machine quilting that adds such depth and visual interest. The pattern is called Diagonal Plaid Bias and
the wonderful work was done by Jennifer of Farm Fresh Stitches. Thank you so
much, Jennifer! It’s perfect!
Each time I make a graduation
quilt, I envision it with the recipient. My sappy hope is that it brings them the comfort of home and the
reminder that they are loved. Although I haven’t known Cam his whole life, I’ve
known him long enough to appreciate his kindness, sense of humor and genuinely good
character. He’s accomplished great things so far, and I’m sure that will
continue in his future. Here he is with our daughter, Haley.
In a week or two I’ll share
my second graduation quilt with you, Madison’s quilt. Here’s a sneak peek. This quilt is all sunshine and sweetness,
just like our niece!
Thanks for stopping by
the blog today!
~Taunja