I think this quilt pattern has been secretly calling out to me to make it. Several months ago, my mom was given a huge stash of fabric and quilt books & magazines from a friend of a friend who was downsizing. My mom doesn’t sew, she knits and paints, but sewing is not her forte. So, I was the lucky recipient of all these wonderful gifts. I kept some of the fabric, and the rest I donated to Victoria Quilts Canada.

One magazine in particular caught my attention and has lived on my window ledge, on my desk, on the sewing table and on the TV hutch for the past while, calling me to pick it up every time I walk by. It is Quilting Ideas, Fall 2003 issue from Better Homes and Gardens.

See the adorable quilt on the cover? Well, imagine my surprise when I was browsing the All People Quilt web site a week or so ago and discovered this pattern, Hearts & Flowers Appliqué Quilt featured on their home page. Of course, I stared at the picture for a long time, then went in search of the magazine, and sure enough it is exactly the same pattern.

While I don’t have kids of my own, I do have a wonderful 2+ year old niece, Lucy. I’ve had great ambitions to make Lucy her first quilt since before she was even born, yet I still haven’t. I have made her a wall hanging and crocheted her a blanket. I’ve had a few patterns picked out for her, and even the fabric purchased for each, yet still no quilt.

Well, she’ll be getting this one, either for Christmas or her third birthday next February. I’ve already traced and rough cut all 70 pieces of the fusible web. I’ve been going through my stash of fat quarters picking out the various pieces of fabric. I’ll be doing the blanket stitch around each piece by hand. I can’t wait to see how this one comes together.

Christina over at A Few Scraps has written a great tutorial on using a Dryer Sheet for Appliqué.

I used to have a stack of used dryer sheets that I was saving to try this technique, but they’ve long since been tossed. I guess I should start saving them again so I can give this a try. Have you tried this before?

Here are a couple of great tutorials on back-basting.

• Single Layer
• Multiple Layers

I’m going to give this a try in a couple weeks when I’m away from my sewing machine for 6 weeks (ack!).

UPDATED - June 2008

Here’s another Back Basting tutorial for you to enjoy.

I made this appliqued wall hanging with beading for my niece’s first birthday.

I took this photo at the Upper Canada Village 2007 Quilt Show.

I took this photo at the Upper Canada Village 2007 Quilt Show.

I took this photo at the Upper Canada Village 2007 Quilt Show. This quilt is truly magnificent.

A simple nine-patch and appliqued heart wall hanging that I made for my folks many years ago.

This quilt is so much fun. What a wonderful treasure for a child to have. I took this photo at the Upper Canada Village 2007 Quilt Show.

I took this photo at the Upper Canada Village 2007 Quilt Show.

I love the sashing done on this quilt. If anyone has a link to a pattern or instructions to create this wonderful sashing, please post in the comments. I took this photo at the Upper Canada Village 2007 Quilt Show.

I took this photo at the Upper Canada Village 2007 Quilt Show.

This was an applique sampler project I did from the Singer Quilt Projects by Machine book. It was a good learning project demonstrating various applique techniques. I made one for me and one for my mom.

An angel wall hanging I made for my folks.