Sweet Sophie Chenille

My Scarlet turned 8 months old last week!



No, I can't believe it. :)

She's sweeter than sweet, and adorable too.

I made her this quilt (the girl is going to have a hope chest full of quilts before she moves out, I'm sure...I'm just going with it).

I paired charm squares from the Sophie by Chez Moi collection with squares of chenille.  I did use a 3/8" seam allowance, because the bumpy edges of the chenille are a little trickier.  I just made half-square triangles and arranged them in what I believe is called the Dutch windmill design.  (It's one of my favorite HST lay-outs).

After auditioning a bunch of different fabrics, I went with more chenille for the border. 

And it's so soft.

The borders were whatever width would make it so I could use one WOF for the backing.  It's just one of my favorite prints from the collection.

The selvages are still in there... that's how close of a fit this was.

I used a pretty little pink houndstooth for the binding.

Speaking of binding -- I LOVE binding with a chenille border.  You just sew the binding to the front, flip to the back and machine stitch it down.  All your stitching on the front disappears in to the chenille (it's actually why I like to use chenille for a border like here and here).

It's a very pretty quilt in all... but not as pretty as this girl.

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Now if you'll indulge my mommy side for a moment; I'm going to take this opportunity to record a bit about my girl.

Scarlet -- everyone tells you how cute you are, and I agree, but really you are just so sweet.

You have started talking to us a lot more.  Chatty, chatty, chatty -- this kind of scares your father.

You make lots of happy little sing-songy sounds when you chat.  Sometimes you get squealy and sing in a very high pitch.  Your brother likes to talk back to you when you do this; he calls it your happy talk.

You scoot around the room just like your brother did... the good 'ol army crawl.

Mama dresses you in pink all the time.  I alternate between calling you peaches & cream, or strawberries & cream.

Steiger still adores you.  He calls you "Little Missy." ♥
Daddy calls you "Special Ghost," and Mommy calls you "Smile Box," "Sweet girl," and a number of other little endearing terms.

Except when you first wake in the morning, and you're quite hungry, you give me the biggest little grin every time you see me.  Your mouth goes out like a line, and you get even cheekier.

The neckline or strap of my shirt is your "blankie" when you fall asleep.  You lay your head on my chest, put your thumb in your mouth, and grip my shirt in your hand.  Mama always says that rocking you to sleep is therapy in its highest form.

You always suck your left thumb.



You are an amazing little eater.  Mama breaks little bits of pretty much everything on your tray, and you get both hands in on the action.  And can I tell you how much I love that you're not picky?  Thank you baby.  It is however, impossible to eat anything while I'm holding you, because you yell until I share.

You share your mama's obsession with Pirate's Booty (see first picture).

You yell now to get attention.  It's a very staccato little "Meep!" and "Mop!"  I usually just laugh.

You also growl.  I love the growls.  So does Steiger... he tries to figure out how to make you growl.  I think it's for you to say, "hey, watch it." ;)

You wave your arms when you're excited.  You hadn't seen Daddy for a couple days this week, and saw him just before bed last night... you yelled for him, smiled, waved your arms... you clearly missed him.  He felt very special.

You raise your arms above your head, and make little fists.  You usually give some kind of punctuated shout.  We call it your "fists of fury."

You sit on my lap, content, for the longest time.  It's amazing really.

Scarlet -- each day, I am more and more happy to be your mama.

Between you, and this big guy here (who insists that he's a "little boy and doesn't want to get big," I am blessed indeed.

We love you both to bits!