Our Friend The Farmer has a whole passel of big grand kids (12 to be exact), big as in, they drive tractors, pull down calves, play high school sports and go to colleges. He also has a new little one coming next month, to which he is extremely excited about, and he has Jacob. Jacob is three years old and the apple of his Grandpa’s eye. Grandpa is Jake’s very favorite person. Little Jake was even going to be Grandpa for Halloween, until he changed his mind and became a Fireman.
Now he is obsessed with fire trucks as only a 3-year-old can be.
I had a farm quilt for sale in our Holiday Boutique, that Jacob’s Aunt fell in love with and thought would be perfect for the new baby coming in February.
When Our Friend The Farmer’s wife was alive, she made all of her grandchildren a quilt when they were born. Our Friend The Farmer wanted to buy the quilt for the baby, but knew that Jake had never been given a quilt. He wanted to fill that gap and asked me to help. I told him, I’d be delighted to help, but that this would be my gift to him. He couldn’t pay me for the fabric or my time. I had to get straight to work, as there was only a few weeks until Christmas.
I scoured the internet for the right fabric.
Our very small local option was closed for 2 days and as I’d just been there, I was pretty sure that they didn’t have what I needed.
The next day right after school, My Loving Spouse and I drove 53 miles to a fabulous Quilt store to find the perfect fabric. Except, they didn’t really have the perfect fabric. They had this fabric, which I bought.
I personally, thought it a bit ‘old’ for a 3-year-old, so I attempted to tone it down or ‘fun it up’ with colorful blocks.
By the end of the week, I had the whole quilt laid out and ready to sew. I just needed a bit more red, so I dashed off to our small local shop, which was open that day and the of course, I found the ‘right’ fabric.
I thought for about 2 seconds and bought them.
I also bought some red and some black polka-dot fabric and went home to begin a brand new quilt. I called Our Friend The Farmer.
“I have good news. I’ve found better fabric for Jake’s quilt, but I am going to have to make it sort of simple because of time.”
‘Well, Ellen, it is for a 3-year-old, not the county fair.’
I started cutting all 4 fabrics in 6 in x 6 in blocks, because that is the size of my ruler, so the cutting goes quickly.
It wasn’t quite right, so I added white blocks, which did not help at all.
I decided to try putting the red & black blocks together as triangles. Luckily, I was taught a quick and easy method to do this. With right sides together, draw a line across the blocks. Then using a 1/4 inch seam allowance sew two seams on either side of the drawn line.
When both seams are sewn, cut the two triangles apart.
Open, press and Ta Da!
I realized I could add a bit of pizzazz by turning the double triangle squares on their sides to give the look of diagonal stripes.
Bordered with white fabric, red quilting and a tiny embroidered nod to the nickname his Grandpa calls him.
The quilt was done and I was excited to give it to Our Friend, who couldn’t wait to come and get it.
Our Friend the Farmer was so delighted to be able to give his daughter special quilts for her babies, his beloved Grandchildren, not quite like his wife use to, but a sweet, sweet gesture all the same…
and I was moved to be part of the blessing.
That is one lucky young man! You did a beautiful job on the quilt!
Thank you so much, Dear John.
It was so sweet to see our friend’s excitement to do this for his daughter. I loved being part of it!
Wow! I love the diagonal stripes! You have such a talent for putting fabrics together. By the way, I realized I never sent you the note about my quilt. I loved the whimsical santas so much that I couldn’t part with it. It became one of my few Christmas decorations this season, adorning the back of the sofa. I love the little “extra” you include in the package, too. Thanks so much!
Sweet!!! I can see it and that makes me so extra happy! Thank you dear friend!