Bella's Quilt

 

So, I made this quilt last week. As soon as I saw this tutorial at MLE Knits I knew that I would soon be making one. It is one of those quilt designs that looks more complicated than it actually is. And when Emily said that it was super-quick to make, she had me sold. I actually made this quilt in 24 hours, from choosing fabrics to attaching the binding. And yes, my kids were fed and bathed during that time! Mostly. I didn't start this quilt with the intention of finishing so quickly, but once I saw how fast it was going I decided to challenge myself to finish it in a day. So, from the end of naptime on Thursday until just before everyone woke up on Friday afternoon, this quilt was done.  

I love this stripey Nicey Jane print. I have had it a long time but couldn't seem to find the right project for it until now. I was also happy to discover that I had enough of this sweet Riley Blake dot to make the whole backing. That really helped speed things up! For the quilting, I just did random wavy lines with my walking foot. I started out using ivory thread, but ran out about halfway through then switched to a light pink.

This quilt is going to one of my college friends who is just about to have her first child. The baby's nursery is done in bright aquas and pinks, so I tried to choose some complementary prints from my stash.

 I have also been trying to branch out a little and use more colorful backgrounds. It seems like many of the vintage quilts I see and love have colorful backgrounds. For this quilt I used Kona Pearl Pink. I like it, but it is pretty pale and almost has that look of white that's been washed with red. An accidental pink, if you will. But, it is growing on me and I plan to keep trying new shades instead of my trusty Kona Snow. 

What is your go-to background shade?