> > information below > > collected by: > > Monica Thomas > > mct2@interlink.com > > Columbia, Maryland > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: JUDY CARROZZINO > > > > I like to make baby quilts about 3x5 feet approximately so they will fit > > nicely in a crib. A lot depends on the pattern being used as to the > > finished size. I have seen some small ones that would fit in a bassinet > > and feel that they grow out of this size too fast for the amount of work > > put into the quilt. > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: MBISHOP@ccmail.sunysb.edu > > > > Any size you want. I usually make them 3 x 4 or 4 x 5. Basically you want i t > > to be big enough to fully cover the crib mattress AND be big enough to cudd le > > in. Make it very sturdy and use a batting that can stand many repeated > > washings. Making it 3' wide will allow you use a 1 peice backing as fabric is > > 44" wide. > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: "Jane Moore" > > > > Monica--I let the design dictate the size. My baby quilts are never larger > > than 43" wide so that I can use 45" wide material without a seam for the > > back (laziness on my part). Sometimes I do squares, other times I'll do > > a rectangle, so it's longer one way....but it almost always depends on the > > design of the quilt. > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > > From: nellie@triton.coat.com (Nellie P.) > > > > For me, it depends on the pattern. The size of the block you're using > > can determine, in part, the size of the quilt. Does it work better > > square, or rectangular? What size borders look best? (I almost > > *never* think about the border size till I'm done with the rest of the > > quilt!) I've got a 36"x36" quilt from my sister which my two-year-old > > still uses in bed (it's a little small); I've made quilts for babies up > > to about 4'x5', I think (I haven't kept very good records). I also > > made a hexagonal quilt once -- I think it was about 40" across. > > > > One question to think about is how you'd like the quilt to be used. > > Any size quilt *may* end up on baby's wall, even if you insist you made > > it to be used! A thin/flat quilt that seems rugged may get toted > > around, along with all that other baby paraphernalia (sp?), and used to > > cover baby in the car, in the stroller, or wherever. A larger, "fluffy" > > quilt will be more likely to end up in baby's bed. A quilt might even > > turn out to be a "play area" on the floor for a baby who's not yet > > mobile. > > > > I've never yet known any parents who had too many baby blankets or > > quilts for their kids. Have fun! > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: SHIBUT@urvax.urich.edu > > > > Hi Monica, I've made many baby quilts, and the size can vary, as you > > say. It depends on the pattern, the time you have available for the > > project, etc. I think, though I prefer quilts that will just about be > > crib sized: say 36x48 or so. This is big enough for covering a baby, > > small enough to drag around without leaving a winding trail of blanket > > for others to trip over. Ann in Richmond > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: Patricia willingham > > > > My 4 boys all have baby quilts measuring about 45 x 60 inches. These > > just fit a full-size crib, and are large enough to transfer to a "youth" > > bed. The 7-yr-old still sleeps with his every night. Daddy borrows it > > when he is sick and sleeps sitting up in his lounge chair. It is the > > perfect size for a child of any age :-) All 4 of these were made with > > cotton flannel both top and bottom, and bound with flannel. They are > > wonderfully soft and cozy, and the boys will not part with them. > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: cindy@inmet.camb.inmet.com (Cynthia Parsley Baehr) > > > > I recommend a bigger quilt if you want it to be used. My son received a > > quilt from a friend of mine when he was born that he is still using at > > 4 yrs, 11 mos. I usually make them about 40" by 50", or the width of the > > backing fabric, by the length - I usually use about 1.5 yrds. Check the > > size of a standard crib quilt batt, and use those dimentions. > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: optimg!kathyw@uunet.UU.NET (Kathy Whitver) > > > > I don't think there are any really hard and fast rules about > > size. A crib mattress is about 36 X 52 so you can use that > > as a guideline, or a quilt about 5 foot square is nice for > > playing and napping. > > > > No matter what the finished size, your gift will be treasured! > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: amyh@sybase.com (Amy Heather Bowers) > > > > I don't have any children either, but I guess I have > > a bunch of fertile friends