My husband has always really liked the Buckeyes, but attending The Ohio State University sealed the deal. He is a Buckeye fan through and through!
With his graduation approaching, I was wracking my brain to come up with the perfect graduation present for him. I really wanted to give him something that would remind him of his time at OSU and that he would use for years to come. So, I decided to make a Buckeye Quilt. (of course)
I've only made my husband one thing that was arts and craftsy- but I've never made him anything that involved sewing. Mostly just because I think my sort of sewing lends itself to making cutesy sorts of things, but I was determined to make something that he could deem "manly" and "cool".
I saw this darling kaleidoscope quilt by Rita of Red Pepper Quilts and I started imagining it in Scarlet and Gray colors and thought "this could be really cool!". So I printed out the free pattern and started putting together my blocks.
Can I just take a moment and tell you how much I hate sewing with fabrics that I am not in love with (ie: bright, cutesy, girly fabrics)... Annnnnd- Scarlet and Gray actually happens to be one of my least favorite color combinations. Pluuuuus- a kaleidoscope quilt is not for the faint of heart- it takes a really long time to put each block together (at least it did for me) and I had the worst attitude while I was making them... at least if I had been using darling fabrics like Rita did, the work would have been pleasurable, but nope- scarlet and gray was not cutting it for me. So I put my blocks aside for almost an entire year. Poor little buckeye quilt.
Then about a month before my husbands graduation, the panic set in. Holy Cow- I didn't have anything to give him and there was no way that I was gonna have time to finish the buckeye quilt at the rate I was going.
So onto plan B.
My husband had a week rotation away from home... perfect time to finish his quilt without him seeing it!
I have always been inspired by this gingham quilt by craftyblossom. So, I decided to do a bigger more "buffalo plaid" version of it, with a block O for the front. I cut 10" squares for the patchwork... super easy to piece since they were so large! I used Kona Charcoal for the dark gray in the plaid, Yarn Dyed Essex in black for the lighter gray in the plaid (which really added some texture since it is a linen blend, and since it is a black and white woven fabric it really made the plaid look legit!), and then just a white cotton I had on hand for the white in the plaid. I used a "Block O" Ohio State fabric that I found at Joann to make the "O" on the front of the quilt. (I would have just used plain red if this was a quilt for myself, but I knew my husband would appreciate the Ohio State fabric).
I was so happy with the way it turned out! I think it looks masculine, school spirity, and I love the Buffalo Plaid!
Then I picked up a full sized sheet flat sheet from Target for the backing... Only one problem. The sheet was a few inches short of being wide enough for the back... Bingo- My kaleidoscope blocks!! They were the exact width that I needed to make the backing the right size. Hallelujah! I cut the sheet and pieced these puppies in there... PERFECTION! And- I felt a lot less horrible about all the time I put into those blocks! Love it when things work out that way!!
For the quilting, I used my walking foot and did some straight line quilting. I quilted the "O" with horizontal lines close together. And did herringbone-ish quilting for the rest of the quilt. (Being on the short timeline I had, I opted for really simple quilting. :)
The quilt is roughly 70"x90"... the perfect lap sized/picnic blanket!
I gave it to him a couple days before he graduated and he was so surprised. He had no idea I had made anything for him... My girls were so good at helping keep the secret! He loves it and thinks it is so "COOL"! Job accomplished! :)
As for me... I have happily returned to sewing with my cutesy, girly, darling fabrics! YAY!! ;)
Have a great week!
OH-IO!
xoxo, Ashley
