This quilt pattern is about as simple as it gets in quilting, but the results are so satisfying! I made an I spy quilt when my eldest left nursery and since my youngest went to a different nursery I decided to recycle the gift idea. The idea of an eye spy quilt is that you pick fun fabrics with lots of different images. It can spark a conversation with young children and you can play eye spy and guess which image they are thinking of. The fun rainbow colours in this one mean it could be used as a colour sorting game too. When I showed Alfie he automatically found two images the same and said "match". However it is used, I hope it is loved and appreciated by many more children to come. He was so happy taking it into nursery to show his friends!
The fabric collection I used has been one I had my eye on for this idea for a long time now. It is Jennie Maizels Colour Collection from Lewis and Irene. Each print has a colour theme and is full of fun images. You can buy all the prints individually or as a set. To compliment them I used my organic solids.
YOU WILL NEED
x7 Jennie Maizels (I'll refer to these as JM in the pattern) Fat Quarters or Long Quarters
x7 Rainbow Solids Fat Quarters or Long Quarters
Backing Fabric 1m
Binding x4m
All your usual sewing supplies
METHOD
Cut your fabric into 8" squares. You will need:
Red Plain x2
Red JM x2
Orange Plain x2
Orange JM x2
Yellow Plain x1
Yellow JM x2
Green Plain x2
Green JM x2
Blue Plain x1
Blue JM x2
Purple Plain x2
Purple JM x1
Pink Plain x2
Pink JM x2
2. Lay your squares out in the following pattern or however you prefer.
3. Sew rows together first. Press the seams towards the plain patches
4. Sew all the rows together and press the seams downwards (or whatever your preferred way is).
5. Layer up with wadding and your backing fabric. I have used the alphabet print from the same collection. I thought it was the perfect choice for nursery.
6. Time to quilt. I have gone with diagonal quilting lines.
7. Trim your edges and edge stitch.
8. This is an optional extra. In case the nursery decided to hang the quilt I have added two triangle to the top corners. I used some of the fabric left over from the backing, cut two squares 4.5", folded them in half wrong sides together and stitched them to the top two corners. If you have a stick the right length it is a great way to hang a quilt.
9. Bind your quilt using your preferred method. I decided to machine stitch to the back, press to the front and then top stitch with my machine. This was being gifted to a nursery after all. I wouldn't trust my hand stitching to withstand the test of time and play. I decided that a plain navy framed the fabrics nicely.
10. As a finishing touch I have added a quilt label and written in fabric pen for a personal touch.
Ta da, an easy quilt all sewn up in just a few hours. I would love to hear from you if you give it a go.
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