because I've made a bunch > > of baby quilts. I always make mine 45"X60" (at least). > > Parents seem to like that a lot because the babies > > grow so fast. With a larger quilt, the kids can > > drag them around when they're toddling and even > > later. > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: minnie@fantasy.wa.com (Lara Nolan) > > > > As a quilter and a new mom -- I'd say that that range is just about > > right. ;-) Seriously, different sized quilts are useful for different > > things and at different stages. Right now, my baby is 6 weeks old. > > Her "favorite" (ie. the one I use most) is roughly 3x4' -- a pinwheel > > design in bright shades of fuschia and purple (with a lot of > > contrast, so she likes looking at the shapes). It's tied, with a fatt > > batt, and the backing is a wonderful batik of purple seagulls on > > fuschia. It's the perfect size for use in her pack-n-play (a portable > > crib/playpen) or the stroller; it's plenty large enough to be put on > > the floor for her to play on when we're out. > > > > The quilts for her normal crib are about 45x60" -- which would also > > work on a toddler bed (many parents "transition" kids from a crib > > into a pint-sized bed that uses the crib mattress and bedding; so > > most crib quilts are a little larger than the actual crib to > > accommodate a toddler bed.) Many parents don't actually use a crib > > quilt in the crib until the baby is older... while they're still > > little, there's a risk of getting their head under it and not being > > able to breathe. Alex's crib quilts are hanging on a rack near the > > crib for now, although we'll start using them when she can move > > around more. > > > > Finally, she's also got a few larger quilts (60x60" is my favorite) > > that I fold up when I use them at this stage, and will provide a > > larger cuddling/spreading out area when she's bigger. > > > > Basically, any size quilt would be useful! I've even got some > > light-weight blankets that are about 26" square, and they're quite > > nice for while she's little -- although she will be outgrowing them > > soon! ;-) > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: "Heidi S-Farnbach" > > > > My mother insists on making quilts that perfectly fit a crib (~32x40). > > As a mother, I say the bigger, the better (within reason of course). > > My favorite quilt of my son's is 40x52. Like everything else, it is a > > matter of preference. > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: bperry@bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu (bperry) > > > > > > I have made a lot of baby quilts for the ABC Quilt project. They > > range in size from 3X3 to 4X4 feet. If you want to make a quilt for the > > baby to drag around, this is a good size. If you want to make a quilt > > for the crib you might want to make it a little longer and narrower - > > say 3X5. I hope this helps. > > By the way, be sure to overstitch or quilt about 1 inch in from the > > edge, and quilt or tie closely. Baby quilts get a lot of wear and > > tear. I have not had good luck with those pretty satin bindings around > > the edge. They wear out quickly. > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: Andi Reynolds > > > > Monica asked what size a bay quilt should be and I laughed right out > > loud -- must have hit a nerve! I, too, don't have any children, but in > > myobservation -- they all GROW UP! I plan the baby quilts I make in > > colors that I think will please these little people long after thay > > have been babies beneath them, and don't worry about the fact that > > they are 2 x 6 12 inch blocks with sashing. I guess I mean to say that > > quilts can be any size you like, that babies come in all sizes, even > > from the beginning, and anything you make will surely be appreciated > > by the parents, guardians, and future quilt collector (the baby). Andi > > in Tallahassee > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: ju@compwr.com (Janet Ulrich) > > > > The size that I love using (2 children, 9yr. & 3yr.) and making are about > > 40"x70". Thats 2 yards of backing, batting, and top fabric. These are > > simply tied about every 4". The top fabric is your design. These are > > easy to make, machine washable/dryable, and hold up extremely well. They > > also make great "floor mats" for the young infant to play on when you don't > > want to put them directly on the carpet. These are much softer and washabl e, > > too. > > > > Have fun, any size will work. These are only my preferences, though all I > > have made them for have loved them as well. Oh, they make up in 1 day or > > 2 evenings, so make great shower gifts. I have made one with a pieced Trip > > Around the World top that looked great, but took about a week of evenings t > > make.