Hi friends! A lot has changed since my last blog post 11 days ago...sheesh.
We've been hunkered down trying to stay healthy and finding a new "normal" for our family. The kids are home now that schools are closed, my husband is working from home, but we have everything we need (and enough chocolate to get me through it). We have so much to be grateful for...but it's also a huge adjustment that will take some time.
By Thursday I needed some "Mom quiet time"...so I spent a few hours finishing up this Zookeeper quilt (with noise cancelling headphones on of course!).
This quilt was made with the Zookeeper Prism ABC panel by Hoffman Fabrics. I purchased mine from here, but you can also Google it and easily find one.
I gave directions for how I cut the panel and made the blocks in this blog post when I made the top. The letters/animals aren't all the same size, so you need to carefully cut them, add borders, then trim all of the blocks down to the same size...the info is in the blog post.
The panel would also be adorable left intact...just add a fun border or two, quilt it and done! Super cute baby quilt.
I had some questions last time about the color fastness of the panel, since it is digitally printed. I haven't washed my panel, but from what I can tell from others experiences and my own using digitally printed fabric, it should wash well...and the color fade should be comparable to other cotton fabrics from a mill. I plan on gifting this to my kids' school to be hung, so it probably won't be washed a whole lot, but I wouldn't be worried if it were. If you've washed your panel, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
I quilted this top with free motioned loopty loops all over the quilt. It's not perfect, but if you need a really great stress reliever during this time, I recommend learning how to free motion!
Also, a public service announcement: I saw that Paula Jean is retiring and will no longer be making or selling the Kwik Klip. Guys...if you pin baste your quilts you NEED a Kwik Klip. It saves your fingers and nails by helping to close or open the pins quick and easy. I bought an extra so I'll never be without it. I bought mine on amazon, but you can probably get one from your favorite quilt shop, or here. It's been my favorite notion for years.
I put a green plaid on the back from my Hazel line of fabric (an old line), and I bound it with a gray Moda grunge basic.
My machine binding tutorial can be found here, I haven't posted that one in awhile and if you are new here it's how I bind all of my quilts.
I hope you all stay healthy and safe, and maybe even find some comfort in sewing and quilting during all the upheaval.
Hugs to you all!! -Allison
Annie
This blog post is so timely! I loved your original post and immediately bought a panel. It took be forever to finish but I just finished up my quilt last week. I still totally love it. I washed it and it seemed to be colorfast. (I sent you a picture of it via e-mail)
Allison
Don't worry...I made my top about a year and a half ago and just finished it today! ;) I LOVE your quilt and thank you for the photos!!
Lynn White
Gorgeous quilt, the choices of borders round the blocks really brighten it and make it happy. Great quilting.
Allison
Thank you Lynn!
Carmen Montmarquet
What a cute quilt, great job! Thanks for sharing what we can do with a panel! I have a couple stashed away that I need to get out!
Allison
Thanks Carmen...it's a fun fast quilt!
Rosemaryflower
this is a great idea for a panel. I like this. Allison, well done
Allison
Thank you!
Nina Mueller
This was the last quilt I made before my son was born last May. Love the animals, the simple pattern, and the bright colors on the border. We have washed it about a hundred times since we use it as a okay mat! It still looks great!
Nina Mueller
*play mat ... So the spit-up is on the quilt instead of the carpet 😀
Allison
I'm so glad to hear that!! If it can survive baby life then it can survive anything right?! :)
Jenny Watson
I actually have not made any quilts as yet but when I see an email from "Cluck Cluck Sew" my heart gives a flutter as I just love your quilts. - they are so colorful, the instructions 'seem' easy to follow and I can't wait until I can find the courage to 'have a go". In the meantime, I will continue to highlight your emails on my computer until that day comes.
Allison
I love that you just read the emails for fun LOL! Someday I'll turn you into a quilter. :) Thanks for reading!!
Rebecca Fernandez
What is the finished size of your quilt?
Jeannie Miller
I saw your post in 2020 and bought a panel right away. Finally four years later I made the animal alphabet quilt. It was a great way to use scrap fabrics and turned out totally adorable. Thank you for the great idea! I’ll try to send you a picture. Fingers crossed because I am not very tech savvy🤞🏻Thanks again!
Allison
Oh I'm glad you found one and made it!