The giant version of Elizabeth Hartman’s Hazel the Hedgehog pattern goes together quickly! I thought that it might, but I’m pleasantly surprised by exactly how quickly I was able to get this adorable pinkalicious hedgehog together. I cut the fabric for this project on Monday, and after only two short nights of sewing (a total of just under 3 hours), Hazel is complete!
She finishes at 24″x27″ since I have not yet put the borders on. She’s huge! Here are a few photos of Hazel with my kiddos for scale. Don’t mind my sword-bearing super hero son; he’s harmless, really!
I want to use a single giant hazel, but have the baby quilt finish a bit larger than the 34″x37″ baby quilt version in the pattern. Since I’ve pieced Hazel so quickly, of course my brain immediately came up with a lovely idea of how to make it super adorable (and not as quick to finish).

Originally, I was planning to add borders to have Hazel in the bottom right of a 48″x52″ baby quilt, with simple negative space/background around her. Easy peasy. There is actually a good chance I could have the quilt entirely finished by the baby shower on Sunday if this plan is chosen. Then, as I was sketching it out to calculate how big the borders should be, I thought an appliquéd heart in the top left would be a cute touch, which then progressed to a pieced speech bubble heart. How adorable would that be, though!? This is how my brain works, folks. If something is easy, I will immediately find a too-cute-to-ignore way to make it more complex (but awesome).
What would you do? Stick with the original, adorable, but super simple and easily completable-ahead-of-schedule plan? or try out the speech bubble heart idea? Only time will tell which I will choose!
I’m linking up with Work in Progress Wednesday hosted by Lee at Freshly Pieced .
Looks great! I plan to make some too so thank you for the pics for scale. It is really huge 🙂
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Oh gosh, you have to do the speech bubble, I’m sorry. It’s too dang cute to ignore!
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Giant hedgehog with speech bubble all the way (if it’s not too tricky or time consuming)!
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That looks awesome!
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And I agree, the speech bubble would be perfect!
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I love, love, love the idea of the pieced speech bubble. Perfect… and it will make for some fun assymetry in the finished top.
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I do the same thing, I come up with awesome ideas that really just add to my timeline but I really hope you find the time for the bubble. It’s brilliant and if I were in the same position I would regret not pushing to do the bubble cause realistically I’d never come back and re-make it with that alteration. Good luck girl!
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Such a fun project! Oh goodness this will be cute when it is done! I would totally try the speech bubble heart idea! Perfect! ~ Aloha
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You were so right to make her all pink! She’s gorgeous! I think the speech bubble would be adorable, and you could just applique it if you’re looking to make it a little faster.
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This is an awesome paper pieced heart block that I have used (but been unable to blog about yet): http://www.sewmamasew.com/2013/02/sweetheart-quilt-block/ I think you should definitely go for the bubble!!
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This is so cute! And I love the speech bubble heart idea.
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Love the heart bubble idea -do it. I don’t think it will add that much more time either.
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I too vote for the heart-speech bubble. If I were the recipient I’d rather have an IOU top at the shower with th bubble than a finished quilt without.
I too can always find a longer way to finish something.
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Love it! What a cute idea for the speech bubble to. Whatever you decide it will be fabulous!
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So awesome! I have the pattern but haven’t made one yet – I haven’t found the fabrics I want to use yet. Love yours!
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darling. love the twists and turns our projects make. that is where the adventure begins. forge on
Hillary
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Cute factor aside, I think the speech bubble also gives your project a good balance… I’d go for it!
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It’s so cute!! Everyone is voting for the speech bubble, and it is rely darling, but I think if you wanted to, a simple border would look classy and lovely as well. It’s win-win
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O my goodness…Hazel is cute!!! I had no idea the large version of Elizabeth’s pattern was really that big.
I think either way you finish up the quilt it will be beautiful, but I’m partial to the speech bubble!
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I love her and I really don’t love pink. Such a nice contrast with the blue. And the speech bubble is brilliant. Go for it. Even if you baste the heart on!.
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Love it! I may have to make one tomorrow!
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