Three Little Bears

I don't have many work friends...you all know I'm a solitary sort of person. Still, work days are long and having people to talk to around the office makes for a better day. In an effort to kindle these tiny flames of friendship, I've started asking some of the ladies to go out to lunch with me. It's been a great way to get to know everyone a little better.

I've grown particularly close with one woman in the group. Heidi and I first got to know each other while driving to a very far away meeting. After talking nonstop during the 5 hour road trip, we were sad for the day to be over.

A few months ago, Heidi told me she was expecting her third boy (her son is 3, her step-son is 8). I immediately started planning a quilt for the new baby. In the middle of cutting fabric, I decided it would be fun to make a quilt for each of the three boys. I already had the fabric out so the cutting part was easy. Only after I cut all the fabric did I realize what I'd gotten myself into. I'd have to actually finish three quilts in just a few months.

The good news is that after a few freak-out quilting marathons, I finished them a week before the baby was born!



I wanted all three quilts to have the same pattern and fabrics to symbolize their family...they're all brothers even if they don't all live in the same house every day. When they're all together at Heidi's house, they can snuggle with these matching blankets and enjoy their time together as a family.

Because that's what boys do, right? They spend most of their time snuggling and being all cute...right?! Poor Heidi...



As I was sewing these quilts, I kept thinking of Goldilocks and the Three Bears...I wanted each brother to have a quilt that's just right.

The baby bear quilt is made up of 4" (finished) HST blocks and measures 40"x40".

The middle bear quilt is made up of 6.5" (finished) HST blocks and measures 52"x65".

The big bear quilt is made up of 9" (finished) HST blocks and measures 54"x72".



The pattern and fabrics are completely 100% inspired by this most beautiful quilt.



All are backed in flannel and quilted the same. None have batting because I wanted these to be soft summer-weight quilts.



I have to tell you that I'm totally in love with this quilting. It took a long time but I loved every second. I quilted for 12 hours one day and when I came down at the end of the night, I told Ian that it was my best day ever! I think he was a little offended.



I spray basted for the first time and it worked really well. There was no stretching, creeping or puckering...even when quilting on the diagonal. I wonder how much of that is because I didn't use batting.

After making three nearly identical quilts, I was a little sick of blue/green/grey and half square triangles. But when I gave them to Heidi...well, I sort of wish I'd made just one more for me. I'll keep that in mind for next time.