World Map Quilt

May 7, 2012

A very good friend of mine is giving birth to her first child (a boy) at the end of this month.

{A little background: I have known her + 3 other wonderful ladies for almost 18 years now (omg).  I love them all dearly and I'm hoping to create a little tradition of gifting their children quilts at their births.  This is the second baby to be born among our group, and a third is expected in August, which means I should probably get back to quilting soon!!}

Anyways, I made her little boy this quilt using a combination of applique and quilting techniques.  This was my first time using applique, and I have to say I'm quite smitten:

The front:




The background is Birch Fabrics: Whale Watching in Shroom (found here), and the appliqued map is a Moda Bella Solids (sorry, not sure what color- this was from yardage I had in my stash, but here is a similar version).

The back:




Fabrics (from L to R): Patty Sloniger-Bella Butterfly/Sweet Spots in Green; Moda Bella Solid  (similar), Anette Tatum- Boho Chevron, Moda Bella Solid (similar), Khristian Howell- The Woodlands/Dream, Patty Sloniger- Bella Butterfly/Sweet Spots in Aqua, Moda Bella Solid (similar), Joel Dewberry- Modern Meadow/Herringbone in Pond, Robert Kaufmann Kona Solids (similar), Patty Sloniger- Backyard Baby/ Birch Forest in Aqua

I started out by printing a map (google searched until I found one I liked) on several pieces of  paper, which I then taped together.  This would have been much simpler if it were printed on a large scale plotter (which, ironically ??, I have access to, but didn't use).  Then I outlined everything in dark ink.

I created a light table, which I rigged out of a glass topped side table and a scentsy lamp, and traced the (backwards) map pattern onto applique paper.  (I simply followed the instructions per the package).


I ironed the (uncut) applique sheets on to the wrong side of the applique/blue fabric, and cut out the pattern using this pair of awesome scissors (and yes, they are laying on my new coffee table):



Seriously, if you are going to applique anything, invest in these scissors asap! They are magical. I found mine at Joann's.

I decided to machine applique everything to the whale print fabric (instead of hand stitching).  Needless to say, it took a few rounds of practice and lots of frustration. Tension is *key* in machine applique.


The islands at the top of America are my favorite. I almost decided to do away with all islands on the map, but I decided that I wouldn't be okay with it being geographically incorrect :)


The quilting was done in straight lines- I love how it almost looks like an atlas.

My quilting quality is honestly a work in process. I quilt (and sew) on a 1970's Singer, which I LOVE, but it doesn't have any speed control other than how hard I push on the presser foot. It takes a while each time I sit down to quilt to get a rythm going, so there are several areas with uneven stitches.  There were also many, many un-stitches made with my seam ripper. I'm hoping practice makes perfect, so that maybe I'll produce a product with mostly even stitch lengths.

The binding was pre-made, purchased at Joann's. I tried machine stitching it and that was an utter fail.  So, I resorted to hand stitching the binding.  So. Much. Better.


 The finished product:


I love it so much, I might be crazy enough to recreate another one of these sometime soon.
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21 comments:

Amy said...

I love it! What a gorgeous quilt!

Kelly Taylor said...

Wow! This is amazing. Your friend is going to be pumped!!

Catherine said...

Holy Wowzer!! This is AMAZING. I am speachless and now I want one.

Megan said...

This is AMAZING!! I love love love the map -- you did a great job!

lauren05 said...

So cute! You did an awesome job, such a sweet gift for a friend's baby!

Bonnie said...

This quilt is amazing! I am very impressed.

Cece - Dill Pickle Picnic said...

I think this might be my favorite baby quilt ever! You did an amazing job :)

Kelsey said...

That is seriously amazing!! I love it!! What a lucky friend.

Morgan said...

This is so beautiful! You did an amazing job and I'm sure the baby will appreciate his quilt for many years!

e.louise said...

 Thank you so much!  You have inspired me to keep sewing- I love following your projects :)

e.louise said...

 Thanks you so much!!

e.louise said...

 You are so sweet.  If I had more time, I would love to make more of them!

e.louise said...

 Thank you, Megan!!

e.louise said...

 Thanks!  Crafting for friends' babies is so much fun :)

e.louise said...

 Thank you Bonnie!

e.louise said...

 Thank you!  I hope he will too- let's hope it withstands lots of love :)

e.louise said...

Thanks Cece :)

Klrangel said...

How much fabric did you use for this?  I had this cray idea to do a map quilt for a baby shower 10 days from now and I'm so happy to find this tutorial!  This is completely different from what I was thinking of but just stunning and I'm so going to copy it!

e.louise said...

I used approximately 2.5 yards of the whale fabric and maybe 2 yards for the map. I could have used less if I would have spaced the continents closer together before cutting them out. Hope this helps!

Carmlee said...

Beautiful!  My daughter used a large wall map as the focal point in her baby boy's room and I'm tossing around the idea of making some kind of world map quilt.  Your's looks wonderful!!

Ann said...

Can we ask where you found a pattern for the continents?  Thanks.