Some low volume fun…

I have just manage to finish up one of two low volume quilts I have been commissioned to make… despite the universe conspiring against me getting a finish for Friday.

low volume quiltRecently I was asked to make two low volume quilts for some adorable twin toddlers… with the instructions to make sure there was lots of pink, green and purple and only a small hint of yellow or orange, if necessary.

low volume quilt detail eOkay I found it necessary to use a hint of orange just to include these adorable Heather Ross mice but other than that I stuck to the instructions.

low volume quilt detail bPulling the fabric stack was fun – the first round  was only fabrics with a white/cream background and then I went back and pulled out a couple of soft pastels.  I find low volume quilts some of the easiest to pull fabric for, because you are using fabric that reads as light but are not worrying too much about scale or style.

low volume quilt detail aAnd when in doubt there is always the quick trick of photographing your fabric and turning the photo black and white to see how the fabric reads.  I usually do this step when I have the blocks up on the design wall and always end up rearranging the blocks and sometimes removing a fabric or two altogether.

black & white fabric I of course had a fun time putting in as many novelty prints as I could…. because what kid quilt is completely without the ability to play “I Spy”.

low volume quilt backFor the back of the quilts I fully embraced pink… choosing some of my favorite fabrics to highlight, namely some Lizzy House “Catnap”.

low volume quilt backing detailI kept the quilting simple and went with a soft pink binding, in a shade just a little different from the backing solid and chose to attach the binding by hand.  I love the hand-made touch that hand binding gives to a quilt… those little stitches let the recipient know that the quilt was made with love.

low volume quilt bindingNow all I have to do is finish up the binding on the second quilt and they will be ready to send to their new owners.