Vintage Knit Flowers Quilt

Counted cross stitch forms the flower designs. (*PHoto by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Vintage Knit Flowers Quilt

Every once in awhile I find an unusual quilt that catches my eye and comes home to Bluebird Gardens with me. This Vintage Knit Flowers Quilt is one of those.

Why yes, this twin size 60x80-inch quilt features 5x5 inch blocks of flowers - and a lot of flowers at that. But what got my attention was that the flowers are the basic embroidery technique young girls used to learn, counted cross stitch. If you look closely, each floral pattern is made out of small x’s forming the designs.

Secondly, the work is not by a novice. Or if it was, she was a well-taught one. Look at the back of the vintage quilt.

Done so well, the stitching is barely visible on the back side and note the crochet edging. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

One of the ways you can tell how well someone finished a quilt is to look at the back. This counted cross stitch embroidery is done so well that you don’t see the work on the back of the medium weight quilt. Well, there are a couple of embroidery stitches that came through but for the most part the knitted blocks are unmarked on the back.

Also note the crochet edging so this vintage custom quilt combines knitting, crochet and hand embroidery. Even if the supplies were provided in a kit, most makers will alter things a bit to end up making the quilt a custom personalized quilt to suit their taste.

bright and eye-catching, here are more of the flower blocks all together. (Photo by charlotte ekker wiggins)

Finally, I can imagine using this as a wall hanging as well as a bed covering. It is so bright and cheery, it will be eye-catching however it is used.

Proceeds from this vintage quilt will be donated to our local Salvation Army, which over winter will help struggling families pay for their electric bills. Seems appropriate for the sale of this warm quilt to help keep others warm.

Charlotte

Custom Ladybug Handmade Quilt

Can you tell the applique ladybugs are made out of different red fabrics? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Custom Ladybug Handmade Quilt

Ladybugs are special to me. I can still remember the first time I saw them in my garden, a sign of garden health and the relationship between good bugs and bad bugs. The ladybugs were consuming aphids off one of the plants a friend had given me. Without aphids, there would be no ladybugs.

Ladybugs are a symbol of hard work and good fortune. They were the inspiration for my company’s trademark and for this charming custom ladybug handmade quilt.

We have only made one so far because of the cotton fabrics. Each of the applique ladybugs are made out of a collection of red printed fabrics I saved over a year. The red fabrics needed to have very small print on them so it was a bit of a treasure hunt.

Although some of the applique quilt blocks have duplicates, all of the red fabrics have the same or similar sized printed designs.

We often think of quilts for beds and maybe chairs but I also like to use them on walls. This custom handmade quilt will work well as a quilted wall hanging to easily change a room decor as well as tossed over the back of a sofa or chair, which is how I like to display mine. That way the quilt is handy for actual use!

One of the fun ways this ladybug quilt could be further customized is to have family names custom embroidered on each one of the ladybugs. There are 30 on this custom quilt so there’s plenty of ladybugs to reflect family members!

I know it’s August but it’s not too soon to start thinking about holiday gifts and getting them personalized if that’s how you plan to present them.

Charlotte

Shipping Handmade Baby Quilts

A great way to personalize one of our custom unique baby quilts. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Shipping Handmade Baby Quilts

Another one of our made in US custom personalized quilts is on its way to its new home and owner.

Of all of the steps involved in designing, making and then shipping these custom handmade quilts, this is probably the one that’s the most enjoyable to me. The detailed work is done. We now get to see the whole gift concept completed, from the custom embroidery celebrating the new baby to preparing the baby quilt for shipment.

Once we have the custom personalized quilt finished, the next step is to add our label.

One of the final steps prior to shipping, adding our label. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I like to do this as the final step in making the baby quilt. It’s a celebration that the baby quilt has been adopted and destined to give a child a new friend as they grow up.

This pink large blocks baby quilt is a little different than our regular, smaller blocked pink rag baby quilts. This one was a larger 50x60 inch size so the child can easily grow into it. Most baby quilts are crib size 36x48 inches and sometimes end up as quilted wall hangings and repurposed pillows.

To ensure the parents know how to care for this very special baby quilt, I include a quilt care guide.

Each quilt receives a quilt care guide with a certificate on back that it was made in US. (Photo by Charlotte ekker Wiggins)

On the back is a signed certificate of authenticity that the baby quilt was made in the USA.

Finally, and the step that guarantees a smile at the other end, we tuck in an appropriate complimentary gift toy. Some people over the years have commented about how much the toy is enjoyed by the child.

Part of me likes the thought of the toy keeping the baby quilt company on its way to its new home.

Final step, adding a fun toy to keep the quilt company on its journey. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

And with that final tuck of a toy inside the baby quilt, it’s time to pack it in a box and send it on its way. With our well wishes and love tucked in the corners.

Charlotte

State Flowers Custom Handmade Quilt

Did you know what Missouri’s state flower is? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

State Flowers Custom Handmade Quilt

Floral quilts are a personal favorite so when I spotted this State Flowers Custom Handmade Quilt at a recent quilt show I wanted to get a closer look.

These embroidered state flower quilt panels used to be very popular several decades ago. We have a similar quilt Flowers of the Month quilt with the same kind of embroidered floral blocks.

This custom handmade quilt seems to have a little of the antique look with the patriotic fabric colors. Red stars in the corners bring it all together. This would be a fun quilt to use as a quilted wall hanging provided there was enough space for people to stop and find their favorite state.

The collection of state flowers in the custom handmade quilt. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Each embroidered quilt block features the state flower’s name along with the abbreviated name of the US state. I found myself looking for the different states where family members live, including Minnesota.

I love the name of this Minnesota state flower. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Another US state with family history is Illinois, where we first settled after moving back to the US from Brazil.

Well, maybe this explains my love of violets, I used to live in Illinois. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

This custom handmade quilt was featured at the 2019 Piece and Plenty Quilt guild quilt show in Rolla, Missouri. The show includes small summaries of the story behind each custom handmade quilt.

This custom handmade quilt is both botanical and patriotic. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Having the custom quilt story includes helps to confirm, and sometimes explain, what one sees in the handmade quilt. This one did indeed combine old embroidered quilt blocks with a new patchwork pattern.

Charlotte