Ninja Turtle Baby Quilt

I finally finished it!  I started out with two yards of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fabric that I had bought with the intention of making a quilt for my brother's first son.  That was years ago!  They weren't even engaged yet, but I was thinking ahead. :)  A little over 10 months ago, I finally got that nephew.  Then, I had to figure out what I was going to do with that fabric! 

I hunted high and low for appropriate Ninja Turtle colors to match the fabric I already had.  These are the more recent movie version colors, and not the more traditional hues, so it was tough!  

Then, I had to plan a quilt design.  Of course, I didn't follow that plan anyway, but it just sort of came together.  

First, I made these adorable turtle blocks, thinking that the 3D effect of the feet, heads, and tails would make good chew toys.  Hey, he is teething right now, so I am just in time!

Then, I made the "ninja star" blocks.  They look like the paper "ninja stars" that my son likes to make, but this block is also called the "friendship star."  If you have ever seen the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you will understand just how fitting this is for them. :)

I also went with a twist on these, making the stars white and the backgrounds in their eye mask colors. (P.S. Michelangelo was always my favorite!)

I used green thread to hand quilt the sashing between each block and around the inside of the turtles. For the rest of the quilt, I used white cotton hand quilting thread, which is significantly thicker.  I quilted inside and around the stars and in the middle of the white borders.

 On the wider borders with the Ninja Turtle fabric, I quilted in some of their catchphrases: "Cowabunga, Awesome, and Turtle Power."  On the remaining side, I quilted in my nephew's name.

Now, only one more nephew to go and I am caught up!

I am linking up with StudioJRU's Sneak Peek in the Studio Friday.  Head on over and see what everyone else is up to, and if you have something to share you can link up, too!