it a-MAZE-ing

 
Do you remember a few years ago when Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were first dating and they kept saying that everything was "amazing"?  Well, I have your amazing right here.  It's a maze quilt. It's also an "I Spy" quilt of sorts too, because all the maze segments are bits of small scale fabric of awesomeness.  It's okay, you can jump on a couch, I think it's pretty amazing clever, too.

 
Last year when Little Sir decided that he was all done with the whole business of nap-taking, his teachers and I realized that he needed something to keep him occupied while all the good children slept.  When I asked him what it would take to make him either take a nap or simply be quiet, he suggested that a blanket, or better, a quilt would be the solution to the whole situation (I didn't see the logic in it then either).  So obviously I had to make him a blanket, or better, a quilt (my friend Diane has described me as something of an enabler, she may be right)...

 
At the time, and still today, mazes were an area of interest and preoccupation for Sir.  So I wondered, "would it be possible to make a quilt with a maze on it?"  The gauntlet was thrown, the challenge was on, and awesomeness was achieved.

 
It wasn't that hard.  Some graph paper and simple math--it's all built on the concept of a nine-patch block (well, that's the way I did it).  Either draw your own maze or find one on the internets, (I made one slight change to this one here--make sure the maze is do-able/skill appropriate for the recipient).  Work out a color scheme, cut, sew, quilt, and voila!  You have some awesome on your hands!  Also, point of order, you should consider letting the recipient choose the fabric for the quilt backing, just a thought.  If the lucky recipient is young, it will make his or her whole week (seriously, Little Sir almost lost his mind with the enormity of "this important responsibility"), and it gives wee ones a sense of ownership (also, if you are lucky, they will pick the fabric that you like least and you can eliminate is from your stash, ahem--and yes, Sir loves those neon hearts, especially the pink ones).

 
I finished this quilt, except for the binding last summer.  The reason the quilt sat languishing in my "to fin" pile was because I sewed the binding too wee to machine sew both sides and knew that hand sewing the binding was in order.  It's the first time that I have hand sewn a binding on anything larger than something the size of a napkin (a very small napkin, okay a coaster, really).  I knew this was going to take time and, fundamentally, I am kind of lazy, so I kept putting it off. 

 
After being pestered about my inability to finish quilts (yes, by the four year old), I knew I had to finish it to preserve my own sanity. It took three nights of hand-sewing.  I should have just done it months ago.

 
And as cool as this maze quilt is, the maze is not even the best part.  No, the best part is the signature block (she says, ever so humbly).

 
In our house, we do not say, "because I said so." This is a phrase that always annoyed me when I was growing up and I always thought, "when I grow up, and have my own kids, I am not going to use this phrase."  It wouldn't work anyway since Sir requires explanation for everything and "because I said so" is so lacking in explanation, it would be an insult to his highness to even utter it.  The first time I almost used said, "because I said so", Icaught myself and said instead, "because you are precious to me..."  I don't know, it's the first thing that popped into my head (and yes, it was said with not just a little sarcasm), and it gave me time to think of an explanation that would appease a small child that was (and still is) entirely too articulate and assessing for his own good.

 
So this quilt was amazingly (okay, I'm done) successful.  I was right in the middle of patting myself on the back when Little Mister asked me about the location of his quilt...

Comments

[Nikki]

Looks great nova! My m-I-L has said she will b making quilts for all the grandkids and I will have to show her this. Amazing!!

[Sarah Smith]

Nova, this quilt IS amazing! So creative. And I LOVE the signature block--endearing and equally witty. I know Little Sir loves it too :-)

[Jo @ a life in lists]

What a great quilt idea! And I love the idea of ownership - I let my toddler help me sew some of his big bed quilt (read: he sat on my lap and helped feed it through the machine) and he is SO proud of himself. He tells everyone who goes in his room that he sewed this quilt.

[Deborah Kindel]

Amazing, absolutely amazing. I love that your quilts, hats, sweaters, whatever, always tell stories and are woven together with bits of fiber, love and humor. What an "amazing" record of their lives you are providing for "the children."

[Kathleen]

What fun! The quilt is fabulous and the children are adorable. Thanks for sharing.

[Jacey]

Thank you for putting a hilarious image in my head this morning with your Tom and Katie reference.

Your quilt really is awesome. I love the maze idea, and I sympathize with Little Sir's lack of interest in naps. I never took naps either. You're a great momma.

[Kelly]

Love it!! Has he taken a nap yet??? heheh

[Vicki]

Oh love love love!! Mazes are my favorite -- and this is just, ooooh, so cool!

[Lori]

Oh wow, the quilt is (truly and punnily) amazing. The signature block is just the best though!

[Erin]

So creative and beautiful! Well done! And why do kids NOT want to take naps. What I would give for a mid-day nap...

[Cornflower]

I think that is wonderful!

[Kim]

I love it! I keep feeling like I should make my TLD a special quilt of his own for rest time....

[Julia]

This is fantastic!! I look forward to the day B can tell be what he wants in a quilt!

[Melissa]

It's so great! I love it!!

[diana]

Nova, this is so fantastic. And the signature block is the perfect touch. Your amazing (ha, said it) quilt reminds me that I need to make another for Miss Lily.

[Becky]

Ha ha, yes, the signature block IS the beast part - beautiful!

[Amy]

That is the single most fantastic thing I have ever seen.

[Jessica]

Love the signature block! It really is the best part.

[Leah]

Wow, I love it! Maybe Little Sir will lie down with his quilt and be lulled to sleep while tracing the maze ...

[Kathy]

Amazing!

What a very cool quilt, and very loving.

Too bad you didn't finish before Little Mister learned to talk...