Lions Roar! Quilt Finish

Hi, I am happy to be able to share today my finished Modernized Disappearing Nine Patch baby quilt that I am calling Lions Roar. It was made from a set of five fat quarters and three bright solid half yard cuts and white solid yardage. All of the fabrics in the quilt( except the 2 yards of brown mottled fabric used in the backing) came from my stash. The fat quarters had been purchased 5 years ago before we knew whether our grandson was going to be a girl or boy. I ended up using a different fabric theme for my grandson, so these fabrics sat in storage.

Lions Roar, a modernized disappearing nine patch quilt

I really like how this quilt turned out. I originally hoped for a larger quilt and had cut extra squares of fabric. I did not use all my pieced blocks because the left over ones did not have much of the main 5 focus prints in them, just solids. This is just shy of 60 inches square and that is a nice size quilt. Mom or Dad can cuddle under it with the baby or it can be used in the future for floor play or in a play pen.

Lions Roar

It unfortunately is not very sunny today. I think the quilt looks like  it is in a jungle setting hung in amongst the hackberry tree’s changing leaves. Even the lawn is getting ready for fall and changing colors. I quilted in an all over diagonal grid in white and then went back in to add some accents of yellow, green and orange straight line stitching. I added bias cut striped binding that has all the colors of the quilt with a touch of blue.

Appliqued Backing to Lions Roar

This is my appliqued backing. I used Lite Steam-A-Seam 2 for my fusible. I did fold my white strip in half and had Thomas’ name centered on my length. I must not have had true center to the rest of the backing when I sew the strips together. If you are wondering about the lion’s head?? When I was almost finished with the quilt and had half of it bound, I noticed a series of tiny holes in my brown fabric. I did not see them when I purchased the fabric. I  purchased 2 yards and cut my fabric down the center fold to get the pieces I used. When the dark fabric was folded on itself, you would not have seen them I guess. I did some quick thinking and come up with a lion’s head from some clip art online and made a quick layered applique. I cut the orange first and cut out the lion’s face and ears. I cut the face out of the gold and cut out  his eyes. I layered small pieces of brown in behind for the eyes and ears. It was very easy to accomplish with the double sided Lite Steam -A Seam 2 fusible sheets. You peel off one layer and lay your fabric on it. You can trace your design on the other backing sheet. You cut out your design and can lay in position. It can be lifted again to reposition and then give a final press to make permanent. I stitched closely in matching colors around the cut openings of the applique to permanently adhere it.

Lions Head Applique

Front of Quilt

I was not sure how to handle stitching the applique on to the back of a finished quilt. I thought about using a monofilament thread in the bobbin but I could not find where mine was stashed. It is not something I have used very often. I chose to use white thread in the bobbin. Since there is so much white background and all the quilting criss crossing the quilt in white and the other colors, the lion head design will not be too noticeable. You only really see it because of zooming in the photo.

Lions Roar on the garden bench

I really like how this quilt turned out. 60 inches square is probably considered a small quilt for me. I really do not find use for much smaller. I guess I think all my effort is better shown in a larger format.

The back of Lions Roar quilt

I showed off the quilt before finished binding and making the applique. Thomas’ Mom loved it. I sent a finished photo of the applique to my best friend and she shared it with her niece. She thought it was so cool. I guess that is all that matters. I make quilts to be loved and used up and know that this one will be going to a loving home.

I am off to work on finish quilting another baby quilt. My Mod Gears that I made the top earlier this Spring. I have heard there maybe another baby on the way, so need to the first little guy his quilt.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I do appreciate all comments and do my best to get personal repliessent back. I am linking up this finish with various linky parties this week that can be found on my Linky Parties tab at the top of this page.

Happy Sewing,

Shelley