Willoughby Quilt - An Easy Low Volume EPP Baby Quilt

Date Started: May 2023

Date Finished: January 2025

Often when I launch a new quilt pattern, I have a few ideas for how I could colour it in. I usually choose a scrappy version, I might make it again from a new collection I've been asked to use. And then I start to dream about showing it off in scrappy low volume prints. Scrappy low volume is one of my favourite colour palettes for a quilt because the outcome is very certain - it's going to be white or 2 colours, but you still get the lovely, soft interplay between the prints, and the individual shapes can still be seen. 

By the time I started this version however, I'd already made 3 Willoughby Quilts. I was running on what I call "Good Idea" energy. Good Idea energy, for me, is motivation that comes because I think it might help something sell well, or because it makes sense, or because someone else might like it or has said, "Oh, you should make it in these colours!". In my constant efforts to balance my entrepreneurial management side and my creative side, Good Idea energy is when Manager ignores, or at least fails to consult Creator, and dives right in. My internal manager doesn't naturally ask, "Do you want to make this? Do you feel like making the whole thing? Does this excite you?" She doesn't care about how long it will take, or if I actually wanted to spend the time doing it, or that I had actually planned to spend more time in the garden this week. She just starts cutting because it's a good idea. 

In my experience, Good Idea energy lasts maybe 2 weeks. Even if you don't make quilts for money, maybe you've experienced it? Perhaps when you've seen a quilt collection or sample quilt you love, but it's not your usual style. Or maybe you come up with an idea for a gift in colours or fabrics someone else would love? Perhaps you've thought something like "I really love that intricate quilt, but I don't trust my skill level, so I'll make this simpler one instead." 

I find motivation and inspiration to be the strangest thing, don't you? I English Paper Piece and hand quilt every day. The actions are the same no matter what quilt I'm working on, and yet the actual quilt I'm working on makes all the difference. I have no idea why that is, but I'm trying to get better at trusting it, working with it, even being generous with it.

After I started this quilt, I realised that the original 72 block version could be split neatly into two baby quilt sized 36 block versions. What a good idea! It still didn't motivate me enough to finish them, so I handed them to my mum to make the blocks so that I could sew them together. Having a mum that can take over the 'Good Idea" quilts is a little bit too enabling for my management brain! ;P

This week I came to them basted, with the plum coloured one already quilted, and the aqua one lightly quilted so I could reuse the pins! I spent a few days filling in the gaps with hand-quilting because my sewing machine is in for repairs, trimmed them and then pushed myself to choose binding, make it, and sew it on. I'm so glad I gave myself that final push! They're done! And they really are so sweet. They each measure 40" (1 metre) square, and though smaller than the size that now gets used around my house a lot, will make the sweetest baby gifts next time one is born nearby!

Well, now that they're done, my 'manager' is pretty pleased with herself! I like having the example of Willoughby made this way, and the photos here on the blog. But I do want to change my approach to starting quilts this year. I have a spending rule for me and my family that we wait 3 weeks before buying most discretionary, fun things. If, in 3 weeks, I really want it, and I have the money, I get it. If my desires have waned or landed somewhere else, then I know it was just a temporary fling. Maybe I could take the same approach with quilts? Give myself a little time to see if it's just "good idea" energy or deep motivation. 

If you're curious to learn more about my other versions of Willoughby quilt, we've round them all up in one place along with some lovely inspiration from wonderful stitchers in the Tales of Cloth community. Click the button below to read that post!