Stash-Busting Quilts for Kids

Posted by Stacey Day on Feb 13th 2018

Prism, pieced by Paul Krampitz and quilted by Miriam March

Excerpt from Stacy Day’s Child’s Play Quilts.

I Love Ladybugs, pieced by Stacey Day and quilted by Miriam March

Have you noticed that once one friend, coworker, or relative announces that they are expecting, it seems like everyone else you know quickly follows suit? While making baby quilts to gift, I found myself making the same thing over and over. I wished for a collection of simple stash-friendly projects that would be easy to start (and finish!). I made my own wish come true.

Gumdrops, pieced by Stacey Day and quilted by Miriam March

It is a tradition in my family that every baby gets at least one new quilt made just for them. My family is large and spread wide, so we don’t always get to see each other. There are new little cousins and second cousins that I have never met and may never get to meet. For us, a quilt is a hug you can send—a reminder that we love and think of one another, even though we are far apart. It is a big reason why I love making baby quilts.

Whirlgig, pieced by Stacey Day and quilted by Miriam March

Another reason is the fabric. I get to use all the cute, fun prints that inevitably end up in my stash: birds on a wire, fluffy bunnies, and dapper foxes donning monocles and hats. But I discovered that many patterns called for pieces of fabric larger than the small cuts and fat quarters many of us buy. So I sat down and started sketching out options for stash-friendly quilts.

Twinkle Twinkle, pieced by Paul Krampitz and quilted by Miriam March

I played with designs, fabric options (in 2 color choices), and sizes with the goal of utilizing smaller cuts and even scraps. However, I still wanted quilters to have the option of using new yardage to great effect (because we all love buying new fabric!).