sweet sixteen

My niece turned 16 this past Saturday. Sixteen. She was born just a couple weeks after my husband and I first met.  I still remember the two year-old who called me "NaNangie" instead of aunt Angie.  Now she's driving.  Oh, where does the time go?!

She and her family live in Nebraska, so we don't get to see each other very often, but we have tons of fun when we are together. They stayed with us a bit over the holidays in 2010, and that's when she picked out fabrics for this quilt...




She's got a good eye, doesn't she?  (And... incidentally, is my first finish of 2012!)

The quilt pattern I used is "Alice" by Rita at Red Pepper Quilts.  I added a second row of alternating color and white squares at each end, as Sierra is a bit taller than me (as are most people!), but that's the only change I made.  The pattern was wonderful and the quilt came together quite easily.





I hadn't intended so long to make the quilt, but it worked out well since 16 is such a monumental birthday.

I also pieced the back, which was quite interesting.  I wanted the quilt to have a true modern feel.  My niece is young, beautiful, fashionable, and trendy and this quilt needed to match.






This was my first "true" piecing for a back and it was quite the exercise.  I laid the top face down on the floor and put the five large pink fabric squares where I wanted them.  Then I slowly figured out how to cut and sew the backing fabric to fit.






I liked the way it looked and will probably do it again - though I hope to have a design wall for the next attempt.

I also hand-stitched the label for this quilt using DMC floss to match the fabric colors.  Until now, I've only used printable fabric and markers.  I was out of the printable, and learned the hard way on my dad's quilt that Sharpies aren't fabric safe.   No way I was chancing it on this one.





I also used a couple of Color Catchers when I washed this quilt, and I am quite impressed.  I was nervous with all the pinks and reds on the white.  The catchers came out with a little pink, but not much.




All in all, I'm super excited about how this quilt turned out. I just wish I could have been there to see her open her gift.  But I know she'll love it... after all, what 16 year-old girl doesn't like hot pink?!  :)

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Quilt Stats

Pattern: Alice by Rita at Red Pepper Quilts

Size: approx. 40" x 52" 
Quilt Top Fabric: Tonal Berry Bundle by Fabricworm
Backing: Bubblegum Mixmasters Fizz
Binding: Soiree

Pieced and Quilted by: Angie Kimel (me!)


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