Baby quilt

I went to a quilt store and bought fabric and a package of batting today for the first time in a very long time. Wow. Quilting cottons have gotten expensive. Wow.

I don't really make bed quilts, but for very special people I do make baby quilts. One of my oldest friends (we met in 4th grade--my family is sick of the story, but it is really kind of sweet*) is going to be a grandmother for the first time. Her daughter is expecting a little boy, so I am going to make a quilt for him.

I have my own rules for baby quilts.

1. Traditional pattern and not too complicated. I am partial to 9-patches, though have been known to make pinwheels.

2. All regular cotton broadcloth. Flannel always seems like it would be nice on the back, but really, flannel tends to get pilly and look kind of worn out after a few washings. Broadcloth just gets softer.

3. While I shun pastels in all other areas of life, I still go for the softer colors for babies. Not a fan of the wild and crazy baby quilt. Who wants to be distracted by the rainbow-colored frogs and dogs when you are looking at that sweet baby? No batiks or hand-dyes either.

4. Tough and durable. Machine quilting, flame retardant batting, good sturdy binding. Washable. Very washable. I want the kid dragging that thing around. I do NOT want to see my baby quilt hanging on the wall over the changing table. Baby quilts are not art.

So, I only have a couple of weeks before the shower to get this thing done. I'd better get busy.

* Oh yes, and how I met my friend. To make it short, we were rivals for the attention of one Michael John Langely. Harsh words were spoken and a nasty poem written. Our teachers punished us by making us eat lunch together for a week. We've been the best of friends ever since--more than 50 years. We have no idea what ever happened to young Master Langley.