Thursday, October 1, 2015

MY ORIGINAL "JESUS LOVES ME" QUILT-Designed And Made Over 30 Years Ago

The original "Jesus Loves Me" quilt was made over 30 years ago for my first grandchild, Robert. He was in Hawaii where his father was stationed in the Army. 
I was heartbroken that he was there, it was my first Christmas without him since he had been born.  

Right after Christmas I sketched my pattern onto the largest paper I had which was the back of left over wrapping paper. gathered up what fabrics I had including my stash of old blue jeans from family members and went to work so I could get the quilt to him as soon as possible. It was all hand applique and embroidery. The denim squares  were machine sewn. The back is a flannel blanket. The background panel is very fragile and thin now-I had to use what I had on hand. Hair is scraps of velvet, I still like velvet for texture. 

Here it is, kind of pitiful, isn't it? Still my favorite pattern I have done but it has evolved. I have just completed 2 baby quilts and 2 more in process in the newer pattern.  



Can you make out the embroidered "Mamaw & Papaw love you too?"

the black embroidery threads are showing through the very thin background and I do not draw well.

blanket stitching is still my fave applique stitch


As you can see the quilt is well worn and tattered, it has been through a lot. 
Rob loved little cars so pockets from some of the jeans were included in the squares for them. 

I was doing what I could at the time with what I had.

Then here is a whole cloth version, probably my first try at free motion quilting for Rob's younger brother made several years later. It was damaged when we had a fire in our home.



The quilting has Travis' genealogy quilted in the tree


Nope-no great pieces of art here but I'm in no way ashamed of them even with the wavy bindings, crude drawings, odd fabrics. There is lots of love in those quilts for those boys and that's what counts. 

Now, 32 years later, here are "Jesus Loves Me" panels in progress. These have been traced onto cotton then hand painted. Panels will be available in pattern form to be traced or transferred onto muslin or other cotton in a choice of 2 panel sizes -16" by 27" or

11" by 18" with complete instructions for making a baby quilt.   

The panels will also be available printed on PFD [prepared for dying] Kona cotton for the quilt maker to paint. 
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The above was written several months ago and there has been even more new thoughts and developments for the pattern/print that will be available soon. I hope to have it all in the works within the next couple of weeks. 

The panels are available in my Etsy shop in very limited quantity till I see how they may do 
@
https://www.etsy.com/shop/QuiltingCarolyn.

All of this came about when I pulled out my "Jesus Loves Me" pattern to make 5 baby quilts for the new additions to our family and decided to  put them into pattern form months ago. It has been a long process for me but I think well worth it in the long run. I have worked almost exclusively on samples, changing, rearranging, redoing, etc.

Anyway
Thank you for stopping by and may the joy of crafting be upon you
Carolyn Wainscott

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