Here’s a little background on the quilt’s name.  My son swims competitively for the AquaHawgs, and my daughter will also swim on the team this fall.  The reason we are a part of the AquaHawgs is because of Coach Amy.  We all adore her, and she really ignited the swimming passion in both of my kiddos.  If not for her we likely would not be a part of the AquaHawgs.  So with her departure comes lots of sadness, but also true excitement for her and her husband as their life’s journey takes them elsewhere.  Our family has truly been blessed to have had Coach Amy involved in our lives for the last 2 years.

When she told me she was moving, I of course knew I needed to make her a quilt to thank her for everything she’s done for us.  Since the team’s colors are red, black, and white, I thought a quilt with those colors would be perfect.  Wherever she is she can wrap herself in some AquaHawg love and some Chriss family love.

For the quilt’s label, I had all 4 of us sign our names…for an extra special touch.

We love Coach Amy so much, and we are going to miss her!

Post wash measurement is 56.5 x 63.5.  The pattern is Quilted Windows, and I modified the pattern a bit to make the quilt wider.  The fabrics are mostly Mingle by Monaluna for Robert Kaufman.

I absolutely love how this quilt turned out.  I’ve had this post sitting as a draft for nearly a week, because I didn’t want to post it until I gave Coach Amy her gift.  We are bringing her gift to her today…hope she loves it!

Back…I love a polka dot back!

The quilt label.  I incorporated it into the pieced blocks of the backing.

Solid black binding

So I think this occasion calls for a quilt, stat!  The swim team’s colors are red, black, and white, so how about a little red, black, and white quilt?  I think that sounds perfect, and luckily I had mostly everything I need to get this quilt started and finished asap!

Aren’t these pretty?

Post wash measurement is 54 x 70.

Cool Breezes has lovely blues, lavenders, grays, and sage greens.  It’s very calming and serene.  It is basted, quilted, and the binding is attached to the front of the quilt.

Now onto hand stitching the bindings…

My quilting and sewing has been slow going this summer.  I was hoping that once the kiddos were back in school I’d have so much more free time to sew, but that just isn’t the case.  I’ve been working a lot more, and sadly there’s been little sewing going on.  One of these days I’ll get back to it…hopefully very soon.

Over the weekend I put the Black, White & Red All Over sandwich together and pin basted it.

Then last night I got totally stressed out when I realized we are in April and I have to finish this quilt for a summer wedding, I have to start and finish a baby quilt for a friend’s baby due in June, and I have to start and finish another quilt before the end of June.  All this and I’m about to get super busy at work.  Needless to say I was a bit of a stress basket case last night, especially when I looked over at my newly pin basted Black, White & Red All Over quilt in which I used all of my pins to baste it.  So now, I certainly need to quilt that quilt, so that I can have the pins handy to do the other 2 quilts that need to get completed before the Black, White & Red All Over (and I most certainly was not about to take out all those pins!!!!).

Luckily today was a nice day and my daughter was outside playing with her friend, which meant I had some time to just quilt, and quilt I did!  The whole quilt is now quilted, yay!

Now I’m going to put this quilt aside so I can work on the other more pressing quilts.  I generally like to finish a quilt before I start another one, but I’m going to have to make an exception.  The binding and label will have to wait for another day.

Here’s the layout.  The top is sewn together, but I don’t have a picture of the quilt top.  Hopefully I can get this sandwiched soon, because I’m excited to see the finished project!

The post wash measurements are 33 x 41…just the right size for a new baby.

I think this quilt is really pretty and the new mama is going to love it!

Front

Back

If you remember I used the Sulky Blendables thread…see how nicely it blends

This is the back and you can see how nicely the thread blends into the blocks at the top, but in the rest of the white backing you can see the color variations, which I think looks really cool.  And since I used a light blendables thread it still hides mistakes on the white fabric.

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The quilt measures 32 x 42, and I used all fat quarters.  The pattern is Mini Modern Rose Garden by Carolina Patchworks.  I love the pattern…beautifully simple to show off great fabric.  I will certainly be making this pattern again!  I purchased the mini modern rose garden and modern rose garden patterns, so I have lots of options to choose from for the next time.

This baby quilt was sent to its new home today to await for baby’s arrival on Tuesday

Front

Back

Up close

The pattern is the baby throw by Valori Wells.  The quilt measures 30  x 42.  I used all fat quarters except for the plaid on the back .  It was a fun pattern, and I will certainly be using this pattern again.  Perhaps next time I will make the adult throw.

Front

Back

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