Thursday 21 April 2016

Rainbow Unicorn Quilt

My Miss 5 is soon turning 6 and naturally a birthday calls for a new quilt. Particularly as she's had the same quilt on her bed for *gasp* 3 years. It wasn't hard to decide what should feature on her quilt as she's a little bit unicorn obsessed. Preferably rainbow unicorn. So what's a rainbow-loving quilty mother to do but design a new unicorn pattern and use all her favourite rainbow prints to bring it to life!

(Please note, there are like a gazillion photos coming, but consider yourself lucky that I pared that back from a bazillion to a mere gazillion). 


Ah this does make my quilty heart sing. It's the biggest quilt I've made in some time and wasn't exactly fun to quilt, but so worth it. My Little Miss was involved in every step of making this quilt - from choosing fabrics, and helping decide on the layout. I love that she is so interested in what I make and do - and I'm hoping this means she'll love her quilt FOREVER. She better.


I used a mix of SunPrints from 2015 and 2016 for the unicorn's mane and tail - in colour order, naturally. I'll admit, I was pretty happy with how it was going at this point, but I felt it needed something else. So I had a bit of a play with my EQ7 sketch before I committed to anything more on the quilt block.


 Aha! It needed a wreath! Obviously! As you can see my original plan for the unicorn was one with much pink and purple - but my Little Miss had other ideas - and I think she was so right in choosing a rainbow theme!


So after deciding the unicorn needed a wreath - which would be too hard to piece,  and I don't like applique - I cracked out the old embroidery skills. I'll be the first to admit it's not perfect, but my daughter loves it. There are 6 flowers in each colour - because she's turning 6. Of course.


The next part of the plan was to add in more rainbow! My favourite Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis to the rescue! I just adore the bright happy colours of Blueberry Park and they play so nicely with SunPrints!



So with some lovely simple patchwork that shows off the prints beautifully, I added Blueberry Park Rainbow stripes to the top and bottom of the quilt. And while we're on this photo, let's briefly discuss the quilting. I'm no good at free motion quilting. For me, I like to show off the piecing and design more than the quilting as that's where my heart lies. So it was my standard straight line quilting (1" lines apart) to the rescue. I'm rather happy with it!


The backing is pure rainbow unicorn vomit. My daughter chose it at the shops and could not be talked into a more subtle rainbow stripe, or something with a white background. I tried, really I did. But it's her quilt, and it's the back.


So rainbow unicorn vomit it is. I actually kinda love it now. As you can see it wasn't quite big enough so I added some pink solid in - which formed a giant L. Appropriate as that's the first letter in my girl's name. Let's call it deliberate piecing. Uhuh.


We went off for a wander into the great Aussie bush to find a spot for photos. We braved itchy grass, kangaroo poo and potential snakes and ticks - but Miss 5 was very brave and keen for the adventure. She's responsible for the full length photos of the quilt - doesn't do a bad job does she!



A last few details! The block is a 25" square. I've decided to keep it at that size when I release the pattern in both my Craftsy shop and Payhip shop (which will be very soon). It's fairly detailed around the mane, so a bigger block makes it a little easier to piece. Final quilt size is 52" x 90".

So there you have it! A rainbow unicorn quilt for a rainbow loving, unicorn obsessed nearly 6 year old. I'm a bit in love and so is she. Now to wait for the next month until her birthday and we can actually put it on her bed!



Usual disclaimer: While I do not have direct paid sponsorship on my blog, I am a Craftsy affiliate and receive commission payments based on affiliate links that I may include within my blog posts. A girl's got to help fund her fabric addiction somehow ;)

19 comments:

  1. What a wonderful gift to make for your little Miss. Of course she will love it forever.

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  2. Since my daughter is a little older than yours, I see I may have to make one of these...

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  3. adorale quilt, I've give my now 11yr old daughter several quilts over the years but she still will only sleep with her RAG for a quilt now, that I made her while I was pregnant with her, it's only LOVE that's holding it together, the fabrics are all gone so pretty much it's thread and fabric fibers in strings and whatever is left in a bundle...

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  4. Super great work!!! I want one myself, for my
    Sixtieth!!

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  5. I would have been over the moon with happiness to have this quilt as a little girl. Not much that's better than a rainbow unicorn! Great job!

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  6. It's beautiful and bright and happy and magical! And it is co-designed with your little Miss L ! What a gorgeous collaboration! I do love the rainbow colors paired up with your unicorn design!!
    Susie

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  7. Oh my gosh!!! I need to make this one ~ I love love love it! Please say you're publishing the pattern!

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  8. I love it. Can't wait for the pattern to come out! My granddaughter has a pick/white/gold unicorn theme in her bedroom and I am going to make her a quilt using your pattern.

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  9. awesome quilt and that touch of embroidery is so sweet - thanks for sharing the process - bet this will be her favourite quilt ever especially with that rainbow vomit on the back !!

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  10. Looks fabulous, love all your work !!

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  11. This is my favourite of all your quilts. L made a great choice with the rainbow mane and tail, as well as the fabric on the back (excellent deliberate piecing!). Love your embroidery!

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  12. Adorable--and your unicorn with a rainbow mane and embroidered wreath--could it be any sweeter?! What a lucky little 6 yo!

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  13. Showed my girls and they both squealed!! I love all of it (of course) but the hand embroidery is my favourite bit ... a mother's touch :)

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  14. Oh this is beyond wonderful!! I just love it and I know my daughter would too!!

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  15. Rainbow colours plus a unicorn - what more could a 6 year old ask for. A beautiful quilt!!!

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  16. Wow, impressive. You win Crafty Mom of the Year!!! Seriously, Miss L will treasure it forever! Love the back story behind the quilt.

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  17. Miss L is the luckiest little girl in the world! Your quilt is so special!!! It turned out fabulous. The unicorn mane and wreath are my favorite parts!!

    xoxo

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