Tuesday, January 1, 2008

100 Wishes Quilt


I have read that there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt, when a new child is expected. The quilt is thought to contain the luck, energy, and good wishes of all who contributed to it. When we learned that we were to be blessed with our first grandchild, I was inspired to adopt this custom to welcome the new little one into our family. Since then, friends and family members from around the world have been sending their wishes, prayers, and quotations, along with a swatch of fabric, to be included in his special quilt.

The 100 wishes quilt for Baby Thumper involves writing a wish, prayer or quotation for the new baby on a 4 X 6 card ( the size of a photograph), signing it, attaching a small square or swatch of fabric to the wish card, and sending the card with an 8 inch square of the same fabric, chosen to represent the sender in some way. The wishes will be compiled in a photo album, and the fabric squares will be assembled into a quilt, probably using a Chinese Lantern setting inspired by a beautiful quilt made by Abbey Powell. Later, the quilt will become a variation of an "I Spy" quilt, by comparing the swatches on the wish cards in the photo album with the fabrics in the quilt.

I began by selecting a bright yellow print showing children celebrating Chinese New Year with a dragon parade.








No comments: