Bodie's PandaMania Quilt - With a Little Help from My Friends

When I first saw Elizabeth Hartman's Pandas in Sweaters pattern, I knew I wanted it (pattern) and wanted to make the quilt for Big Baby Boy Bodie's First Birthday quilt (eventually for his big bed). The blocks are BIG - 18"x22". I could have made them all, but it was a yes when I approached my 11 other Shoe Box Swappers on whether they'd be "willing" to make a bigger block! We are a dozen strong block swappers across three states, have already done a few of Elizabeth's patterns, and know this pattern maker's style. It's a rigid direction following, but once in the rhythm of the pattern, it goes together like an "easy" puzzle.

Throughout the swap year, our swap group typically posts photos of the blocks we've created for others. We keep it all straight by having a monthly chart with a partner and have four years under our belts in swapping between Maryland, Florida, and Arizona.

I was squealing with delight once I opened my huge ziplock plastic bag with my dozen folded Pandas (they were too big to lay flat across the bag)! My example block is the James Madison University Panda since Olivia and her husband, Bo, graduated there. I love all the blocks! A big SHOUT of Thanks to my swapper peeps: Susie, Deb, Debbi, Debbie, Mary, Carrie, Janet, Jane, Marjorie, Jacque, and Margy.

The back of the quilt is a super-soft minky that anyone would want to cuddle under—hopefully, Bodie!

My Block Swappers Manufactured Sunshine for a little one-year-old in the name of a Panda-Mania quilt!

bSoleille!

Terri