QUILT Archives - Kacia | Coconut Robot

Airplane Quilt | Generation Q Magazine!

ACK! I have been waiting to spill the beans on this quilt for what feels like forever! I originally made a version of this quilt for my friend Kate’s baby boy — I couldn’t sleep one night and thought,

what if I made a quilt with the instructions for folding a paper airplane!?!?

I made the quilt and shared a photo I had of it with the editors of Generation Q. We started a conversation about getting the pattern in one of their 2014 issues….and long hours later of working out the pattern and ironing out the details….

They totally didn’t tell me it would be on the cover!

I’m definitely a “make it work” person when I’m working on a single, custom quilt — especially when a quilt involves weird math and angles like this one! It has super simple aspects, and it has a lot of sections that require a bit of focus and attention to detail. So as I reworked the quilt with a pattern in mind, it was a whole new ballgame! But finishing this pattern has definitely given me a kick in the rear to get my other patterns OUT of my moleskins and into y’all’s hands!

I had a little bit of fun with the back! I paper pieced a smaller version of the large and finished airplane — I love how the back turned out! It really could be a simple quilt of its own.

If you’re wondering if I’m already planning on trying to crank out some of those, you read my mind and guessed correctly. :) I might do a flash sale via instagram, if I can get my act together…. you know, being due in 3 weeks and all …and having a to-do list that’s a mile long…sure! Haha, we shall see!

Yes. Completely embarrassing myself.

That is a 36 week and pregnant woman jumping in the air because, well, freaking out.

Thank you ALL for your constant encouragement and support — and ridiculous amount of patience as let my perfectionism get in the way of just getting these patterns to you all! I cannot WAIT to see finished versions of this quilt!

Off to get my quilt idea for baby boy out of my head and hopefully into reality!

Go check out this issue of Generation Q! — and find out where you can purchase it locally, so you can make this quilt too!

psst! I’ll be using #CRairplaneQuilt for my posts with this quilt and other colorways! Please tag me (@CoconutRobot), so I can see! And always feel free to email me with questions!

the story of the circle quilt // Pray for Baby Grey

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I’ve been wanting to write this post for a few weeks now — it was just 5 days ago that Grey turned one month old! The story of how this quilt came to be and little Grey is one that I just don’t want to forget.

I went to college with Allie and Ryan, and I was able to see her this spring as we celebrated at a shower of a friend who was expecting her first. In a completely funny moment, Allie and I realized we were due within days of each other, but neither of us had made the news very public yet at all.

Months prior, I was sorting fabric in my sewing room when a grouping of grey pieces of fabric ended up in a pile with some bits of coral mixed in. I loved the simplicity of the colors and began unfolding the fabric and playing with various combinations. I ended up keeping it really simple on both sides — not even really deciding on a front or back, but loving both equally.

I began finalizing ideas for how I wanted to quilt this square beauty, with a little bit of simple and modern trapunto mixed in as well. I didn’t know who this quilt was for, but I knew I needed to make it. I decided to quilt it using concentric circles. It would take a bit of time to do, but I didn’t realize just how long it would take.

I would wake up early in the morning and sew circles…circle after circle after circle. All the while praying for this baby, unsure if it was a future baby of ours or even perhaps a baby I would never meet. I wasn’t sure, but I knew I needed to keep making it.

I finished quilting it and it was then folded up and tucked away, unsure of the recipient, I just wasn’t able to finish it.

Fast forward…

On June 17, Allie was admitted to the hospital due to her baby’s size and what was finally diagnosed as HELLP syndrome.

Grey Delphine was born on June 20, 2014 weighing in at only 0.9 lbs and just 10 3/4 inches long. She began fighting for her life and has continued proving everyone around what a fighter she truly is.

When I woke up to the news that she had arrived, immediately I knew. I hadn’t known who this baby was that I’d been praying for was until now: this quilt was made for Grey. I had purpose in finishing it once more, and I finally got it in the mail to Allie. Each of those circles representing time praying for Grey Delphine, just not by name. I had no idea she existed when these lines were stitched, but that doesn’t matter.

Grey Delphine just turned one month last Thursday! She is growing strong and continuing her fight. Allie and Ryan are blogging updates here — please keep Grey, Allie and Ryan in your prayers!

