Soon after Silas was born, Gabe mentioned that he would like to make a quilt for his first birthday. Keats and I had sewn one for Beatrix’s first, and Gabe wanted to do the same for his new baby brother. Even with an entire year to prepare for it, I did not manage to pull it together in time for Silas’ birthday. I finally applied myself and found fabric that I knew Gabe would like (and on sale too) a few weeks ago and ordered it. Every day he would ask when we would make the quilt. Finally this past weekend I made a list of things that I wanted to accomplish and the quilt was one of them.
We began with six fat quarters. Rather than doing any cutting, I just helped Gabe sew them together, two at a time. I know next to nothing about quilting and between that and the fact that Gabe has very little machine sewing experience, I kept things simple.
Then I cut each of the three pieces in half, making them different lengths. We laid them out on the table, and then Gabe sewed them all together.
I put the quilt together and sewed it up late that night (I opted not to bind this one-just sewed all three layers together and then turned it.) Gabe and I worked together to hand tie the quilt the next day.
The story behind this photo and Gabe’s smile: Jonny popped inside for a minute and started teasing Gabe about making a quilt. He was only joking, and confessed that he thinks quilting is awesome. Back when we were in college, I remember Jonny spending a birthday check one year on a bunch of fat quarters and quilting tools. He carefully cut a huge pile of 4 x 4 inch squares, but then got distracted and never made his quilt.
(quilt backing fabric HERE.)
I think Gabe is proud of his quilt. I am always proud of him.
LOVE. That pretty much sums it up.
Adrie says
So wonderful, and just what I needed to see to counterbalance the terrible news in the world these days. Thank you for sharing your children’s love with us all!
Norma says
THAT is awesome!!!!!
Mrs. Dillier says
Bravo! Gabe. Bravo!
Mary says
Oh, this is so very sweet. What a wonderful brother Gabe is and Silas…oh my, he is getting big!! You actually make it sound like someday maybe even I could make a quilt…
Roanna says
beautiful thing… just a beautiful thing!!
heathermama says
so that quilt looks like something i might be able to do. how much back fabric did you get? how many yards? thanks
Ginny says
I bought two yards, but didn’t use it all.
heathermama says
thank you so much. 🙂
Kathy says
What lucky boys these two are, to have each other and so much love in their lives. The quilt is just fantastic, and I’m sure it will be very much loved for many years to come. You must be so proud of Gabe for that beautiful job and the desire to make something from his own hands and heart for his little brother. (No surprise there — he has great role models in your family!)
Taryn Kae Wilson @ Wooly Moss Roots says
I love the way the quilt turned out! And I love the pictures of Gabe and Silas together, so very sweet.
Suzette says
I am going to be smiling all day. You and Gabe made something with great love for someone special. You hve raised amazing children. Way to go Gabe! Love the last picture and the beautiful quilt! Congratulations!
Christina says
This is an awesome gift and I guess the experience has been also a blessing to you and Gabe, too. 🙂
Melissa L says
Thank you for sharing the LOVE! What a great, heart-happy, post! High-five Gabe for the quilt idea; a great and practical keepsake for your little bro! Time for Jonny to finish his own quilt as penance for teasing Gabe : )
lori says
gabe is beautiful. and everything about this post is too.
heathermama says
that last picture is fantastic. what a great quilt.
sherri says
What a wonderful, beautiful gift and so thoughtful of Gabe. He did a great job! That blanket should be kept forever 🙂
Melody says
Ahhh…what amazing boys <3
nicole i says
i love that final snapshot… seems like it needs to be blown up and framed.
Carolyn says
What love is that! They are so blessed to know it!
Andréann says
That very last photo is so fantastic!
Great Job Gabe! I wish I had a big brother like you!
Colleen says
This post is wonderful, I was smiling the whole way through it and that last photo needs to be framed,,,,beautiful!! What a fantastic big brother Gabe is and Gabe….you should be so very proud of yourself, your quilt is amazing!!
christina says
How wonderful, Brotherly love!! It is always so nice to hear that an older brother has taken the time to do something special for his younger sibling. What a very special young man you have raised in Gabe!
Kelly says
LOOOOVE!! <—that's me singing it like Ethel Merman, lol. 🙂
Love begets love, doesn't it?
Hooray for Gabe! Fantastic job! Hooray for momma, too, to make time to do it.
Jennifer Miller says
What a great big brother. And you have made this quilt look so easy to make.
sue says
What a wonderful big brother Gabe is to make Silas a first birthday quilt. I think it turned out perfectly!
Shauna says
That is so incredibly sweet! Gabe did a great job with the quilt; and an even more amazing job in his role as big brother.
Jenn says
Made with LOVE!! Is there anything better then making something for someone special, especially when there is so much love put into it? The quilt is perfect, you and Gabe did a great job. I love seeing how a big brother wanted to create something so special for his little brother. Oh, it made me cry. So sweet!
Rachel Wolf says
LOVE indeed. So much love.
jen says
this made me smile like nothing else!
Kimberlee says
That is super fantastic fabulous awesome! Way to go Gabe! Such a wonderful big brother! There is so much love and brother bonding in every stitch. It’s beautiful.
(and though my two big guys have never made quilts, they do a lot of sewing. My 19yo currently has my machine captive while his is in the shop!) (and I love the fabrics you chose!)
Jenn says
This is super cute. I love it. The quilt is adorable and the love behind it is beautiful. It is great. 🙂
Jennifer says
That’s so sweet-good experience for Gabe, good memory for the both of you, and it’s a great looking quilt, too!
Allison says
This is awesome! I hope if I am blessed with boys they can want to create like yours do. I love that. And I love how much your kids love one another!
Caroline says
Fantastic!
Now to find the kleenex.
eve says
that last pic is fab.
Kathy says
That’s awesome! And it looks like the quilt is already getting some love.
nancy says
You just had to go and make me cry didn’t you 😉
Casazoo says
What a beautiful job!
Congratulations.
Warm greetings from Chile
Laura says
Beautiful story and beautiful quilt! It’s great to hear how enthusiastic Gabe was about making a quilt. Love it!