I was contacted a couple of months ago by a woman requesting a “100 Wishes Quilt.” I had no clue what this was so I looked it up online and found out. ”To welcome and celebrate a new life, a tradition exists in the northern part of China, to make a Bai Jia Bei (a.k.a. 100 Good Wishes Quilt). Friends and family contribute squares of cloth along with their wish for the baby. The quilt is said to contain the luck and energy from everyone who contributed a piece of fabric.” (definition of 100 Wishes Quilt taken from an adoption blog) A friend of the woman who contacted me was adopting a baby girl from China and all of the friends and family of the adoptive family wanted to put together a 100 Wishes Quilt for the baby. I think that’s just about one of the most beautiful things I’ve heard. It’s hard for me to put into words the way I feel about adoption. I usually end up crying if I try. I’ll just say that I think it’s an amazing thing and am so thrilled to know quite a few families whose lives have been blessed by adoption. I think a quilt for the adopted child that friends and family contributed to is a wonderful way to show support and love.
The fabric was collected and mailed to me and I put together a beautiful quilt for them. Here’s what I was sent to work with. (Now THAT is a big pile of fabric scraps!)
And here is what we ended up with.
I had originally intended to do a traditional Stacked Coins style (original stacked coins pattern from crazymomquilts.blogspot.com) but after receiving the fabric I decided to basically cut the coins in half and rejoin them with different pieces in order to incorporate more of the fabric. I chose a solid pink binding and the back is mostly white with a strip of the fabric across the back. The baby girl’s name and birthdate are also embroidered and displayed on the back of the quilt. I don’t do embroidery, but a fabulous crafty friend of mine does so she worked it all up for me and then I hand sewed it on the back. (Please contact Jennifer at jenniferann717@hotmail.com for your embroidery needs!) I used Kona Cotton for the solid cotton, Warm and White 100% Cotton Batting and free motion quilted the quilt.
The quilt is GORGEOUS. I am one of the people who sent fabric for it, and am just absolutely amazed by what you created. The adoptive mom is going to be so overwhelmed by all of the love sewn into this quilt! This is one of the most meaningful gifts I have every seen. Thank you!
What a beautiful idea………and a beautiful finished product, Kristin. I know you AND Hannah, and 100+ have been blessed by the project! We have a friend who will be adopting, soon…………I’m going to pass on this idea (and your name!!)
a beautiful quilt and an even more beatiful idea! wonderful!
KRISTIN!!! I love, love, love this idea. In fact… it may be what I’d like to do for my brother and sister in law, as they have been living in China for the past 5 years. If I started collecting fabric now, how long would you need to put the quilt together? (I’m assuming it would take me at least a few months to organize…) Could you also give me a price range for it?
Your skills continue to amaze me.
So glad you like it! I’ll give you a call to discuss details.
Kristen, This is so beautiful – the quilt – the tradition – her name…everything!
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I just wanted to let you know that our shower was last night, and I received the quilt. It is absolutely incredible!! Thank you so much for all of the hard work that you did to give us something that will be treasured forever! I love it more than I can express, and I can’t wait to share the story of the quilt with dear Hannah. Thank you!!