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Friday, October 2

Little Totoro Baby Quilt

Little Totoro Baby Quilt for Addie, all folded up and ready to mail

I have a confession to make.  I finished this quilt some time ago, but only recently mailed it to Addie.  At this point I should call it a toddler quilt, because she just turned two years old.  While I'm fessing up, I might as well also tell you that my daughter Alina and her husband Gonzo have been married for two and half years and I still have not made their wedding quilt.  Tsk, tsk.  

Last winter, when Connie, of Free Motion By the River, asked me to pattern test for her, she sent me a wonderful pattern she designed, called Blue Sapphire.  I had just purchased the fabrics to make a quilt for my cousin's granddaughter Adelaide, and decided that they would be perfect to use in making a baby sized Blue Sapphire.  Addie's parents had decided on a gray and purple nursery, so I chose the main prints from the Lewis and Irene collection called "Make a Wish". 

Blue Sapphire was a complete delight to make!  Connie writes wonderful instructions, even going so far as to give various alternatives if you prefer different piecing techniques.  She's amazing!  As many of you know, Connie is an ambassador for Island Batik.  All of her designs work beautifully with batiks, but perhaps because batiks are almost a blender fabric, you can use her patterns for any type of fabric.            

After piecing the quilt top, I felt that my smaller version, with fewer blocks, needed to be brought into better balance.  So I decided to sew an applique' in the center.  When considering cute little grey critters, Totoro won me over immediately.  


Little Totoro applique' for Addie's quilt

My son Sam got me hooked on Japanese Anime movies.  All he had to do was get me to watch Howl's Moving Castle and I became a fan.  These movies are so very different than what I was used to seeing in cartoons.  They have a depth of meaning and an innocence that really draws you in.  Although it is hard to choose, I particularly love "My Neighbor Totoro".  Do you have a favorite Japanese Anime movie?  Perhaps "Spirited Away"?  Or "Castle in the Sky"?  Those are two more of my favorites.  I told you it was hard to choose.    

I looked at dozens of Totoro pictures, but have to say that my Totoro applique was mostly inspired by a drawing by Mira Vegas.  I liked how she made hers so small and chubby and tried to recreate that.  Perfect for a baby quilt.  My favorite scene in the movie is when Satsuki gives Totoro an umbrella, so of course an umbrella had to be added.  I think the quilt, with Connie's Sapphire blocks, now looks a bit like the beginning of a dream sequence.

Little Totoro - Blue Sapphire quilt


Closer view - you can see that I did simple wavy line quilting.  I am afraid of trying anything more difficult with Minky on the back.   

A view of the soft violet Minky backing - so very cuddly


I used satin blanket binding again.  It's a real pain in the patootie, and I never get it quite right, but persist because children love it.


Okay, time for a third confession.  I recently sent another very late gift - a baby quilt delivered to another two year old cousin.  But that is for another post.  

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45 comments:

  1. What a darling that Totoro is. I love who character who is well prepared for the weather.
    Amalia
    xo

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  2. Your Totoro baby quilt is really sweet, and what a good idea the soft violet backing that looks like silk!

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  3. What a very cool pattern! It really looks like gemstones doesn't it! The Lewis and Irene fabrics are sooooo pretty! I love that border fabric! I have never used satin blanket binding, but it looks like a very thoughtful inclusion :)

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  4. I've never heard of Totoro but what a cutie he is! I think that maybe waiting to give the baby quilt until the child is two could be a new thing, the child will be able to love it, baby's are just "whatever" :)

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  5. What a great combination of piecing and applique! I had heard of Totoro, but had never seen him before, he looks cute! I'm sure the quilt will be well used and appreciated, and I like the satin binding. It reminds me of the (otherwise plain) blankets I grew up with.

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  6. What a sweet quilt! With the soft and cuddly minky on the back and adorable front, I am sure it will be a quick favorite. :)

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  7. Totoro looks adorable, especially holding the umbrella! By the way I just posted a link on Prairie Sewn Studios. The linky is there but, it takes you to another page now and is not showing up on the posting page, so whether Laura purposely or accidentally changed that, who knows?

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  8. Totoro has been a family favorite of ours for more than 20 years and you have done his dreamy innocence justice with your charming baby quilt. Well done!

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  9. Oooo, love this! The blue pieces look like magical anime rain. You are brave - minky and satin binding!

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  10. A cute little finish! With all those soft fabrics, I'm sure it will receive lots of cuddles.

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  11. It looks super cute and cuddly with the minky and satin binding. A little late is still good. Older kids and people like quilts too. :)

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  12. I like Japanese anime, too. My husband got me onto it. Totoro is adorable. I do like your wide satin bindings.

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  13. Lara, your "toddler" quilt is adorable! When you make a baby quilt, it's for the parents, but making a quilt for a 2 year old is really for the 2 year old. I'm sure she LOVES the minky backing and the satin trim. I haven't used either, but need to do it at some point.

