It took very little time to finish up the whole cloth dinosaur quilt I made for our local Community Service group. It is great to have quilts available for children in crises and I think this one is perfect. Cute dinosaurs on the fronts and snuggly, soft flannel on the back.
The binding is a bold red and white stripe, leftover yardage gifted by my sister some time ago.
I quilted around each dinosaur and if needed (to travel to the next creature) I echoed some of the trees or volcanoes. Simple and fun!
It finished at approximately 40″ square, a good size for a toddler needing a quilted hug.
Whole cloth quilts are a lot of fun and provide such easy FMQ practice. Here are a few I made in the past.
I couldn’t bear to cut up this fabric. The little panda bear scenes deserved to stay whole. I had made this as a sample to use in my quilt show vendor booths some years back.
This was a commission done for a customer. It was, again, a great chance to practice FMQ as I quilted around the flowers.
Some years back, my niece asked me to make a quilt for her best friend’s first baby. She really wanted this boho elephant fabric which was no longer available. But you know how it goes – I put it out there that I needed a piece of this and was able to buy it from someone who had it on her shelf. Just enough to make the quilt.
Sometimes, a fabric is just so pretty as it is, I feel like I don’t need (or want) to cut it up. What do you think? Have you made a whole cloth quilt? If not, I bet you have a perfect large scale fabric in your stash to give it a try! Plus, it is easy to quilt and a nice way to get some practice. Quilting around shapes that are already there helps those shapes to pop a bit and is a great way to improve your FMQ skills.
Sharing with my usual link ups. Please take a look at the top of the page, under Link Ups.
Both quilts are so cute! Isn’t the quilting community just the best – I love that we can put out a call for a fabric, and someone usually answers with complete generosity. There are going to be some happy recipients of those quilts!
Hey! Are you back now? Hope you enjoyed your time off. Yes to our community!! I think it is one of the benefits of quilter’s having a stash of fabrics. Someone, somewhere will have what you need! I remember paying this quilter the normal price per yard and being so happy to find it. Have a lovely day Wendy!
Hi Bernie! I just adore the dinosaur quilt – so cute and bright and fun. All of the whole cloth quilts look fab, and I feel the same way about cutting up some fabrics. I just can’t do it! I am 100% certain that all have been or will be a welcome, comforting addition. ~smile~ Roseanne
Thank you! I am sure this isn’t the last of these for me. I really enjoy making them.
The dinosaurs are just darling, Bernie! I’m sure it will be loved and appreciated. It’s perfect for a child. I love the wholecloth look, especially for fun fabrics like these. Why cut them up? They are perfect as-is. I love the striped binding, too! Have a great day!
Thanks Mari. I have an alphabet panel that I will probably do something similar with. I don’t want to cut it up but it is somewhat narrow so I will have to add one or two borders. Always something in the works……
I remember that elephant quilt!! So sweet.❤️
Hard to believe how long ago that was. I think it was made in 2016? That is crazy! So the ‘baby’ is a five year old now?
Love this quilt…fun and easy. I, too, love practice quilting on donation or baby quilts….it is easy and the baby never notices our mistakes!
Such brightness and cuteness!!! Makes me smile 🙂
Love the elephants too. When the fabric is so cute, it is best to make a whole-cloth quilt or use as a backing.
Yes, I agree Preeti. It is also such a good way to practice my FMQ. I do not really like to free motion quilt on anything bigger than a baby quilt on my machine. It is so cumbersome. But these quilts are a great way to get some stitching practice in.
I do find it difficult to cut up a beautiful fabric sometimes. Wholecloth quilts are a good way showcase a fabric. Very often I choose to use a favorite large scale print or panel for the back of a quilt. I heard Tula Pink once say to put your best fabric on the back of a quilt because that is the side that is closest to the person it is made for. Works for me. Thank you for brightening my day and linking up today … 🙂 Pat
I had not heard that philosophy (as you quoted here) but I like it. How sweet that is. Thanks for sharing Pat. 🙂