Pirate Quilt

[mellifluousfondue]

My brother and his wife announced that they were having a baby and I wanted to make something special for my first (turned out to be) nephew. A quilt! I have never made a quilt before but had long been an admirer of the craft.
My brother used to love pirates as a kid (but who doesn't really) so that was the inspiration. I wanted it to be fun, but not too "kidsy" because after all, it is really a present for my brother and sister in law for the first few years, because they baby won't really be able to appreciate it.
I based the pattern for the top off of this online tute I found: http://aquiltisnice.blogspot.com/2008/09/zig-zag-quilt-kit-tutorial.html





Then on the back I got the idea to appliqué quilt a treasure map. The only issue being is that I have a 1955 singer featherweight (which I love--it was my great-grandma's) but it doesn't have a zigzag stitch. SO I used the button-holer attachment to do all the applique work, which means that I could only sew about an inch before I had to pull up the foot and wind back to the top of the button hole, then sew another inch down, ad nauseum. Wow, it was a pain in the ass and I would not recommend it, but also I get some sort of pleasure knowing i did it all with my old machine. It was also basically impossible to turn the fabric while doing this, so my curves are a little rough--please excuse.
ok, thanks for looking!

[Jazzybelle]

WOW. This is *so* cool! What a lucky little boy!

[christian_cowgirlGSR]

This quilt is awesome!  I liked it when I saw the front, and then I saw the back... WOW!  The back is just as awesome as the front.  You did a fabulous job.  What a lucky boy!

[alwaysinmyroom]

I admire the way you had to do your applique!! holy cow...

the back of the quilt is just as nice as the front--

your nephew is going to be enjoying that quilt for many years to come!

[michelleandbean]

I love the treasure map.

[RockDragon]

It's fantastic, it's like 2 different quilts in one!  Love it   And I bow to your determination to applique the back an inch at a time.  That is awesome dedication right there

[TCinTX]

Holy cow, you have my utmost admiration for doing all that tedious applique stitching on the back with your buttonhole stitch!!! Nice job, btw.

[vwbuggirlie]

This is awesome! And the dedication to do the map on the back... I would have lost my mind! And who doesn't love a pirate or a treasure map?