A Very Special Blackhawks Quilt

My baby boy had yet another birthday last week . . . I guess he really isn't even a baby boy anymore. I cannot even explain how much I am loving the person he is becoming. My favorite moment before his birthday was when he turned to me and said, "I really want you to make me a quilt for my birthday". That was all this sewing momma needed to hear . . . what better words of appreciation could there be. And he was very specific in what he wanted. It had to "go from here to here", he said as he pointed from our dining room table to the back of our couch. It had to have a "giant blackhawk head" and it had to have lots of red. Unfortunately, I am a procrastinator and my project began 7 days prior to the due date. 

I began with a center square of about 3 feet by 3 feet and a full roll of wonder under. The applique Hawks head would prove to be the most time consuming bit of the whole quilt. I worked from sun up to sun down every day . . . so please excuse the less than perfect progress pics. 

I knew I was on the right track though when I could see the jealousy growing in my husband's eyes. I think I am going to have to make another version in the near future. 

It took me a full 3 days to get the center block completed.

But I would say it was well worth every hour. I kept the rest of the quilt design very simple. No small piecing . . . I knew I had to crank this out. 

Again, excuse the poor lighting . . . photos were taken at the end of my night each night. The quilting took 2 days despite me keeping it simple. I stuck with echo quilting around the Hawk head and some straight lines through out the jersey stripes. 

To the top and bottom red rectangles, I quilted in the words Chicago and Blackhawks. 

I was so worried that it would turn out looking like childish writing but in the end it looked great! Binding was put on 2 hours before my bedtime the night before his birthday. So I bound the quilt in a way I had never done before . . . using store bought binding! I have to say, I could get spoiled by such a thing.

And yes, the backing is a super soft red minky. My only issue with minky on such large quilts is the inevitable slipping of fabric. Unfortunately due to my time constraints on this, I just couldn't go back and unpick quilting to straighten up my few puckers. Luckily, none of them were too drastic and I don't think anyone but myself even notices. I had the quilt washed and ready to wrap the morning of the big day. 

And it was worth every second of work once I heard him squealing with delight as he opened his quilt that night.

Before bed that night he hugged me and said, "thank you for making me my quilt, mommy. It was my favorite present." 

And I know he was telling the truth because he has slept under it every night since! In the evenings he drags it into the living room and lays under it while we have some TV time. 

I think this is definitely my favorite quilt thus far (do I say that every time)?!

Until next time . . . happy sewing!