Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Puakenikeni Baby Quilt


I made this little pink baby quilt to have on hand for baby emergencies. I'm feeling very proud of myself for making this one in advance. Now all I have to do is make a blue one and I'm all set for any non-multiple baby scenario. I feel so prepared!

This is a puakenikeni flower, the inspiration for my quilt:



It smells heavenly! "Puakenikeni" means "ten cent flower" because the locals used to sell them by the roadside for ten cents a piece. I'm told that was quite expensive at the time; I suppose the flower was rarer back then. This flower makes beautiful fragrant leis.


At the time I made my quilt, I thought the puakenikeni flower had only four petals, but as you can see, it has five. Ah well, babies can't count, thank goodness. I did look up other names of flowers that have four petals, but "Epilobium Angustifolium" didn't quite have the same ring to it. So Puakenikeni it is.


Let's get closer:


This quilt was very difficult to get a picture of. It's much softer in color than these pictures indicate, but I had to turn up the contrast for you to be able to see it! Cameras are fussy about quilts.
Here's a close-up of one of the blocks. Looking at this now, I can see where some of my seams on this block didn't exactly line up, but that's okay. Babies can't count OR see very well. She will love it anyway. I hope she loves it to shreds.



This little quilt would be honored to be someone's dear blankie.

The reverse, showing my leafy vine doodle. This picture is closer to the true color.


The flower block itself is made up of four traditional "Snowball" blocks. You just have to change the color of one of the corners and sew them together like this:


I used the following method so I didn't have to cut triangles: I cut a large white square and laid little squares on each corner right side down, then sewed diagonally as I have indicated in red. Trim seam, flip triangles, and press.

This is a very easy block to make and you can make it any size you want! For a 8" finished block, start with four 4 1/2 " cut white squares. (Mine is a 6" finished block--I started with four 3 1/2" squares.) Different sizes of little squares make different shapes of petals, so that's something to experiment with. 1 1/2" cut little colored squares is a good size to start with on a 4 1/2" white square.

41 comments:

Ruth's Place said...

It's a beautiful quilt. I'm sure a little girl will love it!

Tine said...

What a lovely babyquilt, it will make a little girl -and her mom!!- very very happy!
And thank you so much for the pattern :-)
You are so on top of things, being prepared for future babies!

Dianne said...

What a really cool way to do a flower block. This quilt is soooo sweet.

Denise (Nour) said...

It's a 'sweet' quilt. I have some of those same fabrics! Are the green squares placed randomly? Love it and will file it away. Thanks!

The Calico Cat said...

Love that quilt (the touches of green are great) makes me want to run out & get pregnant... Oh wait a minute - I am working on that!

Stacy A. said...

Lisa, what a beautiful little quilt. You are one special, talented lady. I may need to give this one a go. Did you machine quilt this one as well? Maybe I'll go watch your quilting video...just to get my daily fix! Thanks for the pattern. Love Stacy

jacquie said...

So sweet and thanks for sharing how to make it too! I can't even imagine having a quilt finished and ready for gifting.

ladydi said...

I love it! What a great idea to be prepared for baby emergencies. Thanks for sharing the pattern with us. A definite must do, and oh, if only I could quilt the way you do. Practice, practice, practice.

~Niki~ said...

Very sweet quilt. Gosh, you ARE prepared aren't you. LOL. I've actually done that b4 too. Makes it nice when there is a recipient, no rushing around for a gift. HUGS! Thanks for posting the look of the block. I love snowball blocks, but never thought to change up the centers like that for a flower look.

Nancy said...

Oh, I want to be a Hawaiian (sp?) baby... Thanks for the tutorial.

Are there truely all those little squares in the alternate blocks? or is there some magic going on there also?

dot said...

What a beautiful soft baby quilt. I have this pattern in a book I have and it is on my list of to make some day. Thank-you for sharing yours with us.

Anonymous said...

Such a lovely baby quilt! Thank you also for the tutorial, how to make it! Maybe I must also start to make baby quilts and hope to get grandchildren!!!

Sally said...

What lovely quilt for a special little girl! I love using snowballs in quilts - they give you some delighful surprise patterns when used with one other block. Thanks for reminding me. And thanks, too, for the heads-up on the give-away...I'm # 1010 in comments!

Kristin said...

oh, it is so beautiful! Lucky baby! I love the quilting with the soft colors of the the quilt, makes it look old-fashioned. Baby shabby chic!
(although it does not make *me* want to run out and get pregnant like "the calico cat" posted - no quilt could get me to go back through that again with an 18 year old and a 14 year old. ;)

qusic said...

what a lucky baby, who gets this lovely snowball quilt as a present.I think I had my fair share of babies(3)so no preg plans;). I would have nothing against such a pastel beauty but imagine how it would look in bold colours, gorgeous for a dorm quilt!

