My First Quilt

I wanted to join the Blogger's Quilt Festival this year and racked my brain trying to figure out which quilt I wanted to enter. Then I figured what better one than my first? 

I first learned to sew in Home Ec. in middle school. I started out making stuffed animals and shorts. I never pursued it though. My mom says she tried to teach me many times but I was never interested.

Anyway, I decided one year that I wanted to learn how to sew and make some clothes for myself. So I bought a cheap little miniature sewing machine at Target on Black Friday and I went to work.

Word to the wise, if you want to learn how to sew, DO NOT try on a mini sewing machine, you just might give up.

I had a lot of trouble but I pushed through and almost finished a blouse. I say almost because the blouse was fitted and right before I finished it up I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. So I put it away.

Then Bug was born. 

I started seeing all of these cute little headbands and bows and baby legs all over the internet and I said to myself, "I can make those!"

So I made a few on my mini sewing machine and cursed it the whole time. I didn't want to give up though. So I begged and pleaded with my husband for a newer one, an average sized one. One that did more than just a straight stitch. I told him about all the money we would save because I could make her clothes and I could even sell stuff! So he agreed. 

Well, then I decided I wanted to make her a quilt. I happened upon the Old Red Barn Co. quilt along, the very first one, and I said to myself, "I can make that!"

And the rest was history!

So here is Bug's quilt, my very first, and still my very favorite.

It has Strawberry Shortcake and strawberries on it, because momma is a fan, and well that makes her a fan too right? There's actually a story there, I'll tell it to you in a minute. The ladybugs symbolize her nickname.

I pieced the backing with leftover pieces from the front and more strawberries

Then I free motion quilted it, my very first quilt. Hey Dana did, how was I supposed to know there was any other way to do it? 

 Look, a rail fence quilt on a fence rail!

And here she is all snuggled up under it after giving it to her. She loves this quilt and sleeps with it every night. Even though it's WAY too big for her toddler bed!

So here's the Strawberry Shortcake story. 

Back when I was about 5 years old my Grandma explained to me that since my middle name and my mom's middle name and her middle name and HER mom's middle name were all the same, that if I ever had a daughter I would have to give her the same middle name to keep the tradition going.

Then she asked me what I would name my daughter if I ever had one. My 5 year old self replied (with a loud exhalation I'm told) "Oh, I don't know, Strawberry Shortcake Ann"

Well, I'll be darned if my daughter wasn't born with a huge strawberry on her arm. 

My 5 year old self jinxed my poor child!

And believe it or not, she actually is a Strawberry Shortcake fan!