It seems that since the first of the year, I am one step behind! For the February Island Batik Ambassador challenge we were to make a mini. I did start it in February with the purpose of finishing it in February! Well, I came close.
I have made many minis. I went through a period in late 1996-97 making minis because I never could seem to finish larger quilts. I would make quilt tops but quilting them seemed daunting on my domestic machine. I hadn't gotten my longarm yet. Making minis was great because I could finish the top in a short time and quilt and bind it in record time!
Here are some of the minis that I made:
Pennsylvania Star
Pattern and templates available on my website. (Click on link above.)
The first quilt I entered in the Miniatures from the Heart contest in the Miniature Quilt magazine (which is no longer in print). It won a Innovative quilting prize and the Glorified Nine Patch won a first place ribbon in a local quilt show. (The later is one that I teach a lot to quilt guilds.)
THE CHALLENGE
For this challenge I had lots of small fabric strips left over from the Spring Breeze quilt that I made. (Pattern is available on my website, click on link under image.)
Here are the scrap strips leftover from that quilt.
I was thinking since the strips were all about the same size (1") I would do a log cabin block. I have a favorite curved log cabin block that I have used in quite a few patterns and I miniaturized it down to a 2-1/2" finished block in my EQ8 program. Then I printed the paper pieced blocks on freezer paper. Since the block was so small I could print multiple blocks on one page. On a log cabin if you make the strips smaller on one side it creates a curve illusion.
Here are some full size quilt I made (patterns available, click on links under image) with the same curved log cabin block.
Here is what the block looked like after I finished it.
Here is what the back looks like. I trimmed the seams to 1/8" since it was so small.
Here is the setting I decided to go with.
I thought how do I quilt it? I decided to focus on the curves so I quilted circles. That is not easy on a quilt as small as this! I started with a small circle from the bottom of a pill bottle and then used the edge of my machine foot to follow it for the concentric circles. Sometimes I had to sew two stitches at a time and move the quilt! I quilted it with a light blue Aurifil thread.
I wanted to make the binding scrappy but luckily one of the fabrics I used in the quilt had multiple colors and worked perfectly! For miniature quilts I cut the binding at 1-1/8" and use a single fold. Before I sew it on I press it in half (wrong sides together) and then press the edges to the center for my 1/4" seams. This makes a perfect 1/4" binding.
I hope you enjoyed the process of making my mini. I had fun. My husband helped me name it Bullseye! If you think you would like a pattern of it, please let me know. I will add it to the list of patterns that I have to write.
DRAWING
Congrats to Sharon Aurora who won a fat 1/8th bundle of Island Batik fabrics. Leave a comment and you will be entered into a drawing for a fat 1/8th bundle of Island Batik fabrics. Be sure to leave your contact information so I can reach you if you won.
As always: Do what you love and love what you do. Thanks for reading and feel free to forward and send to your quilting friends.
Restrictions:
One (1) redemption per email address 3/02/2019 12:01AM Mountain Time
through 3/13/2018 11:59PM Mountain Time. Instructions for redeeming your
kit will be sent via email upon purchase of the Ultimate Quilt Package.
Free kit must be redeemed on or before 4/16/2019 at 11:59PM Mountain
Time and unredeemed kits cannot be redeemed for any other product or
value. While supplies last. Credit/debit card required. Offer cannot be
combined with other offers, and is not redeemable for cash. Offer is
only available for new annual subscribers of a Bluprint paid membership,
which begins immediately upon sign-up. Offer is only available in the
U.S. Free shipping is only available in the U.S. No free trial is
available with this special offer. You can cancel at any time, but your
annual subscription will remain active for the full year and prorated
refunds will not be offered. Offer cannot be combined with other offers,
and is not redeemable for cash. Current Craftsy Unlimited and current
Bluprint customers are not eligible for this offer. Subject to
additional terms. Bluprint and Craftsy may end or alter this offer at
their discretion.