Cathi said...

What a beautiful quilt. Lucky baby that gets that one. I can't imagine it not being a favourite!

BusybeeDebQuilts said...

How sweet! I love the soft pinks ... that's going to be one lucky little girl ...

Deb

Rhonda said...

OMG!! What a beautiful quilt and flower! You are SO prepared! How do you pronounce "puakenikeni"? It's a mouthful when I tried to said it.... especiallly 3xs. LOL
Thanks for the tutorial. Wish I know someone who's having a little girl so I can make one up. What am I saying?! Us quilters don't need a reason to make quilts... gotta be prepared... right? LOL

Suzy said...

How adorable! I absolutely love the colors you used. Nothing like a little pink and minty green with a dash of buttercup yellow for a wee lass. The lucky babe will be the envy of all. Love the pattern, too! You're so organized! Already planning gifts for future babies.

Can't wait to see the blue version -- although you and your color hue trick with Photoshop could show us the final results without even piecing it yet. LOL! :o)

Doris said...

So pretty, Lisa. Nothing "dorky" about that one! Congrats on the planning ahead thing. I cannot even fathom that...

Elaine Adair said...

Such a lovely little quilt. And not too difficult. Your leaf/vine quilting is just the right touch. mmmm, who could I make one for using your pattern?

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

It's gorgeous, Lisa! I think this baby quilt is a sweet as it can be, just like the flower its named for. It's bound to be loved and treasured forever... you're quite clever being all prepared, too!

Pieceful Jane said...

Your quilt is adorable. :) It is sure to be loved by some lucky little girl. I am thrilled to read that you would be happy to have it loved to shreds. I feel the same way about baby quilts I give as gifts. It is an honor to know that something I made was so well loved and used.

cinnamongirl93 said...

Snowball quilts are always so enjoyable to sew. I really like the pink and the yellow together. IThe colors complement each other so well. The future recipient is a very lucky little girl.

Under the Lychee Tree said...

Thanks for sharing the pattern. Guess I'll put on my pua keni keni lei and get sewing!

Salem Stitcher said...

What a sweet quilt! I hope I can remember it next time I have a surprise baby gift to get. Thanks for the pattern!

susan said...

very nice lisa...doesnt this flower get a dark yellow as it ages or is that a different one. was sunny all day and the snow is melting and the garage leaks thru the side wall, bummer, we need to get some pvc pipe for the gutter and get the water away from garage. i dont want my car tires to freeze to the cement floor....

Angie said...

Lisa, Great idea to be ready with a baby quilt. This one is lovely! Thank you for posting the pattern too! I'm enjoying your blog so much! You are so creative! and fun to read.

Cathie said...

Oh, Lisa, I LOVE it! What a darling quilt and what a wonderful pattern! I love your trick for making the corner triangles; now that was just too cool!

I feel like a sponge, soaking up every quilting detail I can and storing them all away for later when I get my machine and fabric out again. My fingers are starting to itch for scraps.... *eyebrow waggle*

Cath

Jenna said...

Pretty quilt. I love that you are so well prepared with quilts to give as gifts.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh what a beautiful little girl quilt! I just love it!

tina said...

That quilt is sweet as pie----- and I puredee love puakenikeni more than just about anything. Except pikake of course but that makes me think of lost love so we won't go there.......

Phyl said...

Almost makes me wish I was having a baby....lol.

Anonymous said...

What a pretty, pretty quilt, and looks like it's fun to make too! I kinda like the ring Epilobium Angustifolium has, LOL.

Vicky said...

Totally precious quilt! Lucky little girl to get that one! BTW, love the new do!!

NuvoFelt said...

This is the prettiest baby quilt I have seen. I only wish I had the skills to make one similar. Look forward to seeing your 'boy' quilt

Kellie said...

That is sooo pretty! Some lucky baby is going to pinch herself... someday...when she arrives...in the future. I wish I were so forward thinking! :)

Shelina said...

This is such a beautiful quilt - great design, wonderful fabric choices, great workmanship, and fabulous quilting.

Cath Ü said...

This quilt is just so lovely... adorable in fact...
Cath Ü

Khris said...

This is really sweet...any little girl would adore it...well any big girl for that matter too...hehehe
Hugs Khris

Crystal Hendrix said...

Very pretty! And I don't see any lumps, so does this mean that it isn't a dorky homemade quilt?