"Blue Owls" Throw Quilt

My daughters had some pretty amazing teachers this year, and that meant some pretty amazing thank you gifts were in order. Today I'm sharing "Blue Owls," which was made for my older daughter's teacher who adores owls and had a woodland theme to her class this year. (Want to see the second quilt? Click here!) 

Finding owl fabric isn't difficult, but since my daughter insisted it had to be blue (her teacher's favorite color), it took some specific searching on Spoonflower for just the right print. I paired it with four shades of Kona - Nightfall, Regatta and Periwinkle to fulfill the blue shades, and Pink for a light pop of contrast.

​I love how it turned out! It's not a palette I would normally pull based on my own color preferences, but I think it has a pretty, classic vibe. Quilted with a hydrangea panto design, it reminds me of summers on Cape Cod.

Last but not least, the label. I added a "thank you for 'owl' that you did for us!" and all the kids signed their names. Simple but effective. My only regret is not attaching it after quilting because of the blue thread running through it, but I knew I'd be crunched for time in the whirlwind of end-of-school commitments, so hand stitching was just not going to fit in the schedule this week. And in the end, I think the teacher loves it regardless!

This year's gifts were MUCH bigger than my usual, but I'm curious what handmade items you've gifted teachers over the years. Have any of you made quilts? Or other sewn items?

​Quilt stats: Finished size 60" x 60"
Pattern: simple HST layout
Fabric: Kona Cotton in Nightfall, Regatta, Periwinkle, Pink and White; (backing & binding) "Little" Night Owl Dark Blue by Leanne Hatch
Batting: Warm & Natural Cotton
Thread: Piecing, Aurifil 2021; Quilting, Superior Threads Bottom Line Off White & Magnifico Cove Blue​

Linking up with
Let's Bee Social, Needle & Thread Thursday, TGIFF, and Finished or Not Friday!