Wednesday, March 11, 2020

The Next UFO

 Eight inch four patch basket blocks. 

I've decided this will be the next UFO I will work on until it reaches flimsy stage.  
I made the two blocks on the bottom back in June 2017.  I was inspired by an antique crib quilt I saw at Q is for Quilter.  I decided to make my four patch baskets out of civil war reproduction fabric scraps and muslin.  I thought it would make a nice baby quilt someday for my first great grandchild so when finished it will go into the hope chest. 

Yesterday I made the top two blocks and so now I have four blocks. 
I've decided to make the quilt 40 x 56 so need 35 blocks total. Only 31 more blocks to make, I guess. 
 I have a project box with pink and brown scraps, a piece of muslin and a little drawing of how I made the basket blocks back in 2017. Now I just need to dig in and get 'er done. 
 I also wanted to make a Topsy Turvy doll to go with the quilt.  I have several different Topsy Turvy patterns but this is the only one I've made. 

I made Topsy Turvy dolls for each of the granddaughters back in 2010 and used 30s reproduction fabric scraps for the dresses. This time I'll use civil war reproduction fabrics. 

I know myself well enough to know that I would never get around to making the doll if I didn't get started now while I'm making the quilt.  I used a red transfer pencil on the pattern pieces in order to transfer the hair and face so I can start the embroidery tonight or tomorrow. It didn't transfer very well but I think I can figure out where to put all the french knots for Topsy's hair.  I think I need to make another copy of the pattern for the facial features because the eyes are almost gouged out on the pattern pieces and I couldn't trace them very well with the transfer pencil. I'll do that later. 
The transfer worked a little better with Eva's pattern pieces but I'm going to leave her in the project box for now until I'm finished with Topsy.  This embroidery will give me something a little different to work on in the evenings when I feel like doing something other than hand quilting. 

12 comments:

Libby in TN said...

My topsy-turvy doll was my favorite. In fact, I may still have her. But where ...

Kaja said...

I had a topsy-turvy doll too - I had never considered making one though.

Linda said...

Not heard of a Topsy Turvy doll - but I am Brit. Sounds a great addition to the baby quilt. Definitely thinking ahead!

Pamela Arbour said...

I have only seen a couple of those dolls. Would love to make some. Love your basket blocks

Laura said...

I made a topsy-turvy doll for my daughter many moons ago. Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf as Grandma. So fun! Love topsy-turvy dolls! :)

Rosemary said...

Those are adorable. Topsy-turvey dolls are adorable and fun to make. I have seem some totally new designs out there and they are so clever. (Gingerbread boy and a snowman for example) I'm so glad to see you making them. The kids will love them. Thanks for the reminder and for sharing these adorable dolls.

Cynthia@wabi-sabi-quilts said...

The basket four patches are so sweet. What could be better. Such a sweet idea to have a "hope chest" for future great grandchild! I'm awaiting my first grandchild, so exciting!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

ohhh Your next project - the baskets - is so Great!!!!

Ann said...

Baskets are always lovely. I had a Red Riding Hood and Wolf topsy turvy doll as a child.

audrey said...

I adore repro. fabrics sewn into sweet blocks like these. They especially melt my heart when the directionals are pieced together whichever way and not matchy matchy. Looking forward to seeing this one come together with your magic!

QuiltGranma said...

Where did you find the pattern, that does not look familiar to me. Would love to make them myself.

QuiltGranma said...

um, I am talking about the Topsy-Turvy dolls.