A Tag Blankie and a Cushion

When I was on holiday in New York I received a text from my friend Paul to say his partner Pam had given birth to their second daughter, Eleanor Alodie, a little sister to Katherine.

I did what every crafty girl would do when faced with this news and hot-footed it to the nearest quilting shop, one of my favourites, City Quilter. I bought some beautiful fabric and Lotta Jansdotter's new book, 'Simple Sewing for Baby'.

When I got back to England I put together this simple 'Tag Blankie' using the pattern in the book for guidance. One of my other favourite New York quilting shops in Purl Patchwork, just down the street from Purl SoHo, a beautiful, tiny yarn store. While I was in Purl Patchwork I spotted some great pig fabric which made me think of Katherine as she has a love of all things to do with pigs at the moment! When I got home I made a very simple cushion cover using the fabric (no pattern, I made it up).I took these presents, along with a couple more, to the newly expanded family when Eleanor was a couple of weeks old. Katherine loved the cushion and Paul and Pam asked me to be Eleanor's Godmother, so it was a good day all round!

Making Progress

I had lots of plans today that involved going into central London, but I'm full of cold so I've had an enforced day at home. It's just as well really as I've got two important, long neglected projects that I need to complete by next Friday. Remember the quilts I started months ago for Jen's daughter Izzy and her second daughter due in July? Well, the baby arrived but the quilt tops have been sitting near my sewing machine being ignored for several months. I've spent today quilting the first, for baby Sophie and I hope to quilt the second, for Izzy, tomorrow. Then I 'just' need to bind them and sew in all the ends. I'll take some progress photos and post those and hopefully reveal the finished quilts next weekend, after I've delivered them to the girls on a trip to Newcastle.

While Jen was waiting for the quilts, I sent Sophie a little cardigan as it seemed mean making her wait for her present. It isn't her fault I was too busy studying to sew!

I originally cast this cardigan on before Meg was born, back in February, but it was neglected in favour of other cardigans over the Summer. When Jen had Sophie and I realised the quilts wouldn't be finished for rather a long time, I finished knitting it and decided it would be a lovely 'sorry your real present isn't ready yet' kind of gift! Judging from this photo, Sophie is pretty happy with it!