Fuzzy Minky Baby

I have a finish.  It will now turn into a shameless plug for an Etsy seller because I am leaving these blankets UP TO HER!

A friend who I have made several quilts for asked for a baby quilt for her soon to arrive nephew.  I sent her some ideas and she said the momma to be had found this blanket.  She loved it and wondered if I could replicate it fairly close.

I am no stranger to rag quilts, I have made a few.  I said okay and was flattered that she asked me rather than just buy it from the Etsy store.

I ordered several fabrics that I thought were similar. It is always fun to order new fabric!  I ordered the a lovely, soft, plush minky and the fuzz began.  I quickly realized the situation would be out of control if I cut that lovely soft, plush minky up into small squares...hahaha, major fuzz alert!

So, I decided to quilt my patterned cotton squares onto the inner layer and the minky first.   One less step of handling would help control the fuzz I hoped.

I then did the deed of cutting them apart.  Oh boy!  I quickly put them in a box to contain them a bit.

Notice my chubby belly at the bottom of that last picture!  Haha, so much fuzz!

I took the squares to a spare bed and laid them out in rows.

This here began my speedy decision to never do this again.  I once painted a sunporch room for someone on a cold rainy day. I failed to open any windows for good air circulation and my lungs have never been the same since.  If I'm around paint fumes, polyurathane or anything of that nature I feel it begin to constrict in my chest.  Weirdly enough...the little floating fibers everywhere had the same effect.  Ugh!

Hehe, here is my solution.  Forge ahead with a bandana!  It worked pretty good, just a stray tickly fiber in my nose from time to time.  I took each row upon completion outside and shook and shook and shook.  You see, it's a rag quilt and those seams had to be cut into little strips...sooo much fuzz!!

I also made the mistake of using something other than cotton batting for the inner layer.  I had a lovely white flannelish blanket in my stash.  There was just enough and I thought it would rag out a bit better than batting.  It was however pretty thick.  Those bulky seams were TOUGH even for my sturdy treadle machine.  Half way through I was very prepared to order the one from Etsy and cut my losses. Haha!  Just ask my husband, I was about beat!

Hurray for perservering though!  I am glad I finished because it turned out super cute!  It didn't even fall apart in it's initial wash and fluff!  Praise the Lord!

We had a few days of wonderful sunshine and I really didn't want to kill my dryer, so it isn't completely dry in these pictures.  I let it mostly dry outside before a quick fluff in the dryer.

The soft, fluffy back blends right in with the snow!

She did also request that I find a fabric with rabbits on it if I could.  This is apparently the year of the rabbit.  I think this little guy fits right in!

So here is a big HURRAY for this one being finished!

But don't ask me to make another one! Haha!

Alissa

Linking up with Alycia at Quiltygirl and TGIFF!