A few months ago, a friend asked me to make a quilt for a baby shower she would be attending. The parents, she explained, were water enthusiasts and she knew they would like a baby quilt with a nautical theme. She left the design up to me but gave me a few parameters. She wanted it to be blue, red, and white and she wanted whales included. At one point she said ‘I’m picturing red and white strips somewhere in it.’
What I decided to do was design sailboats for the front and put flannel whales on the back. I found this great piece of flannel which I cleared with her before ordering it and she loved it:
Then for the quilt. I decided to have 12 sailboats, 6 blue boats with red sails and 6 red boats with blue sails. After sketching my simple layout (4 rows of sailboats, 3 in each row, with sashing and a border), I went through my stash and to my favorite online fabric stores and settled on these fabrics:
I searched the web for a free sailboat pattern and ended up designing one using parts of several patterns and making up the rest! I then began cutting fabric and assembled 12 small and 12 large sails, backgrounds (white), 6 boats, and 6 masts.
Once I attached the boats and completed 12 blocks, I laid them out and tried out borders for the blocks. Fortunately, I had a piece of blue that gave the impression of water. I obviously needed something between the blocks so I added a narrow navy blue sashing.
I tried out a red outer border but it demanded too much attention so I changed to a navy fabric with lighter blue dots to compliment the ‘water.’
And here is the finished quilt (approx 38″x48″) with flannel whales on the back:
I had forgotten about the ‘red and white stripe’ my friend had mentioned so you can see where it ended up! She loved the quilt and the new parents were delighted!
The Quilting Cozy series
Book sales have continued to be good despite my long absence from blogging and otherwise spreading the word. But C&T Publishing has continued to plug away with marketing and keeping the word out there for all of its authors.
Do you have all the books in The Quilting Cozy series?
It looks like this will remain a 12-book series. I stopped writing during the pandemic and just haven’t been inspired to write more. For those who have read the whole series including the most recent book, Frayed Edges, you know that all our characters (who have become friends to most of us) were left in good places.
For those of you who have not read the series, I encourage you to start with #1 (Tie Died) so you will be able to follow the relationships as they develop. The mystery is always there but sometimes what goes on between these delightful characters is even better. The series offers great winter reading if you live where the snow falls and my friends in Australia will be enjoying them as relaxing summer reading.
Purchase books from Amazon here
My very best wishes to all my followers. I would love to hear from you. Please leave a message under COMMENTS below or go to my CONTACT ME page and leave me a note. You can also email me directly at QuiltingCozy@gmail.com. Please excuse my long absence from blogging. I’m sure you understand. It’s been an unusual year. Prayers for 2022.
I value all my followers, readers, and friends.
Blessings,
Carol
A Quilting Cozy Series - Carol Dean Jones 
that was a beautiful Baby Quilt
Carol,
That sailboat quilt makes me feel like a little kid again! And of course Red-White-Blue are a toddling boy’s favorite colors… I still wear only Red-White-Blue (plus gray and black) only all these (yikes, 50+ years) later. Book 13 was already cursed, so we will be patient for 14 when we get the pre-qeul of Sara and Sofie as kiddos ‘at large!’
Ah, a pre-quel. That would be interesting. How did all these folks end up in Cunningham Village…you give me food for thought…
I will miss a follow up book. I love the characters. But I do understand. I have not quilted during the pandemic. Hopefully better days are ahead. I hope you and your family have a good holiday and a healthy New Year. Karen
Thank you for your good wishes, Karen, and I wish you the very best as well.
What a lovely quilt and here’s hoping for a better year in 2022 🙂
Thank you for your comments, Helen. Best of everything in the coming year!
Hi Carol! Lovely baby quilt and that backing is just perfect for a potential whale-lover-to-be. The steps you shared are just spot-on. I can certainly understand why you stopped writing during the pandemic. Many, many things have changed and may never return to “how is was pre-COVID”. I love your series and have read all but the last book. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
Hi Roseanne, Yes I agree that we may never go back to pre-covid but we’ll level out someday to a new normal. I’m so glad you enjoyed the series and I hope you will have a chance to read Frayed Edges. Thank you for your kind words about the quilt — I had such fun making it! I love making baby quilts. My house is full of big quilts and so are all my children’s houses so I wanted to make something different. You probably saw my blog on the baby quilts I was attempting to sell. Some sold and I think the rest will be donated. Have a great Christmas and here’s hoping the new year will bring more stability to our world. Best wishes, Carol
Hello Carol – I love everything about this quilt – the colors, the pattern, your eye for creating! That will be one lucky baby indeed. I also wanted to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed your books. As a “senior” quilter it is such a joy to read books that have characters with whom I can relate! I have read all except your last book and I will be adding that to my Kindle today. I started trying to read another series but the whining young main character exhausted me! ;o) Wishing you all the best in whatever you decide to do. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you and yours.
Oh my, Barbara! What a lovely comment about the quilt and as far as the books go, that is exactly what got me started writing them! I love cozies but was bored with hearing about peoples search for the perfect mate, dating problems, etc. So my series looks at people my age and I suspected there were plenty more readers out there looking for the same thing. Thank you for your comments! Best wishes, Carol
First of all – the quilt is spectacular…..one lucky baby and his or her family will LOVE that for years and years. Secondly you know that I’m happy you are enjoying your life – whether quilting, walking the dog, reading, or writing should you want to do that. As your sister that’s all that matters to me….that you do what you WANT to do and not what you think you “should” do. Love you tons.
Hugs, Pam
Thank you, sister. I’m probably through writing but there is still that friendly ghost floating around in my head wanting to be brought to life in a book. Maybe someday…? Love you baby sister.
Your quilt s lovely. I am disappointed that there will be no other books in your series. I was a number one fan. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy Happy New Year. Stay safe. All the best in 2022.
Thank you, #1 fan! And I appreciate your kind wishes for the coming year. Let me know if you find another series you like. I’m in search of reading. I love series since the story goes on and on. Best wishes, Carol (QuiltingCozy@gmail.com)
Beautiful! That will be such a special gift.
Thank you Dianna. As you could probably tell from the blog, I had a great time making it. It was just challenging enough to be fun. Hope all is well with you folks. Best wishes.
Hello Carol, Your explanation of the process of imagining and designing the quilt pattern really demonstrates your passion for creating! I would like to add that the final quality was impeccable! Thanks again for making this beautiful piece.
You made it all possible!! I’m so glad you and your friends were happy with it. Have a great holiday season. Hope to see you again soon.
I understand how the pandemic has affected you! I do wish that you will feel like writing again some time soon! I enjoyed your books so very much. Love the quilt you made. So very cute👍
Thank you Susan for your kind words. I might want to write again…one never knows about tomorrow, but for now I just don’t want to spend any more time on the computer. At 83, I want to spend more time enjoying life first-hand. Best wishes, Carol
Love that nautical quilt! Nice job, Carol. Thanks for posting the pictures of your process too. Another lucky baby!
Thank you, Wanda. I took so many pictures during the process of making it, it seemed like a good idea for a post since so many of my followers are quilters (or at least interested in the process). Have great holidays!
What a lovely baby quilt and it was fun to read your backstory of how you created it. I’m sure the parents will be thrilled with it 😉
It was fun to make. I’ve been working on baby quilts lately as I said in my previous posts but this one involved more designing and that always makes the process more fun. Hope all is well with you and yours. Thank you for your kind words. Have great holidays. Carol
And Happy Holidays to you and yours! 😉