With cooler weather on the way, Hitty doll collectors start thinking of cozy quilts. My Hexagon Quilt has been a popular design, but I have always wanted to make a quilt just like the one by Dorothy P. Lathrop from the book, Hitty: Her First Hundred Years. It shows Hitty sleeping in her cradle at the Preble house, listening to the crickets chirping.
Since it is a black and white illustration, I was free to interpret the design in my own way and experiment with color variations. The result is a new design on Spoonflower, called, “Cradle Quilt Sampler 21×18.” By purchasing one Fat Quarter, buyers will receive enough fabric to make three reversible quilts… it’s like getting six designs in one!
The first quilt features a traditional red plaid with roses printed on buff calico, like the one in the book. The second has blue and white prints coordinating with blue gingham, and the third uses cheerful shades of red and pink. Each quilt is 7″ x 9″ with a finished size of 6.5” x 8.5”. If you don’t have a cradle for your doll, the quilt can also double as a small bedspread.
This tutorial uses the Cradle Quilt Sampler printed on Cotton Poplin. If you don’t have the sampler, you can still make a quilt with any cotton fabric that you have on hand.
Materials
Cotton fabric
Thread
Point turner
Before you begin, you should prewash and dry the fabric. I recommend doing a zig-zag stitch around the edges first, or put the fabric in a mesh bag used for washing delicates. This will reduce the chance of fraying and getting tangled in the wash. I prefer to wash the fabric using a gentle cycle, with cold water and a mild detergent, to minimize fading. After washing, tumble dry on low heat.
Press the fabric using the lowest heat setting which will remove the wrinkles. Cut out the three quilt sections along the black lines. If you are using your own fabric, cut a piece that is 18” long by 7” wide. NOTE: This is a good time to make adjustments if you want a smaller quilt. If so, you can trim some fabric off the edges before sewing.
With right sides together, fold fabric in half. Pin along three edges. Some people insert their pins parallel to the edge, and others put them perpendicular to the edge. In this case, I put them parallel for the long stretches, but I placed two pins perpendicular to the bottom edge to mark a 2″ wide opening for turning.
With a 1/4” seam allowance, sew the areas shown on the diagram. Remove pins as you go. When you get to the bottom edge, backstitch at the first pin. Then lift up your presser foot and move the needle to the second pin, leaving a 2” section open for turning. Backstitch at the second pin and keep sewing to the end. Trim off the thread ends.
Press the seams flat on three sides, but do not press the top edge, or you will get a backwards crease when you turn it. Trim seams to 1/8” and then turn inside out. To get nice, sharp points, use a plastic point turner inside the quilt. The point turner is traditionally used for the corners of shirt collars, but it works great on these quilts.
After you have finished turning it right side out, and the points all look good, do a final pressing of the quilt. Slipstitch the open edge closed.
You’re done! Here is Hitty MacKenna with the finished quilt.
Now all you have to decide is, which quilt will you use first? And don’t forget that they are reversible.