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  14. Cuteness Overload!!!
    http://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com/

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  15. Very cute!
    Greetings from Germany!
    Steph

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  16. This is adorable. I love your little applique and I always love what Connie comes up with in patterns.

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  17. I think you'll have to rename the quilt as an "anniversary" quilt instead :)

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  18. Haha! This is a week for small and chubby. He is adorable and I love that expression on his face. You incorporated your little Totoro within Connie's wonderful pattern so well. It is perfection!!

    -Soma

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  19. What a sweet quilt. Great job! I like how you modified the original pattern.

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  20. Super cute! Love Totoro as a toddler quilt. Such a darling little character. And the satin binding is a great touch!

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  21. Another good motto for us quilters is, "better late than never!" Quilt gifts are awesome whenever they are given and the recipients feel so incredibly special. I've never watched Japanese anime but you've made it sound as if I should. Totoro is adorable and the quilt a winner for sure.

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  22. So cute! We are huge fans of Japanese anime movies in our house. Great applique!

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  23. That is so cute Lara!! I don't know this cartoon character although he looks quite adorable. :-)) Love the soft and peaceful colors, well done!!

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  24. Oh Lara WHAT A SWEET SWEET QUILT!!! Yes I'm yelling that! Totoro is adorable! Nope, never have watched any Japanese anime although I had many students (really really cool and interesting ones) who were huge fans. I will have to check if Netflix has any of the titles you mentioned. Satin blanket binding...never get it quite right" um it looks pretty darn perfect to this chickie-poo...yes children love how it slides against their skin...but I think the Minky is going to trump the satin, just sayin'. You can quilt more on the Minky, have no fear; however I do think the gentle wavy lines mimic rain showers, as well as lend that overall gentle feeling to this adorable quilt. Love your fabric choices. You always have such good ones. That appliqué---!!! It's exquisitely done. Wow! Makes me twitch, but I know come April, I'm going to be itching...haha that just happened as I typed...to try your new method! ;-)

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  25. Sooo cute and the minky back will be perfect!! Just love that little critter in the middle.

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    1. Stopping in...haven't heard from ya...feel tons better to know I'm not the only slow blogger/sewer lately:) THINKING OF YA!

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  26. Ooohhh, I love the satin binding! I had a blanket with a satin binding on it when I was little and I loved the binding right off! ;)

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  27. I bought this movie after hearing so many good things about it--so worth it, we've watched it several times and my husband and I enjoy it as much as the kids. This quilt captures the feel of the movie well and the applique looks perfect!

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  28. Totoro!!! LOVE this quilt. :D I adore that movie. My other favorite Japanese anime film is "Kiki". Have you seen that one? Perfect for this month, even.

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  29. What a cute adorable quilt. I love the flowery fabric too.

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  30. I've never watched a Japanese Anime but I find your Totoro quite charming, looking toward the sky to make sure his umbrella is rightly positioned. And, to me, it looks like he's surrounded by sheltering stones, in the middle of a flowery prairie. How lucky he was to find those rocks when the rain began.
    Pinned and shared on G+

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  31. I love your wavy line quilting! I've used it once on a quilt and will definitely use it again. I didn't know satin binding fabric was still available, but I also remember loving it as a child. A very sweet finish!

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  32. This is so beautiful, and I LOVE anything with minky on the back!

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  33. If Addie is 2 she won't know her quilt is late - she's just the right age to appreciate it now! I loved Howl's Moving Castle - watching anime movies is something large son no 3 and I like to do together.

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  34. I thought I'd commented but either I didn't, or it disappeared. What a sweet quilt! I bet it's super snuggly :)

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  35. So very cute and don't worry you are not the only one with late gifts :) It sounds very familiar to me :)

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  36. That little Totoro really adds a lot to the quilt Lara and I love your wave quilting! I'm so glad you enjoyed Blue Sapphire!

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  37. Cute! Cute! Cute! Your little Totoro is a cute touch that adds a lot of personality to the quilt. I love the fabrics you chose, and that minky backing will make it a favorite blanky, for sure!
    I haven't watched any of the Japanese Anime movies, but my SIL has told us about one. I must ask her tonight which one.
    This is a beautiful gift... sure to stir the imagination of this little girl! Your gifts are always so unique and thoughtful!
    Susie

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  38. That's an adorable quilt, Lara! I think the wavy quilting is just perfect for it.

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  39. Very, very sweet quilt! I think 2 is the perfect age to get a quilt. She'll appreciate it so much more now than as a baby!

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  40. Adorable! The edging is brilliant, too - I remember my kids loving the satiny feel on their special blankies, so I'm sure it is worth your patootie pain!

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  41. This is just too cute! I love the the little Totoro and his umbrella!

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  42. Such a beautiful quilt Lara. Totoro is super cute and perfect to be placed front and center of the quilt. The satin binding is so clever and the perfect finish for a baby quilt.

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  43. Talk about adorable!!!! And I love the satin binding touch!!!

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