Squirrel Quilt

by Ruth Tillman
(Alameda, CA, USA)

This quilt was made from wonderful designer cotton fabrics and hand embroidered details. I had a design in mind and went to my wonderful local quilt shop to collect fabrics to convey it. My inspirations for my quilts are based off of traditional quilting techniques with a twist.

In this case I took one of the most basic square patch quilts and embellished it with large graphic circles to resemble a cut tree trunk. The embroidered squirrel, tree, and acorn in the circles are inspired from traditional red work.

I made it from start to end with my wonderful machine. It is sandwiched with thin comfy cotton batting and soft cotton flannel on the back. I always edge my quilts with satin binding because it feels like a mother’s skin.

I have been quilting since I was around 11 when my grandmother taught me. I made quilts on and off for years but when I was pregnant with my second child I made him my first official child’s quilt. His older brother, then 2, loved it so much I ended up making him one. This is when I developed my signature style of thin cotton batting, solid flannel backs, larger size for long use, and distinctive machine quilting.