For a New Addition

Quilt No. 4 — Quick! Before the Due Date

Pattern: Deco Quilt by Lo & Behold Stitchery
Materials: Cotton & Linen
Backing: Vintage cotton-linen canvas, 1970s
Batting: Wool
Hand quilting: DMC size 8 pearl cotton

A Quilt for New Parents

Some college friends of mine were the first in our group to have a baby. Living abroad means I often miss milestones back home, and that can be tough sometimes.

But one of the joys of quilting for me is making gifts — especially for people I care about. When I’m making for someone else, the pressure to be perfect fades away. It’s about thoughtfulness, not precision.

Since I couldn’t attend the baby shower and wasn’t sure when I’d meet their little one, I decided to send something handmade — a baby quilt that could grow with them.

Designing for Their Story

We all studied art and design together, so I had a feeling their baby’s room wouldn’t be very typical. I asked for inspiration photos to get a sense of their aesthetic before choosing the pattern or fabrics.

What they sent made me smile — dogs, ducks, and dark green. Not your classic baby-room palette, but perfectly them.

After some searching, I chose the Deco Quilt pattern by Lo & Behold Stitchery. I imported the pattern’s coloring page into Procreate, traced it, and started playing with color combinations. Using Adobe Color, I pulled hues directly from their inspiration images until I found a palette that felt right — warm neutrals, soft greens, and grounded tones.

Choosing Fabrics

With my digital mockup ready, I headed to my local quilt shop. With the ever-patient employee (who has now guided me through multiple projects), we swapped one of my chosen colors — a light green — for a soft, coffee-toned linen. I was a bit hesitant about the brown but decided to trust our instincts. The fabrics looked great together, so they should look okay in the quilt, too. I couldn’t decide on the backing and binding fabric, so I decided to think about that later. I still hadn’t found the right backing fabric, but I knew I could decide later once the top came together.

I also had a tight deadline: I wanted the quilt finished before their baby was born. Baby quilts sew faster than throws, but I was heading on a month-long summer vacation, so the timeline was close.

The Perfect Vintage Find

While piecing the quilt, I kept searching for the perfect backing fabric — something with character that connected to the “dogs and ducks” theme. My local shop didn’t have anything close, so I started looking online.

Eventually, I found a seller on Etsy with a vintage cotton-linen canvas from the 1970s — a reprint of a 1950s design. The print was exactly what I was looking for, but she only had 1.5 yards left, and I needed three.

I bought it anyway.

When it arrived, I realized I hadn’t read the listing properly — the fabric was wider than standard bolts, and miraculously, it was exactly the size I needed. It was thicker than ideal for quilting, but it worked beautifully. The universe clearly wanted this fabric to find its place here.

A Label, A Name, A Beginning

While finishing the binding, I realized something: if I’m going to keep making quilts as gifts, I want them to carry my name — even once they leave my hands. Quilts have long lives; they’re passed down, loved, and shared.

Many quilters use large, decorative labels, but I wanted something subtle — something timeless and minimal. I started experimenting with designs: Do I make myself a brand or just use my name? Is this still a hobby, or the start of something more?

After many iterations, I landed on a design I loved. I printed it onto iron-on paper, pressed it onto linen, and stitched it onto the binding. A tiny, quiet mark of origin. It was such a small detail, but it changed everything — the quilt suddenly felt complete.

Finished, and Right on Time

Against all odds, I finished the quilt before leaving for summer vacation and sent it off before the baby was born.

The new parents were thrilled — the colors fit their home perfectly, and the little one has a quilt that will grow with them for years.

This project reminded me why I love making gifts: they’re not about keeping something, but about sharing time, care, and a piece of yourself.

And maybe, with that new label, this quilt also marks a quiet beginning for what Everdell might become.