Gus the narwhal || Coconut Robot quilt

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Yup. I’ve joined the narwhal craze. I can’t get enough of these unicorns of the sea, and this quilt is no exception. Recently, I’ve been designing so many quilts with solids — it’s like bringing the color blocking trend to quilts.

This quilt is similar to Kaden’s in that it’s made up of blocks to create the narwhal design. I still use graph paper to begin my sketches, and it’s so neat to see the curves and pieces come to life as I sew. I wanted this quilt to look loved and worn right from the get-go, and I think that look was accomplished in the end!

Gus’s eye and horn —what is that thing called? — are both sewn on after the top has been pieced, and sandwich quilted. I wanted them to stand out. I love the way the horn shows a bit of dimension by not having any quilting seams going through it.

If I had to pick a second favorite part of the quilt — the first being that narwhal horn — it would be the tail. I love the way that the curves came out.

I’ll get a better shot of the back, but I kept it pretty simple using shades of yellow — the same as his horn and then a bit brighter — and some leftover blues. I machine finished my binding, and I love how it turned out. Sometimes I prefer finishing the binding by hand, but I also love the durability of binding with all machine stitches too. Oh, decisions.

And yes, pattern will be coming soon-ish. I need to warm my cold feet and just get these out there — I put a lot of pressure on myself when it comes to patterns and things like that. I’m always nervous that what makes sense for me will totally lose everyone else, so ack. stay on me, k?

Happy Narwhal Thursday! that should be a thing.

a quilt for Kaden // Coconut Robot Quilt

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A nursery full of elephants and the colors grey and yellow.

When Diana told me her plan for Kaden’s nursery, I immediately began thinking about what I wanted to send for him.

I don’t have the right words to say this morning. I am writing through tears even now. When Kaden went to be with the Lord, I debated whether or not I should finish his quilt. I was angry that he was gone — I still am. I had prayed for Kaden the entire time Diana was pregnant — I was so excited to hold him and kiss his cheeks, but now I wouldn’t have the chance to do that.

Andy and friends encouraged me to finish this quilt for Diana, Sam, Bella, and Kaden — and Preston and Julian too. It helped me process. It gave me time to pray. As I designed and created it, I often found myself crying silently, begging God to let us all wake up from this terrible dream.

But it wasn’t a dream. Kaden is with his Heavenly Father, and we are here, ready to meet him when the time is right. This quilt pattern will be made available, and a large portion of the profits will go to Kaden’s family. I want Kaden’s quilt to continue giving on — to HHV-6 research, to other families grieving.

This quilt will be available with all the letters of the alphabet as the elephant’s ear — you can buy separately or all 26 varieties in one. I’m working hard to get this pattern {and the knitting patterns!} made available to you all — if any of you specialize in doing this … please contact me! I want to get these out to you all as soon as possible.

In all of my patterns and designs, I want to empower you to make and create. To love someone who needs a little extra love that day. To teach someone a new skill, so that they can continue sharing it with others. I couldn’t and can’t go back in time and change what happened — as desperately as I want to.

I can’t dwell in the past or lose myself in the future, but I can choose to create and give and love on others in this way right now.

xo.

fat quarter friday

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I’m headed to Houston this weekend for Quilt Market — I’m so nervous! I’ll be there with Brother showing what the ScanNCut can do for quilting! I’ve been really trying to push myself with quilting designs and new patterns. I have a few that I’ll be sharing soon that I’m so so so excited about!

I’m trying to create one quilt top each week — haha, there will be grave involved heavily in this goal…. — to continue pushing myself creatively. Each will be made completely with fat quarters — between 5 to 7 of them. I will be listing some for sale, some for gifts, and well, some I probably will just love so much I won’t be able to part with. :)

I love how feminine this quilt turned out. It feels fresh, but has a vintage vibe as well. I envision a sweet baby of a gifted writer–I can see a baby wrapped up and sleeping while mama is savoring a cup or coffee and diving into a classic novel.

Or, I can totally see someone who hates to write and read, but just loves this quilt design! Maybe that’s you. :)

If you are interested in this one — email me. I’ll list it when it is finished {it is roughly 45″ x 36″}, but if you would like to stake claim, the finishes will be customized to your liking!

xo.

kaciasignature