A Story Quilt for Baby!

My youngest son asked me if I could make a quilt for a very good friend of his who recently had a baby but it was to be a special quilt for a special little boy. The parents are of Asian background and I thought it would be nice to make a quilt that tells a story. In searching for subject matter, I found a beautiful Japanese cotton panel which I designed the quilt around. The design depicts two rabbits leaping over the moon and there is a story which surrounds this image.

Tsukino Usagi, is a pun -- as it sounds like the Japanese phrase, "tsuki no usagi" which translates to "rabbit of the moon". It is in reference to a Japanese myth that proclaims there is a rabbit on the moon pounding mochi, or rice cakes. There are a few different Japanese and Chinese stories that refer to a rabbit on/from the moon which explains the reason for the pun.

The fabrics are all cotton, and the design was kept simple on purpose so as not to overshadow the main panel design. To add emphasis to the panel, I stitched all around the design in the center to enhance the image. The back of the quilt is lined with a matching blue "minky" -- a super soft fabric that wears well and is totally washable. I made the quilt to fit a crib or youth bed - 40" x 60" or they could also use it as a wall hanging if desired.

By using images and colors that evoke special meaning to the parents and child by connecting their heritage, a gift then becomes more of an heirloom quality piece. I particularly love adding a little story to the quilt as well.

Thank you to my Son for giving me the opportunity to make
this a special gift for your friend. This experience has inspired me to start making more "Story Quilts" for babies.