Summer Memory Quilt

I believe a new tradition has been launched in our house. 

I love to take photos of my family. In fact, capturing these little buggers on film may be one of my absolute favorite things to do. Everyone tells you that they grow up in the blink of an eye, and for the longest time you just kind of rolls your eyes at this warning – because my goodness, if you could simply make it through the day without changing 20 diapers you would be thrilled. But then it happens…they start growing up faster and faster – and for the first time in ages, you actually want it to sloooooow down!!!

That is what Summer does for me, Summer gives me a chance to slow down with my family and just kind of BE. A chance to be silly together at the beach, to jump in waves, play Go Fish card tournaments, to not shower every morning, to eat ice cream every night, and stay up late watching Harry Potter with a family sized bowl of popcorn.  To have ultimate Summer vacations together, whether we are traveling or staying home.

I see the writing on the wall, we have less than 10 years left before our eldest is off to college. And even less time than that for when our kids actually want to be with us. So we are living it up, and soaking it in. We hit our life and work deadlines as needed, but the rest of the nonsense can wait during Summer. Because I am busy jumping making smores over a fire pit with my kids and catching fireflies with a glass of wine.

So as I start to lament that Summer is ending, and school starts in just a few short weeks, I have been reminiscing by going through our photos of the past 2 months. Which is when it hit me – I need to document this in a way that is not only personal to me, but something that can be handed down to my children when the time comes.

I needed to make a Summer Memory Quilt.

---

 

Summer Memory Quilt

This post is part of the Boardwalk Delight fabric tour by Dana of Made Everyday. Fabric was provided for the making of this post.  I can honestly say – if a fabric line could represent a person – THIS is it. Boardwalk delight is everything Summer should be – bright, colorful, and childlike FUN.  And after having met Dana in person, those three words are probably the very same exact words I would use to describe her. Bright, colorful, and fun. 

 

---

 

To make a Summer Memory Quilt of your own, you will need:

• Print your photos onto fabric, DIY HERE
• Fabric to supplement around photo squares
• How to sew a block quilt DIY (video below)

We sized all of our photos to 6″ squares prior to printing, and cut a bunch of 6″ square fabric blocks. My daughter helped me figure out the block placement. We had a lot of fun together figuring out what photos and fabric should go where. Then it was simply sewing the blocks together in rows, and sewing the rows together to make the quilt top. For the backing I used a sweatshirt fleece, which eliminated the need to use batting in the middle. After sewing the quilt top, I decided it actually looked too busy with a regular bias binding, so I simply sewed the sweatshirt fleece right sides together to the front, leaving an opening for turning. Turned the blanket right side out, pushing out all corners, and sewed around to secure. Lastly, I sewed a few pinpoint stitches in various places of the quilt to keep the blanket from shifting in use. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. For a more in depth tutorial for how to sew a PROPER block quilt, see the video below.

How to sew a block quilt

 

---

I think Mr. Sampson here is quite impressed.

Furthermore, I am now convinced that I need to be making these blankets at the end of EVERY summer so that one day our family can look back and enjoy this time together.

Boardwalk Delight fabrics can be found anywhere Art Gallery Fabrics are sold. The fabric used in these photos include:

• Flavor of the Day – multi
• I Scream You Scream in blue
• Candy Dots in Multi
• Ferris Wheel in purple
• Soda Straws in yellow

A huge thank you to Dana of Made Everyday for asking me to be a part of her tour, it was an honor.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…

Happy sewing!